# Free animated character 3D models for three.js (GLB, CC BY)
https://paprika3d.com/docs/models/animated-characters
24 free animated characters for three.js from the 3,040 in the paprika3d asset library (CC BY), as meshopt GLB files: each with its author, license, credit line, triangles and file size, and the asset_search call that fetches it.
## What the library holds
The paprika3d asset library holds 3,040 animated characters among its 57,732 models. All of them are licensed CC BY 4.0, which asks you to credit the author wherever you use the model; each card below carries the credit line to paste.
2,764 of the 3,040 pass the library's quality checks: textured (or drawn in vertex colours, for a low-poly or voxel model), not flat, at most 15 MB, with a name, a description and a real-world height. Among those, the median model has 11,400 triangles, with the middle half between 3,960 and 27,100, and the median file is 0.38 MB, with nine in ten at most 1.1 MB. The median one stands 1.7 m tall at real size. None carries a texture over 1024 px. 2,764 are animated and 2,505 rigged. The most common styles are stylized (1,319), realistic (489) and low-poly (399).
## Animated characters in a three.js scene
Every one of these 2,764 is animated, and 2,505 are rigged. Play one with an `AnimationMixer`: `mixer.clipAction(gltf.animations[0]).play()`, then `mixer.update(dt)` each frame with the frame's time in seconds. Find a clip by name with `THREE.AnimationClip.findByName(gltf.animations, 'Run')`; many files hold a single clip named after the move.
For a character controller, blend between idle, walk and run with `crossFadeTo` over a fraction of a second, and match the walk's `timeScale` to the speed so the feet do not slide. Clips with root motion move the hips forward and snap back at each loop; an in-place clip, or one with the hips' position track removed, lets your code move the character instead.
Several copies of one character need `SkeletonUtils.clone`. The median file is 0.38 MB, and none carries a 2048 px texture.
## Fetch one and load it
With the paprika3d plugin in Claude Code, or its MCP server in any other agent, the agent searches the library in words or picks a model by the id on its card. `pick` downloads the file into the project's `assets/` folder (`public/assets/` under vite), adds the credit line to `assets/CREDITS.md` and answers with the code that loads it at real size. Give `cwd`, the project folder, as with every paprika3d tool.
```text
asset_search {"query": "animated character", "cwd": "."}
asset_search {"pick": "2c78dd65f2d0483f8ab9a97151d840f5", "cwd": "."}
```
Every file is a binary glTF (.glb) compressed with meshopt, so GLTFLoader needs the meshopt decoder that ships with three.js. The origin sits at the bottom centre of each model, so it stands on the floor where you place it:
```js
import * as THREE from 'three';
import { GLTFLoader } from 'three/addons/loaders/GLTFLoader.js';
import { MeshoptDecoder } from 'three/addons/libs/meshopt_decoder.module.js';
const loader = new GLTFLoader().setMeshoptDecoder(MeshoptDecoder);
const gltf = await loader.loadAsync('assets/walking-1-2c78dd.glb');
scene.add(gltf.scene);
```
## 24 animated characters to start from
Chosen from the 2,764 that pass the checks: the ones agents picked most through `asset_search` first, then the ones whose name says what they are, then lighter files, with at most 2 per author. Each CC BY card ends with its credit line: paste it into your credits, as the license requires.
