Unity Cinemachine

Cinemachine Skills

Requirements

• com.unity.cinemachine (≥ 3.1). Recipes target Cinemachine 3 API only (CinemachineCamera, Priority.Value). If the package is missing, install via Unity_PackageManager_ExecuteAction with operation=Add, package=com.unity.cinemachine, version=3.1.6.

Overview

Control Cinemachine virtual cameras, brains, extensions, and blend settings.

Common Mistakes

DO NOT (common hallucinations):

• cinemachine_create does not exist → use cinemachine_create_vcam for virtual cameras
• cinemachine_set_target / cinemachine_set_follow / cinemachine_set_lookat do not exist → use cinemachine_set_targets (sets both Follow and LookAt in one call)
• cinemachine_add_brain does not exist → CinemachineBrain is auto-added to Main Camera
• The runtime type is CinemachineCamera (CM3), not CinemachineVirtualCamera (CM2). Priority reads/writes go through .Priority.Value.

Routing:

• For basic Game Camera operations → use camera module
• For Scene View camera → use camera module's camera_set_transform/camera_look_at
• For camera animation sequences → use timeline module with Cinemachine track

Skills

cinemachine_create_vcam

Create a new Virtual Camera. Parameters:

• name (string): Name of the VCam GameObject.
• folder (string): Parent folder path (default: "Assets/Settings").

cinemachine_inspect_vcam

Deeply inspect a VCam, returning fields and tooltips. Parameters:

• vcamName (string, optional): Name of the VCam GameObject.
• instanceId (int, optional): VCam instance ID.
• path (string, optional): VCam hierarchy path.

cinemachine_set_vcam_property

Set any property on VCam or its pipeline components. Parameters:

• vcamName (string): Name of the VCam.
• instanceId (int, optional): VCam Instance ID.
• path (string, optional): VCam hierarchy path.
• componentType (string): "Main" (VCam itself), "Lens", or Component name (e.g. "OrbitalFollow").
• propertyName (string): Field or property name.
• value (object): New value.
• fov (float, optional): Lens FOV shortcut. When supplied without propertyName, routes to cinemachine_set_lens.
• nearClip (float, optional): Lens near clip shortcut.
• farClip (float, optional): Lens far clip shortcut.
• orthoSize (float, optional): Lens orthographic size shortcut.

cinemachine_set_targets

Set Follow and LookAt targets. Parameters:

• vcamName (string): Name of the VCam.
• instanceId (int, optional): VCam Instance ID (preferred for precision).
• path (string, optional): VCam hierarchy path.
• followName (string, optional): GameObject name to follow.
• lookAtName (string, optional): GameObject name to look at.

cinemachine_set_component

Switch VCam pipeline component (Body/Aim/Noise). Parameters:

• vcamName (string): Name of the VCam.
• stage (string): "Body", "Aim", or "Noise".
• componentType (string): Type name (e.g. "OrbitalFollow", "Composer") or "None" to remove.

cinemachine_add_component

DEPRECATED — Use cinemachine_set_component instead for proper pipeline control (Body/Aim/Noise stages). Add a Cinemachine component (legacy, supports CM2 and CM3). Parameters:

• vcamName (string): Name of the VCam.
• instanceId (int, optional): VCam Instance ID.
• path (string, optional): VCam hierarchy path.
• componentType (string): Type name (e.g., "OrbitalFollow").

cinemachine_set_lens

Quickly configure Lens settings (FOV, Near, Far, OrthoSize). Parameters:

• vcamName (string): Name of the VCam.
• fov (float, optional): Field of View.
• nearClip (float, optional): Near Clip Plane.
• farClip (float, optional): Far Clip Plane.
• orthoSize (float, optional): Orthographic Size.

cinemachine_list_components

List all available Cinemachine component names. Parameters:

• None.

cinemachine_impulse_generate

Trigger an Impulse at location or via Source. Parameters:

• sourceParams (string, optional): JSON string for parameters, e.g., {"velocity": {"x": 0, "y": -1, "z": 0}}.

cinemachine_get_brain_info

Get info about the Active Camera and Blend. Parameters:

• None.

cinemachine_create_target_group

Create a CinemachineTargetGroup. Parameters:

• name (string): Name of the new TargetGroup GameObject.

cinemachine_target_group_add_member

Add or update a member in a TargetGroup. Parameters:

• groupName (string): Name of the TargetGroup.
• targetName (string): Name of the member GameObject.
• weight (float): Member weight (default 1).
• radius (float): Member radius (default 1).

cinemachine_target_group_remove_member

Remove a member from a TargetGroup. Parameters:

• groupName (string): Name of the TargetGroup.
• targetName (string): Name of the member GameObject.

cinemachine_set_spline

Assign a SplineContainer to a VCam's SplineDolly component (Body stage). Parameters:

• vcamName (string): Name of the VCam.
• splineName (string): Name of the GameObject with SplineContainer.

cinemachine_add_extension

Add a CinemachineExtension to a VCam. Parameters:

• vcamName (string): Name of the VCam.
• extensionName (string): Type name of the extension (e.g., "CinemachineStoryboard", "CinemachineImpulseListener").

cinemachine_remove_extension

Remove a CinemachineExtension from a VCam. Parameters:

