What It Does
BAO Bones builds inverse kinematic rigs for character animation in After Effects. Instead of manually positioning each limb segment, you define a skeleton and let the plugin calculate joint positions automatically. The setup process takes as few as 3 clicks per chain.
Unlike tools that rely on After Effects’ Puppet Tool, Bones uses a custom distortion mesh that you can define and modify at any time. You can rig bent arms or legs without straightening them first in Photoshop. The plugin is GPU-accelerated and doesn’t rely on expressions, so previews and renders stay fast even with complex rigs.
Key Features
Custom distortion mesh. Define exactly how joints bend by creating a mesh that fits your artwork. Use masks to refine the skinning and eliminate artifacts where limbs overlap.
Keyframable IK controls. Switch between automatic IK and manual FK mode at any time during your animation. You can keyframe parenting and selection points, which means you’re not locked into a single behavior for the entire shot.
Child bones. Attach additional bones to any point on your rig (added in version 1.3). Useful for accessories, hair, or clothing that needs to follow a character’s movement.
IK scaling. Scale any part of your skeleton independently (version 1.4). Stretch or compress limbs without breaking the rig.
Overlaps Manager. Control Z-depth at the start and end of each mesh segment (version 1.5). Similar to Puppet Tool’s overlap feature, but integrated into the Bones workflow.
Puppeteer module. Control multiple instances of Bones from a single layer. Rig an entire character on one comp layer without filling your timeline with nulls and controllers.
Who It’s For
Character animators working on cutout-style animation or motion graphics with articulated figures. Useful if you animate multiple characters per project and need a fast, repeatable rigging process. The plugin was developed during production of an animated feature film, so it’s built for volume work.
Also helpful if you need to animate perspective changes or camera moves that require depth-based limb overlaps. The Overlaps Manager gives you control over which parts of a character appear in front or behind others.
Pricing
BAO Bones uses a pay-what-you-want model. The suggested price is $99.99 for a single-user license, with floating server and render-only licenses available. A free trial lets you test the plugin before purchasing.