Rokoko is a motion capture and animation technology company that offers tools for capturing and animating 3D character movements in real time. Known for its Smartsuit Pro, a wireless motion capture suit, and Smartgloves, which capture hand and finger movements, Rokoko has built a reputation as an affordable and efficient alternative to high-end mocap systems traditionally used by major film studios.
Alongside its hardware, Rokoko provides powerful software solutions including Rokoko Studio, a platform where users can record, stream, and refine their motion capture data in real time. Rokoko’s tools are compatible with major 3D software like Blender, Unreal Engine, Unity, and Maya, allowing creators to integrate mocap data directly into their workflows.
Rokoko is designed to democratize mocap technology, making it accessible not just to studios, but also to indie creators, educators, YouTubers, and VR developers.
Features
Rokoko provides both hardware and software tools, offering a full pipeline for capturing, editing, and integrating motion data into creative projects.
Smartsuit Pro
The flagship wearable motion capture suit that records full-body movement using 19 inertial sensors. It’s completely wireless and operates without the need for cameras or a dedicated studio setup. Suitable for use in small spaces or mobile environments.
Smartgloves
Wearable gloves that capture detailed hand and finger movements with high precision. These can be used standalone or in combination with the Smartsuit Pro for full-body plus hand motion capture.
Rokoko Studio
The central hub for recording and streaming motion data. Rokoko Studio allows live preview, editing, and retargeting of mocap data to 3D characters. It supports real-time streaming to software like Unreal Engine and Unity.
Face Capture (Rokoko Face Capture)
An iOS-based app that captures facial expressions using your iPhone. The data is integrated with your motion capture rig for a complete face-body-hand performance.
Real-Time Streaming
Live streaming of motion data to other software environments allows for instant animation previews. This is especially useful for virtual production and live character streaming.
Integration with 3D Software
Rokoko tools integrate with Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine, Maya, MotionBuilder, and others through plugins and APIs. This seamless connection shortens the animation pipeline and accelerates production workflows.
Motion Library
Access thousands of pre-recorded motion capture assets directly from Rokoko’s Motion Library. These assets can be previewed and imported into your project, saving time on creating common animations from scratch.
How It Works
Getting started with Rokoko typically involves three components: the motion capture hardware (like the Smartsuit Pro), the Rokoko Studio software, and your preferred 3D animation tool.
First, you suit up using the Smartsuit Pro and Smartgloves. These devices are equipped with inertial sensors that track movement in 3D space. The suit and gloves connect wirelessly to Rokoko Studio via Wi-Fi.
In Rokoko Studio, your movements are visualized in real time. You can choose to record the data for later use or stream it live into software like Unreal Engine or Blender. Rokoko Studio also supports calibration, filtering, and character retargeting, which ensures your performance translates accurately onto 3D rigs.
If you want to add facial expressions, you can use the Rokoko Face Capture iOS app. It syncs with Rokoko Studio to complete your full-body performance.
Once the capture is complete, you can export your motion data in common file formats (FBX, BVH, etc.) or stream it directly into your project. The entire pipeline is designed to be intuitive and scalable, from individual creators to professional studios.
Use Cases
Rokoko’s tools are widely used across different creative industries where character animation or live performance is needed.
Film and Animation
Independent filmmakers and animation studios use Rokoko for capturing realistic character movement. It reduces the cost and complexity of traditional mocap setups, allowing even small teams to produce studio-quality results.
Game Development
Game developers use Rokoko to animate characters for cinematics and gameplay. Real-time streaming to engines like Unity and Unreal enables faster prototyping and iteration.
Virtual Production
With real-time performance capture, creators can animate characters live, ideal for VTubers, live-streaming avatars, and virtual influencers.
Education and Research
Universities and training centers use Rokoko for teaching digital animation, biomechanics, and performance analysis. The accessibility of the gear makes it ideal for classroom use.
Marketing and Commercial Content
Brands and creative agencies use Rokoko to create animated ads or branded characters without the need for actors or large production crews.
Pricing
As of the latest information available on the Rokoko website, the company offers various pricing options for hardware and software solutions.
Smartsuit Pro II
Starting at €2,745
Includes full-body mocap suit
Requires Rokoko Studio license for operation
Smartgloves
Starting at €945
Hand and finger motion capture
Can be used with or without Smartsuit
Rokoko Face Capture App
Available via iOS App Store
Requires Studio license for integration
Rokoko Studio Software
Free version available with limited functionality
Pro version starting at €360/year
Includes advanced features such as real-time streaming, character retargeting, and integration plugins
Motion Library Access
Pay-per-asset pricing
Bundled options available for teams and studios
Custom pricing is available for studios, educational institutions, and enterprise clients. Rokoko also offers financing options for hardware purchases.
Strengths
Rokoko’s greatest strength is accessibility. Traditional motion capture systems require multiple cameras, studio setups, and significant budgets. Rokoko removes those barriers by offering wireless, camera-less systems that can be used anywhere.
The intuitive design of both hardware and software makes it easy for beginners to get started, while still offering advanced features for professionals. The compatibility with industry-standard tools ensures a smooth workflow from capture to final animation.
Real-time streaming and live performance capabilities make Rokoko especially appealing for virtual production and live content creation. The availability of facial capture and hand tracking adds to the completeness of the system.
Affordability compared to competitors like Vicon or OptiTrack makes it viable for indie developers, freelancers, and educators.
Drawbacks
While Rokoko has many strengths, there are limitations to consider. Inertial-based motion capture is susceptible to drift over time, which may reduce accuracy in long or complex sequences without recalibration.
The system may not capture fine foot contact or subtle joint rotations as accurately as optical systems with physical markers and camera arrays. For high-end cinematic productions, optical mocap might still be the preferred choice.
Users need to regularly calibrate the suit for optimal performance, and accurate facial capture requires specific lighting and positioning with iPhones.
Another consideration is cost. Although more affordable than traditional systems, the full setup—including suit, gloves, facial capture, and software licenses—can still be a significant investment for solo creators.
Comparison with Other Tools
Rokoko competes with systems like Perception Neuron, Xsens, and traditional optical mocap systems like Vicon. Compared to Xsens, Rokoko is more affordable and accessible for indie creators, although Xsens may provide slightly higher accuracy with inertial data.
Versus Perception Neuron, Rokoko offers a more refined user interface and better software support, particularly with Rokoko Studio and live streaming.
Traditional systems like Vicon offer unmatched precision but require tens of thousands of dollars and dedicated studio space. Rokoko, by contrast, offers 80–90% of the functionality at a fraction of the cost and setup time.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
Rokoko has earned strong reviews from independent creators and studios alike. Many praise the ease of use, excellent customer support, and the seamless integration into 3D animation workflows.
Users on platforms like YouTube and Reddit often highlight how Rokoko enabled them to produce full-body animations on a budget. Animation YouTubers, indie game developers, and freelance artists have credited Rokoko with saving time and opening up creative possibilities that were previously inaccessible due to budget or location constraints.
Professional studios and educators also cite the system’s flexibility, portability, and educational value.
Conclusion
Rokoko offers a comprehensive motion capture solution that brings professional-grade animation tools within reach of solo creators, educators, and indie studios. With a combination of innovative hardware, intuitive software, and real-time streaming capabilities, Rokoko empowers users to bring characters to life without the need for expensive, complex setups.
Whether you’re building the next hit indie game, animating a short film, or producing real-time content for a live audience, Rokoko provides the tools to capture authentic movement, speed up production, and unlock creativity.