The Ultimate Union Between MetaHumans and Houdini
Epic Games and SideFX have launched MetaHuman for Houdini 🤝, a free add-on that radically simplifies the process of importing MetaHumans from Unreal Engine. The standout new feature is the MetaHuman Character Rig HDA, which automatically assembles any MetaHuman exported as a complete character, rigged and textured, ready to animate within Houdini. This integration eliminates technical barriers and dramatically accelerates the character workflow.
Features that Transform the Character Pipeline
This add-on serves as an efficient bridge between Unreal's MetaHuman Creator and Houdini, enabling:
- Automatic import of parameterized bodies from Unreal Engine
- Complete rigging using Houdini 21's AutoRig Builder
- Automatic texturing with high-quality materials
- Enhanced grooming tools for hairstyle creation
- Full compatibility with the Houdini tool ecosystem
- Immediate preparation for animation, motion graphics, or VFX
The automation of the rigging process saves hours of tedious manual work ⏱️.
Advantages for Animators and Technical Artists
MetaHuman for Houdini offers significant benefits for different creative roles:
- For animators: Characters ready to animate from the first moment
- For technical artists: Automated and customizable rigging
- For groom artists: Integrated tools for hair creation
- For studios: Reduction in production times and costs
- For freelancers: Access to studio-level character technology
- For existing pipelines: Seamless integration with Houdini tools
The ability to create compatible hairstyles directly within Houdini eliminates the need to return to Unreal for grooming adjustments ✂️.
Requirements and Availability
The MetaHuman for Houdini package is designed for maximum accessibility:
- Works with Houdini 20.5+ and higher versions
- Compatible with MetaHumans created with Unreal Engine 5.6
- The MetaHuman Character Rig HDA requires Houdini 21
- Totally free download through the Fab platform
- Complete documentation and tutorials available
- Technical support provided by SideFX and Epic Games
The true meta human isn't yours, but how Unreal and Houdini do all the hard work for you
Now the character creation process is reduced to importing and animating, eliminating the technical barriers that previously required specialized expertise. MetaHuman for Houdini demonstrates that true innovation lies in making the complex simple... though it still can't make coffee for you, but who knows what the next update will bring 😅.