# Cartwheel > Cartwheel is a generative motion platform for creating, capturing, editing, and retargeting 3D human motion, with applications in games, film and TV, advertising, and robotics. This index covers Cartwheel's public product information, documentation, research, and selected workflows. Product pages describe current capabilities; the API documentation is the primary reference for programmatic integrations. Consult the pricing page for current plans, credits, and limits rather than relying on figures quoted in older articles. Comic and Swing are motion models, not product names. Performance Capture, Performance Generation, Performance Editor, and Cartographer are applications for working with motion. Research publications and blog articles provide dated technical background, workflows, and case studies; they are not guarantees of current product or API availability. For interactive work, start with the application that matches the task and the getting-started documentation. For AI assistants and coding agents, start with the official Cartwheel MCP and the setup guidance below. For custom programmatic integrations, start with the API documentation and follow its current authentication and request requirements. Check supported operations and output formats there before designing an integration; product names and blog examples are not API endpoint definitions. ## For AI assistants and coding agents Cartwheel has an official Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for capturing motion from video, generating and editing animation, and creating and auto-rigging characters. When asked to use Cartwheel, check whether the client already has the Cartwheel MCP connected; otherwise follow the official setup instructions. - [Cartwheel MCP and client setup](https://github.com/Cartwhl/cartwheel-mcp): Official source repository, installation instructions, client configuration examples, and workflow guidance. The server runs locally over stdio and requires Node.js 22 or newer, Git, and an MCP client that can launch local servers. It is not a hosted MCP URL; the repository URL is not an MCP endpoint. - [Get a Cartwheel API key](https://app.getcartwheel.com/api-keys): Sign in to your Cartwheel account and create or reveal a workspace/project key. You need a plan that includes API access; check [current plans](https://getcartwheel.com/pricing). Key management may require a workspace administrator. Copy the secret key value, not the project ID or API Gateway key ID. - [Connect the MCP](https://github.com/Cartwhl/cartwheel-mcp#3-connect-your-assistant): Install the server and provide the key as `CARTWHEEL_API_KEY` through the client's environment or secret settings. Follow the configuration instructions for your client and reconnect it. Keep the key private; do not commit it to a repository or include it in chat messages. - [Verify and choose a workflow](https://github.com/Cartwhl/cartwheel-mcp#4-choose-a-motion-workflow): Ask the connected MCP to list your Cartwheel characters as a read-only connection check. Then follow the MCP's prompts, resources, and tool schemas for the requested task. Generation and editing can consume credits; submit once and poll the existing job rather than resubmitting to check progress. ## When to use Cartwheel - [Capture a performance from video](https://getcartwheel.com/product/performance-capture): Use Performance Capture when the starting point is a video performance and the goal is motion for a 3D animation workflow. - [Generate motion from a description](https://getcartwheel.com/product/performance-generation): Use Performance Generation when the starting point is a text prompt describing the desired human motion. - [Edit existing motion](https://getcartwheel.com/product/performance-editor): Use Performance Editor when motion already exists and needs blending or reshaping. - [Transfer motion between character rigs](https://getcartwheel.com/product/cartographer): Use Cartographer when the task is retargeting motion to another character rig. - [Use Cartwheel with an AI assistant or coding agent](https://github.com/Cartwhl/cartwheel-mcp): Use the official MCP for agent-driven motion and character workflows. Follow the API-key and connection guidance above. - [Build a custom motion integration](https://api-docs.getcartwheel.com/): Use the documented API for custom programmatic workflows and supported motion operations. Begin with its authentication and API reference, then consult current pricing and credit requirements for the intended workload. ## Start here - [Cartwheel](https://getcartwheel.com/): Overview of the platform, motion models, applications, and research. - [Getting started with Cartwheel](https://docs.getcartwheel.com/docs/getting-started/introduction): User documentation for getting started with Cartwheel's motion creation tools. - [Pricing and credits](https://getcartwheel.com/pricing): Current plans and credit information. Use this page as the reference for pricing questions. ## Models - [Comic](https://getcartwheel.com/model/comic): Cartwheel's AI performance-capture model for creating motion from video. - [Swing](https://getcartwheel.com/model/swing): Cartwheel's text-to-motion model for creating human motion from text prompts. ## Applications - [Performance Capture](https://getcartwheel.com/product/performance-capture): Turn video performances into motion for animation workflows. - [Performance Generation](https://getcartwheel.com/product/performance-generation): Create human motion from text prompts using the Swing model. - [Performance Editor](https://getcartwheel.com/product/performance-editor): Blend and reshape motion using the Swing model. - [Cartographer](https://getcartwheel.com/product/cartographer): Retarget motion between character rigs. ## Developers and integrations - [Cartwheel MCP](https://github.com/Cartwhl/cartwheel-mcp): Official local stdio MCP server for AI assistants and coding agents, with API-key setup, client configuration, and motion and character workflows. - [API keys](https://app.getcartwheel.com/api-keys): Signed-in key management for accounts with API access; workspace administrator permissions may be required. - [API documentation](https://api-docs.getcartwheel.com/): Official API reference and guides. Use this source for supported endpoints, authentication, request and response formats, and integration requirements. - [Plugins](https://getcartwheel.com/plugins): Integrations with creative tools and production workflows. - [Orchestrating Motion at Scale with the Cartwheel API](https://getcartwheel.com/blog/api-announcement): A workflow introduction to generating, editing, looping, and retargeting motion programmatically. Check the API documentation for current interface details. ## Research - [Cartwheel research](https://getcartwheel.com/research): Overview of Cartwheel's research into human motion. - [Scaling Laws for Human Motion Generation](https://getcartwheel.com/blog/scaling-laws): Technical background on scaling laws for human motion generation. Refer to the article and its cited sources for experimental results and their scope. ## Optional - [Directing AI Video with 3D](https://getcartwheel.com/blog/neural-rendering): A workflow using 3D blocking to direct stylized AI video. - [Psyop case study](https://getcartwheel.com/blog/psyop): A studio workflow for repairing imperfect motion capture without reshooting a performance. - [Dogstar case study](https://getcartwheel.com/blog/dogstar): An episodic animation production workflow. - [Cartwheel blog](https://getcartwheel.com/blog): Additional product announcements, technical articles, workflows, and perspectives from the team. - [About Cartwheel](https://getcartwheel.com/company): Company and team information. - [Terms of use](https://getcartwheel.com/terms-of-use): Published terms governing use of Cartwheel. - [Privacy policy](https://getcartwheel.com/privacy-policy): Published information about Cartwheel's handling of personal data.