Agora Studio has released two new animation sample projects for Unreal Engine: the A-COM Animation Sample and A-COM Animatic Sample. These projects are designed for Unreal Engine 5.6, with an update for UE 5.7 expected soon. They provide a complete look into how to storyboard and animate a short film entirely within Unreal Engine.
The samples are based on a five-part short film series that examines the same event from five different character perspectives. The second installment, Beta’s Intro, was developed fully in Unreal Engine 5 and serves as the foundation for these learning resources.
The A-COM Animation Sample
The A-COM Animation Sample demonstrates a full animation pipeline, covering everything from rigging and keyframe animation to lighting, visual effects, and rendering—all managed directly within UE5. Every asset, animation, and tool used in the short film is included, giving aspiring animators a chance to understand how a professional pipeline operates end to end.
At the core of production is Sequencer, Unreal Engine’s timeline-based editing tool. Agora Studio used Sequencer as their “master edit,” allowing them to integrate animation, camera work, and environmental design in a single space. Adjustments to timing and layout were made dynamically, without the need to switch between multiple applications.
Visual effects were created using a combination of Niagara particle simulations and 2D FX via the Image Plate plugin, blending hand-drawn artistry with real-time rendering. This approach gave the team precise control over how effects were layered, creating cinematic depth and polish.
The A-COM Animatic Sample
The Animatic Sample lets users explore a timed, animated version of Beta’s Intro storyboard, essentially acting as a rough draft for the final animation. The project leverages Praxinos Odyssey, a versatile 2D animation toolkit for Unreal Engine 5.6 and above. Odyssey allows artists to:
• Create and animate 2D assets using Flipbooks or Odyssey animation tools
• Paint directly on textures to stylize characters, props, foliage, or post-processing effects
• Manage storyboards with layers, brushes, color palettes, and an integrated sequencer
By combining 2D elements with a 3D scene, artists can block shots, animate characters, and experiment with dynamic camera movement in real time. Early storyboard sequences can be imported and expanded upon using Odyssey, offering a hybrid workflow that bridges storyboarding and cinematic layout.
Learning Opportunities for Animators
For beginners, these sample projects provide a hands-on introduction to UE5 animation, covering asset management, Control Rig basics, and keyframe animation. For experienced animators, the projects reveal advanced workflows, including pipeline organization, lighting techniques, and modular rigging strategies.
Supporting learning resources include an overview video from Agora Studio co-director Marco Foglia, as well as a four-part tutorial series from Unreal Animation Fellowship Mentor Sir Wade Neistadt. The tutorials cover camera and lighting setup, importing and editing mocap data, keyframe animation, and professional best practices for Sequencer, animation layers, constraints, and motion trails.
Get Started with the A-COM Sample Projects
Dive into a full UE 5.6 project featuring stylized biped and quadruped animations in a cinematic environment. Explore how to storyboard, animate, and refine characters in Unreal Engine with the Praxinos Odyssey plugin.
• Download the Animation Sample
• Download the Animatic Sample
Agora Studio’s projects provide a complete, professional-grade reference for learning animation, storytelling, and visual effects entirely within Unreal Engine.
