How to convert a Static Mesh to a Skeletal Mesh without leaving Unreal Engine 5.3

Don't forget: Enable the "Skeletal Mesh Modeling Tools" plugin

A feature that I wish had been in the engine a long time ago is here... the ability to convert static meshes to skeletal meshes in editor.

This is going to be a very fast how-to video as it really is just one click. Or three, but I guess depends how you look at it :D

Skeletal meshes unlock a lot of the engine's power, like cloth, simulations and Niagara integrations. This video shows you how simple it now is in Unreal 5.3 preview!

Thanks to the creators who showed off just what you can do with Skeletal Meshes:

====

#ue4 #ue5 #fastchaos #fastchaostv #unrealengine #unrealengine5

[osallivan]

You should have mentioned that you need to turn the "Skeletal Mesh Editing Tools" plugin ON in order to have this option.

[stargamesstudio]

Saved me from days of grief!! Thank you!

[MichaelRoyalty]

Have you tried converting a static mesh that has multiple materials? I'm finding the Skeletal Mesh condenses it all down to a single material layer upon conversion.

[DoctorMGL]

dayum i didn't know this, thank you

[douglaslassance]

Could not find how to update the mesh after having edited weights.

[UnrealAdventuresPlayground]

Can I use this to rig characters to use the new UE5 Manny rig?

[davidedemurodominijanni]

I ended up here seeking a video about the Skeletal Merging plugin, which is integrated by Epic in the editor... apparently is not covered anywhere at all, even the documentation by Epic is quite useless at least for me. Anyway, I already used the new experimental plugin which, using the filter "skelet" in the search, is right above the one I mentioned before and created a skeleton for a robot model which wasn't rigged... couldn't make any animation yet so I dunno how pretty good or bad I used it but the tool itself is supercool indeed!

[armondtanz]

just curios to know, ive got a imported fbx character, it has some mesh issues, only very slight, is there any way i can tweek the mesh?

[fastchaostv]

This is going to be a very fast how-to video as it really is just one click. Or three, but I guess depends how you look at it :D

[deathstargaming]

the convert to skeletal mesh buton doesn't exist for me.