Cavalry
FreeProfessional, real-time 2D animation and motion design software, now free for individual artists.
Cavalry is a professional 2D animation and motion design application for macOS and Windows that combines procedural node-based workflows with real-time rendering. Originally developed by Scene Group and now part of Canva, it enables designers to build reusable animation systems, bind spreadsheets and JSON data to graphics, and export to video, image sequences, Lottie, SVG, or PDF. The software is free for individual artists and supports commercial use; organizations can access it through Canva Enterprise or Canva Education with SSO.
What is it
A procedural 2D animation and motion design application that brings node-based, data-driven workflows to motion graphics.
What it can do
Build real-time animation systems, connect external data sources to drive motion, rig characters with Rubber Hose and Rig Control, and export to Lottie, video, or image sequences without manually keyframing every element.
Who is it for
Motion designers, animators, broadcast artists, and creative teams who need scalable, reusable motion graphics for social content, presentations, data visualizations, and brand systems.
Key Features
Rig Control — Character rigging system
Create reusable character rigs and control multiple parameters from a single interface, making it easier to animate complex characters and objects consistently.
Rubber Hose — Bendy limb animation
Build flexible, stretchy limbs and connectors that maintain smooth curves, commonly used for character arms, legs, and dynamic line-based motion.
Connect Shapes — Procedural shape networks
Link shapes, lines, and paths so that changing one element propagates through the entire system, keeping animations editable and consistent.
Color Palettes — Centralized color management
Define and apply color palettes across a project so a single adjustment updates every element that references it, ideal for brand consistency.
Use Cases
Social Media Motion Graphics
Motion designers create short, branded animations for social feeds by driving text, color, and shape systems with reusable templates.
Animated Explainer Videos
Designers build procedural scenes for product explainers, making it easy to update copy, colors, or data without rebuilding timelines.
Data-Driven Broadcast Graphics
Broadcast teams connect live spreadsheets or JSON feeds to lower thirds, scoreboards, and info panels that update automatically.
Brand System Animation
Creative teams encode logo, color, and motion rules into reusable rigs so every deliverable follows the same visual system.
Pricing plans
Free to use
This tool is listed as free. There is no paid pricing page to show here—visit the official site for any usage limits, quotas, or terms of service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Discussion
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