Cavalry Studio

What is Cavalry Studio?

Cavalry Studio is a professional 2D animation and motion graphics application developed by Canva, available completely free for Mac and Windows. It uses a data-driven, procedural approach to animation, allowing users to build complex motion graphics scenes with live data connections and real-time previews. Cavalry supports a wide range of animation techniques including path animations, shape manipulation, particle systems, and timing curves. It is designed for both individual designers and studio teams who need scalable, reusable animation workflows without expensive licensing fees.

How to use Cavalry Studio?

1. Download Cavalry Studio for free from cavalry.studio and install it on your Mac or Windows machine.
2. Open a new scene and set up your canvas size and frame rate based on your output target (social media, broadcast, web, etc.).
3. Import assets such as SVGs, images, or text and begin building your animation using Cavalry's shape and object layers.
4. Use the Timeline and Graph Editor to set keyframes, adjust easing curves, and create smooth motion transitions.
5. Preview your animation in real time, then export to video formats or image sequences for use in your projects.

Core Features

• Real-Time Rendering — Previews animations instantly as you build, eliminating the need for slow render passes during the design phase.
• Data-Driven Animation — Connect live data sources to animate charts, text, and graphics dynamically without manual updates.
• Procedural Design System — Build reusable animation rigs and templates that can be updated globally across scenes.
• Shape & Path Animation — Create complex vector shape morphs, path-following animations, and SVG-based motion with precision.
• Particle Systems — Generate advanced particle effects for dynamic backgrounds, transitions, and generative art visuals.
• Timeline & Graph Editor — Fine-tune animation timing with a full-featured timeline and Bezier easing curve editor.
• Free for All Users — The full desktop application is available at no cost, backed by Canva with enterprise options available.

Use Cases

• Social Media Content Creators — Build eye-catching animated posts, stories, and reels with professional motion without subscribing to expensive tools.
• Motion Designers & Animators — Create broadcast-quality title cards, lower thirds, and logo animations using advanced procedural workflows.
• Marketing Teams — Produce animated banners, product showcases, and brand videos with data-driven content that updates automatically.
• UI/UX Designers — Prototype animated UI transitions and micro-interactions for presentations and design handoffs.
• Educators & Students — Learn professional D animation techniques with a fully-featured tool available for free in academic settings.