BVH vs FBX for animation – which format to use
BVH is a simple text format with only a skeleton and its motion – ideal for retargeting in Blender, MotionBuilder or Maya. FBX carries a rigged character (mesh, skeleton, animation) and is the standard for Unity and Unreal. GLB / glTF is the open format for Godot, the web and Blender.
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Which one for you
- Unity / Unreal – FBX.
- Godot, three.js, web, Blender – GLB / glTF.
- Retargeting, motion libraries, MotionBuilder – BVH.
All three from one video
KinemIQ exports the same animation as FBX, GLB / glTF or BVH – root motion or in place, the whole timeline or one block.
Frequently asked questions
Does BVH include the character mesh?
No. BVH holds only the skeleton and its rotations per frame.
Is FBX better quality than BVH?
The motion can be the same; FBX adds the rigged character and engine-friendly settings.
Which format is the smallest?
Usually GLB for a whole character with animation; BVH for motion only.
More with KinemIQ: Video to 3D animation · Video to motion · Free AI mocap from video · Video to FBX · Video to BVH · Martial arts animation · Ragdoll animation · Mocap from a phone video · FBX animation for Unity · Mocap for Unreal Engine · Mocap to Blender · Text to animation · 5-minute guide · All guides and answers