**[Walking (1)](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/2c78dd65f2d0483f8ab9a97151d840f5)** by [nalindwivedi](https://sketchfab.com/nalindwivedi)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 7,286 triangles · 0.227 MB · realistic · 1.8 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "2c78dd65f2d0483f8ab9a97151d840f5"}`
Credit: "Walking (1)" by nalindwivedi (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/2c78dd65f2d0483f8ab9a97151d840f5) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Walk,Run and Idle](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/5405f7e3874b4941ac12a88714b074ee)** by [C. Anastasiadis](https://sketchfab.com/bagatir)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 2,962 triangles · 0.153 MB · low-poly · 1.8 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "5405f7e3874b4941ac12a88714b074ee"}`
Credit: "Walk,Run and Idle" by C. Anastasiadis (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/5405f7e3874b4941ac12a88714b074ee) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Idle 1 Male Free Animation (200 frames loop)](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/4add87eb9b7744c593e6684c5df3551b)** by [Denys Almaral](https://sketchfab.com/denysalmaral)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 1,552 triangles · 0.085 MB · low-poly · 1.75 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "4add87eb9b7744c593e6684c5df3551b"}`
Credit: "Idle 1 Male Free Animation (200 frames loop)" by Denys Almaral (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/4add87eb9b7744c593e6684c5df3551b) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Thriller Part 2](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/8e8a441c60b64eeb97eccbf6beea1c8b)** by [panoramaar](https://sketchfab.com/panoramaar)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 15,646 triangles · 0.438 MB · realistic · 1.75 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "8e8a441c60b64eeb97eccbf6beea1c8b"}`
Credit: "Thriller Part 2" by panoramaar (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/8e8a441c60b64eeb97eccbf6beea1c8b) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[MUSCLEMAN](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/86943420b6b14c2da8d32d8d6ef25a08)** by [ledtocreate](https://sketchfab.com/ledtocreate)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 27,340 triangles · 0.46 MB · realistic · 1.8 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "86943420b6b14c2da8d32d8d6ef25a08"}`
Credit: "MUSCLEMAN" by ledtocreate (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/86943420b6b14c2da8d32d8d6ef25a08) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Fat Leader Final Low](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/c92995a6858e4738ba60e197478c4041)** by [Fazlul Karim](https://sketchfab.com/rabbyml)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 7,436 triangles · 0.236 MB · realistic · 1.75 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "c92995a6858e4738ba60e197478c4041"}`
Credit: "Fat Leader Final Low" by Fazlul Karim (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/c92995a6858e4738ba60e197478c4041) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Schiavo greco che cammina](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/9002a16bf09f48fdac8acba61b52ea0c)** by [susiloche61](https://sketchfab.com/susannaloche61)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 39,311 triangles · 0.879 MB · realistic · 1.75 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "9002a16bf09f48fdac8acba61b52ea0c"}`
Credit: "Schiavo greco che cammina" by susiloche61 (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/9002a16bf09f48fdac8acba61b52ea0c) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Yuri Standing Idle](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/8ea23673d5314509960f8967a45ea761)** by [yuriannoue](https://sketchfab.com/yuriannoue)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 7,544 triangles · 0.213 MB · realistic · 1.8 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "8ea23673d5314509960f8967a45ea761"}`
Credit: "Yuri Standing Idle" by yuriannoue (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/8ea23673d5314509960f8967a45ea761) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Gentleman](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/5dc5b68edee74633a2dcb81ff1b70c78)** by [Kleuber Cardoso](https://sketchfab.com/Kleuber)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 2,436 triangles · 0.52 MB · low-poly · 1.8 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "5dc5b68edee74633a2dcb81ff1b70c78"}`
Credit: "Gentleman" by Kleuber Cardoso (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/5dc5b68edee74633a2dcb81ff1b70c78) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Rigginavatar](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/02c9fd6f586a4900b1e9f83e05ecc4b2)** by [anguser](https://sketchfab.com/anguser)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 13,978 triangles · 0.662 MB · stylized · 1.75 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "02c9fd6f586a4900b1e9f83e05ecc4b2"}`
Credit: "Rigginavatar" by anguser (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/02c9fd6f586a4900b1e9f83e05ecc4b2) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Gangnam](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/255dae3bc0e3483382178a1b7b80d34f)** by [dmeeker](https://sketchfab.com/dmeeker)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 18,232 triangles · 0.277 MB · realistic · 1.75 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "255dae3bc0e3483382178a1b7b80d34f"}`
Credit: "Gangnam" by dmeeker (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/255dae3bc0e3483382178a1b7b80d34f) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Bigone](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/deb3c7c6953e4314a7d85854715987d7)** by [klrxyz](https://sketchfab.com/klrxyz)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 16,819 triangles · 0.328 MB · realistic · 1.8 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "deb3c7c6953e4314a7d85854715987d7"}`
Credit: "Bigone" by klrxyz (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/deb3c7c6953e4314a7d85854715987d7) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Cyborg shoots a rocket missile from his blaster](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/c6559bc2a1c84de3819720a0e91aebcc)** by [acharlie2019](https://sketchfab.com/acharlie2019)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 606 triangles · 0.046 MB · low-poly · 1.8 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "c6559bc2a1c84de3819720a0e91aebcc"}`
