MMd

MikuMikuDance (MMD) is a freeware 3D animation program for Windows, created by Yu Higuchi and released in 2008. It allows users to pose and animate 3D character models, apply motion data, and render anime-style clips. Although closely associated with Hatsune Miku, MMD supports a wide range of models from Vocaloid and other sources.

Key features include skeletal animation with inverse kinematics, facial expressions and lip-sync, camera and lighting controls, and physics simulation for hair and clothing. Models are imported in PMD or PMX formats, and motion data in VMD format can be applied and edited on a timeline. Rendering can be enhanced with plugins such as MikuMikuEffects (MME).

Impact and use: MMD popularized fan-made music videos and dance performances on Nico Nico Douga and YouTube. It fostered a large community of model creators, motion editors, and plugin developers who share resources and tutorials. While official development has slowed, ongoing community support continues to extend functionality and compatibility.

Platform and licensing: MMD is distributed as freeware for Windows. While the software itself is free, the licenses for individual models, motions, and effects vary; users must respect the rights of model and motion data creators. The program is primarily Windows-based, with occasional efforts to run on other platforms via compatibility layers.