Unreal Engine 5.4 Motion Matching in 13 Minutes | 2024

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Implementing Unreal Engine 5.4 Motion Matching

1. Launch Unreal Engine 5.4 and Enable Plugins:

   • Open Unreal Engine 5.4.
   • Click on Settings at the top right corner.
   • Choose Plugins.
   • Search for "trajectory" and enable it (experimental plugin).
   • Search for "pose search" and enable it.

2. Download and Prepare Motion Capture Animations:

   • Go to Mixamo and select a character.
   • Download the Locomotion animation pack.
   • Save the pack to your desired location.
   • Use Mixamo Converter to convert the animations into a format that supports root motion.

3. Import Animations into Unreal Engine:

   • Open Unreal Engine's content drawer.
   • Navigate to the characters folder.
   • Import the animations into the folder.
   • Ensure root motion and force root lock are enabled for all animations.

4. Create Blueprint for Mixamo Character:

   • Right-click in the content folder.
   • Choose Blueprint Class and select Character.
   • Name the blueprint (e.g., BP_Mixamo_Character).
   • Set the skeletal mesh asset for the blueprint.
   • Add components like Spring Arm and Camera to the blueprint.

5. Set Up Input System and Game Mode Override:

   • Copy the Third Person Character Blueprint.
   • Open the Mixamo Character Blueprint and delete the default nodes.
   • Set the default Pawn class to the Mixamo Character in the Game Mode Override settings.

6. Implement Motion Matching:

   • Create a new folder for motion matching.
   • Set up animation motion matching and pose search schema.
   • Create an animation motion matching and pose search database.
   • Ensure all animations are properly set up with looping enabled.
   • Create an animation blueprint for the Mixamo character.

7. Finalize Motion Matching Setup:

   • Connect the trajectory and movement components in the animation blueprint.
   • Implement motion matching in the animation graph.
   • Test the motion matching by moving the character in the scene.

8. Expand Animation Library with Lira Animations:

   • Download Lira animations.
   • Migrate the animations to your project's content folder.
   • Retarget the animations to the Mixamo skeleton.
   • Add the Lira animations to the motion matching database.

9. Testing and Refinement:

   • Test the updated motion matching system with the new animations.
   • Adjust settings as needed to ensure smooth transitions between animations.
   • Continue adding animations to enhance the character's movements.

10. Conclusion:

    • Enjoy exploring and experimenting with the Motion Matching system in Unreal Engine 5.4.
    • Share your feedback and experiences in the comments section.
    • Stay updated for future developments and improvements in motion matching technology.

By following these steps, you can successfully implement Motion Matching in Unreal Engine 5.4 and enhance the animation system for your characters.