Credit: "Cyborg shoots a rocket missile from his blaster" by acharlie2019 (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/c6559bc2a1c84de3819720a0e91aebcc) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Hip Hop Dancing (2)](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/a8c0906a6c0747e8b9296d7b65065fc9)** by [miyake](https://sketchfab.com/miyake)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 21,008 triangles · 0.41 MB · stylized · 1.5 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "a8c0906a6c0747e8b9296d7b65065fc9"}`
Credit: "Hip Hop Dancing (2)" by miyake (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/a8c0906a6c0747e8b9296d7b65065fc9) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Carter Cameron: Max Form](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/69bf6e4cf1de4069aaa12e9c6940a735)** by [KillrWolf](https://sketchfab.com/KillrWolf)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 11,322 triangles · 0.354 MB · stylized · 2.2 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "69bf6e4cf1de4069aaa12e9c6940a735"}`
Credit: "Carter Cameron: Max Form" by KillrWolf (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/69bf6e4cf1de4069aaa12e9c6940a735) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Eggface](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/80a5389fbf1f4c23899a329668437101)** by [jorgefuentes](https://sketchfab.com/jorgefuentes)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 6,949 triangles · 0.201 MB · toon · 0.5 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "80a5389fbf1f4c23899a329668437101"}`
Credit: "Eggface" by jorgefuentes (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/80a5389fbf1f4c23899a329668437101) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Knight Groinshot 2](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/c3fdb13cf78d44a8a098682e16c60822)** by [s0vereignty](https://sketchfab.com/s0vereignty)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 9,914 triangles · 0.359 MB · stylized · 1.9 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "c3fdb13cf78d44a8a098682e16c60822"}`
Credit: "Knight Groinshot 2" by s0vereignty (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/c3fdb13cf78d44a8a098682e16c60822) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Eliza](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/3646140a4c66446cbb759d7f8553e40d)** by [Hugo Armando Villadiego A](https://sketchfab.com/HugoVilladiego)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 30,796 triangles · 1.126 MB · realistic · 1.7 m tall · animated
`asset_search {"pick": "3646140a4c66446cbb759d7f8553e40d"}`
Credit: "Eliza" by Hugo Armando Villadiego A (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/3646140a4c66446cbb759d7f8553e40d) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Charcter Walking](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/31eba0e0bd054a81a6e67879b717e9b4)** by [HamzaGunem](https://sketchfab.com/HamzaGunem)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 1,625 triangles · 0.158 MB · stylized · 1.8 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "31eba0e0bd054a81a6e67879b717e9b4"}`
Credit: "Charcter Walking" by HamzaGunem (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/31eba0e0bd054a81a6e67879b717e9b4) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Superfly](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/6d256677c0ad4d6a8e2d949e31c875a9)** by [ivansilum](https://sketchfab.com/ivansilum)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 33,356 triangles · 1.04 MB · toon · 1.7 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "6d256677c0ad4d6a8e2d949e31c875a9"}`
Credit: "Superfly" by ivansilum (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/6d256677c0ad4d6a8e2d949e31c875a9) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[106th Trooper](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/890274ad48944a0689b00930931b987a)** by [garith](https://sketchfab.com/garith)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 5,219 triangles · 0.85 MB · stylized · 1.8 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "890274ad48944a0689b00930931b987a"}`
Credit: "106th Trooper" by garith (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/890274ad48944a0689b00930931b987a) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[GATO FINAL 2020](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/9aa921dd58764922b5f25649bd178d60)** by [VieriCarpio](https://sketchfab.com/VieriCarpio)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 30,750 triangles · 0.768 MB · stylized · 1.3 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "9aa921dd58764922b5f25649bd178d60"}`
Credit: "GATO FINAL 2020" by VieriCarpio (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/9aa921dd58764922b5f25649bd178d60) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Belly Dance](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/c8b78529d1b34ee088488e4715eee472)** by [gigimcleish](https://sketchfab.com/gigimcleish)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 4,251 triangles · 0.305 MB · toon · 1 m tall · animated · rigged
`asset_search {"pick": "c8b78529d1b34ee088488e4715eee472"}`
Credit: "Belly Dance" by gigimcleish (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/c8b78529d1b34ee088488e4715eee472) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
**[Low Poly Archer (Rigged)](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/572c487b457745f5985b6691dcea0e21)** by [Yanez Designs](https://sketchfab.com/Yanez-Designs)
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · 1,323 triangles · 0.047 MB · low-poly · 1.8 m tall · animated
`asset_search {"pick": "572c487b457745f5985b6691dcea0e21"}`
Credit: "Low Poly Archer (Rigged)" by Yanez Designs (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/572c487b457745f5985b6691dcea0e21) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Optimized for the web by paprika3D.
## Related
- [Free soldier 3D models for three.js (GLB, CC BY)](https://paprika3d.com/docs/models/soldiers)
- [Free zombie 3D models for three.js (GLB, CC BY)](https://paprika3d.com/docs/models/zombies)
- [Free pirate 3D models for three.js (GLB, CC BY)](https://paprika3d.com/docs/models/pirates)
- [Free robot 3D models for three.js (GLB, CC BY)](https://paprika3d.com/docs/models/robots)
Counts from the library's catalog on 2026-10-28. The models are their authors' work under the license on each card; paprika3d converted them for the web.
Updated 2026-10-28.