Agora Studio has released two free sample projects for Unreal Engine 5.6, detailing their entire cinematic pipeline, from 2D in-engine storyboarding using the Odyssey plugin to final render choreography, dynamic rigging, and sophisticated VFX implementation.
Agora Studio, a leader in high-end real-time production, has generously shared its pipeline expertise by releasing two free, comprehensive sample projects built entirely in Unreal Engine 5.6. These resources, derived from their original short film series *A-COM* (featuring five archetypes dealing with a robot attack), serve as an invaluable teaching tool for anyone looking to optimize their cinematic and Virtual Production workflows.
The projects demonstrate every step, from early Previsualization to complex final animation, utilizing cutting-edge UE features like Lumen and the innovative Odyssey plugin.
Deconstructing the Final Animation Sample
The first project, the A-COM Animation Sample, focuses on the final production pipeline and showcases the high fidelity achievable in real-time. Marco Foglia of Agora Studio guides users through the project structure, explaining how they organized assets (Characters, Locations, Props, VFX) and maintained efficient production files within the Episodes folder.
This sample is a masterclass in Sequencer management. The edit setup uses staggered shot tracks and a master audio track, allowing users to navigate and render seamlessly. For final output, the team utilized the Movie Render Queue and Movie Render Graph (MRG) configuration, optimized for clean, high-quality output.
Advanced Rigging and Real-Time Dynamics
A highlight of the project is the sophisticated character rigs for the organic hero, Beta, and the mechanical Robot. These rigs mimic traditional DCC (Digital Content Creation) styles, featuring IK/FK switching and bendy controls for maximum expressiveness.
Crucially, Marco Foglia demonstrates how they achieved automatically generated, real-time hair dynamics that can be tweaked on the fly, a massive benefit for rapid iteration in production. Lighting is managed efficiently via the Master Level and enhanced by a dedicated BP Light Manager Blueprint, enabling quick toggling of emissive states for effects like alarm sequences. Even the VFX pipeline is streamlined, combining internal Niagara systems for volumetric effects (like smoke and thrusters) with 2D screen-space effects (like lasers and sparks) created externally and placed as unlit image planes.
Mastering Previs: The A-COM Animatic Workflow
The second project, the A-COM Animatic Sample, is revolutionary for bridging the gap between traditional Storyboarding and 3D layout. Story viz artist Pascal provides a detailed walkthrough of using the Odyssey plugin within Unreal Engine to create animatics entirely in-engine.
This workflow allows directors and artists to sketch, time, and iterate on 2D poses and action directly within the 3D environment, using the same assets and cameras that will be used for the final scene. Pascal demonstrates the Odyssey Sequencer, a specialized interface that manages drawing layers, cell behaviors (looping, ping-pong), and image planes, making it ideal for rapid Concept Art iteration.
Hybrid 2D/3D Shot Composition
Odyssey mode enables powerful features like onion-skinning for detailed pose work and includes a separate 2D viewport for less cluttered drawing. The flexibility of this approach is immense: you can attach 2D planes directly to the camera track for movement or detach them to keep them fixed in 3D space. When standard Unreal actors, like the BP Light Manager, need to be integrated into the board sequence, Pascal explains the essential step of converting the Board Sequence to a regular Level Sequence via a scripted action—a necessary bridge for managing full cinematic control and transferring elements to a master edit.
Accessing These Free Production Samples
Both the A-COM Animation Sample and the A-COM Animatic Sample are available for Free on Fab, the Epic Games Marketplace for production assets. These assets are highly recommended for educators, students, and professionals seeking to study best practices in real-time cinematic production using Unreal Engine 5.6.
Be sure to download and install the Odyssey plugin before attempting to open the Animatic project: Download Odyssey Plugin Here.
Conclusion
Agora Studio’s decision to release these samples offers an unparalleled look into a robust, high-efficiency cinematic workflow. Whether you are focusing on the intricacies of real-time rigging and VFX integration showcased by Marco Foglia, or the revolutionary in-engine previs methods demonstrated by Pascal, these Asset Packs provide a definitive roadmap for modern production. Leveraging the power of Unreal Engine 5.6 for both story development and final rendering means teams can iterate faster and maintain creative consistency from concept to final frame. If you’re looking to dive deeper into maximizing your development projects, explore our articles on Unreal Engine’s Lighting & Rendering and advanced VFX & Simulation techniques within the engine. For a broader overview, check out our dedicated section on Unreal Engine resources.
Sources:
A-COM Animation Sample Walkthrough
A-COM Animatic Sample – Overview
A-COM Animatic Sample – Reference Render
A-COM Animation Sample – Final Render (Reference)
A-COM Animatic Sample | Fab
A-COM Animation Sample | Fab
