Dynamic Meshes

Dynamic Meshes are meshes that are added with additional bones for the purpose of using the bones for dynamic simulations (either with physics assets, Anim Dynamics node, or by plugins like KawaiiPhysics). They do not share the main Shenya skeleton that is in the root of Meshes folder.

A Dynamic Mesh is put into its own folder because it has its own skeleton (SK_Shenya_DYN_{Hair1}_Skeleton) and its own animation blueprint ( ABP_Shenya_DYN_{Hair1} ).

The folder is named DYN_{Hair1}.

For example this one is for Shenya:

shenya-dynamic-meshes-content-folder

and this one is for Meryl:

meryl-dynamic-meshes-content-folder

A typical skeleton for hair looks like the following, which is Shenya’s Hair1’s skeleton:

shenya-hair1-skeleton

Shenya Hair1 Skeleton List

shenya-hair1-skeleton-list

The skeleton has the bone chain from the root up until the head, then the additional bones for the hairs are attached to the head. Notice that the arms and legs bones are deleted because whatever they do they don’t affect the hairs skeleton.

The spine chain need to be there because it’s linked to the hairs skeleton and I am using Copy Pose from Mesh in the animation blueprint.

There are no Physics Assets

All* the dynamic meshes doesn’t comes with physics asset because they don’t look good most of the time with physics asset. They are intened to work with KawaiiPhysics but you can also setup physics asset on these skeletal meshes on your own if needed.

* with some exceptions, for example Aren’s Earring comes with Physics Assets setup.

You can use Dynamic meshes with KawaiiPhysics or SPCRJointDynamics.

KawaiiPhysics

KawaiiPhysics on Github

KawaiiPhysics gif from github

Kawaii Physics is a pseudo-physical plug-in created for Unreal Engine 4 & 5.
You can sway your hair, skirt, chest, etc easily and in a Kawaii way.

– from its Github description

How to use

To use Dynamic meshes with KawaiiPhysics:

1. Add Plugin to project
2. Add DYN_Mesh (eg. SK_Shenya_DYN_Hair1) to a blueprint. Parent it under a mesh with the main skeleton.
3. Open Animation blueprint for DYN_Mesh (eg. ABP_Shenya_DYN_Hair1), add KawaiiPhysics nodes
4. Compile and check if it works

Video Example

New KawaiiPhysics Video

Youtube Video: Using KawaiiPhysics with Rabbit Heart Character Shenya

1. Add Plugin to Project

Go to KawaiiPhysics Github Releases and download the version for your Unreal Engine Project. The latest release as of 17th October 2023 only have versions for UE5 and above. If you use UE4, you can scroll down for older version or you can attempt to recompile the code.

KawaiiPhysics Releases

After download, open the zip file, drag the Plugins folder into your project root folder, and restart Unreal Engine.

Add KawaiiPhysics Plugin to project

2. Add DYN_Mesh to a Blueprint

Example:

KawaiiPhysics Blueprint Example

Leader Pose Component in Modular Blueprint Setup

If you setup your modular blueprint with Leader Pose Component (like in the picture below), remember to NOT include DYN meshes because we want the additional bones to be driven by animation blueprint instead. If you use leader pose component on the mesh, those bones will not move because the leader (the head or the main skeleton in this case) doesn’t has those additional joints.

Don’t plug or unplug DYN meshes to leader pose component

If you use the DYN meshes inside a child blueprint, unset the leader pose component like so:

Unset Leader Pose Component

3. Add KawaiiPhysics Nodes to Animation Blueprint

Open the Animation Blueprint

ABP DYN

Example of the node graph:

ABP KawaiiPhysics Nodes

SPCRJointDynamics

SPCRJointDynamics on Github

Are you searching for a real cloth dynamics solution, so that character’s cloth in your game will behave like a real cloth.
Then this is the plugin for you. SPCRJointDynamics offers you the exact behaviour, which requires a basic bone setup, and you are ready to go.

– from its Github description

SPCRJointDynamics gif from github

I haven’t tried using SPCRJointDynamics on Shenya but this plugin is specifically for cloths, where each joint chain can be linked to the one beside it so they constraint each other (compared to KawaiiPhysics where each joint chain are independent from each other and move independently), so you can try this on the Dynamic Jacket or the hairs.

I have tried SPCRJointDynamics on Meryl’s skirt but find it sometimes flip the skirt upside down.