• vcamName (string): Name of the VCam.
• extensionName (string): Type name of the extension.

cinemachine_set_active

Force activation of a VCam (SOLO) by setting highest priority. Parameters:

• vcamName (string): Name of the VCam to activate.

cinemachine_create_mixing_camera

Create a Cinemachine Mixing Camera. Parameters:

• name (string): Name of the new GameObject.

cinemachine_mixing_camera_set_weight

Set the weight of a child camera within a Mixing Camera. Parameters:

• mixerName (string): Name of the Mixing Camera.
• childName (string): Name of the child VCam.
• weight (float): Weight value (usually 0.0 to 1.0).

cinemachine_create_clear_shot

Create a Cinemachine Clear Shot Camera. Parameters:

• name (string): Name of the new GameObject.

cinemachine_create_state_driven_camera

Create a Cinemachine State Driven Camera. Parameters:

• name (string): Name of the new GameObject.
• targetAnimatorName (string, optional): Name of the GameObject with the Animator to bind.

cinemachine_state_driven_camera_add_instruction

Add a state mapping instruction to a State Driven Camera. Parameters:

• cameraName (string): Name of the State Driven Camera.
• stateName (string): Name of the animation state (e.g., "Run").
• childCameraName (string): Name of the child VCam to activate for this state.
• minDuration (float, optional): Minimum duration in seconds.
• activateAfter (float, optional): Delay in seconds before activation.

cinemachine_set_noise

Configure Noise settings (Basic Multi Channel Perlin). Parameters:

• vcamName (string): Name of the VCam.
• amplitudeGain (float): Noise Amplitude.
• frequencyGain (float): Noise Frequency.

cinemachine_set_priority

Set explicit priority value for a Virtual Camera. Higher priority wins activation. Parameters:

• vcamName (string, optional): VCam name. Provide one of name/instanceId/path.
• instanceId (int, optional): VCam Instance ID.
• path (string, optional): VCam hierarchy path.
• priority (int): Priority value (default 10).

cinemachine_set_blend

Set default blend or per-camera-pair blend on the CinemachineBrain. Leave fromCamera/toCamera empty for default blend. Parameters:

• style (string): Blend style — Cut/EaseInOut/EaseIn/EaseOut/HardIn/HardOut/Linear (default EaseInOut).
• time (float): Blend duration in seconds (default 2).
• fromCamera (string, optional): Source VCam name for per-pair blend.
• toCamera (string, optional): Destination VCam name for per-pair blend.

cinemachine_set_brain

Configure CinemachineBrain properties: update method, default blend, debug display. Parameters:

• updateMethod (string, optional): FixedUpdate/LateUpdate/SmartUpdate/ManualUpdate.
• blendUpdateMethod (string, optional): FixedUpdate/LateUpdate.
• defaultBlendStyle (string, optional): Blend style name (see cinemachine_set_blend).
• defaultBlendTime (float, optional): Default blend duration in seconds.
• showDebugText (bool, optional): Show Cinemachine debug text overlay.
• showCameraFrustum (bool, optional): Draw active camera frustum gizmo.
• ignoreTimeScale (bool, optional): Ignore Time.timeScale for blends.

cinemachine_create_sequencer

Create a Sequencer camera (CM3) or BlendList camera (CM2) that plays child cameras in sequence. Parameters:

• name (string): Name of the new GameObject.
• loop (bool): Whether to loop the sequence (default false).

cinemachine_sequencer_add_instruction

Add a child camera instruction to a Sequencer/BlendList camera. Parameters:

• sequencerName (string, optional): Sequencer camera name. Provide one of name/instanceId/path.
• sequencerInstanceId (int, optional): Sequencer Instance ID.
• sequencerPath (string, optional): Sequencer hierarchy path.
• childCameraName (string, optional): Child VCam name. Provide one of name/instanceId/path.
• childInstanceId (int, optional): Child VCam Instance ID.
• childPath (string, optional): Child VCam hierarchy path.
• hold (float): Duration to hold on this child in seconds (default 2).
• blendStyle (string): Blend style to use entering this child (default EaseInOut).
• blendTime (float): Blend duration in seconds (default 2).

cinemachine_create_freelook

Create a FreeLook camera. CM2 uses CinemachineFreeLook; CM3 builds CinemachineCamera + OrbitalFollow(ThreeRing) + RotationComposer. Parameters:

• name (string): Name of the new GameObject.
• followName (string, optional): GameObject to follow.
• lookAtName (string, optional): GameObject to look at.

cinemachine_configure_camera_manager

Configure ClearShot/StateDriven/Sequencer camera manager properties in one call. Applies only the properties whose matching component exists on the target. Parameters:

• cameraName (string, optional): Camera manager name. Provide one of name/instanceId/path.
• cameraInstanceId (int, optional): Camera manager Instance ID.
• cameraPath (string, optional): Camera manager hierarchy path.
• activateAfter (float, optional): ClearShot — delay before activation.
• minDuration (float, optional): ClearShot — minimum duration on a shot.
• randomizeChoice (bool, optional): ClearShot — randomize shot selection.
• animatorName (string, optional): StateDriven — name of the GameObject carrying the Animator.
• layerIndex (int, optional): StateDriven — Animator layer index.
• defaultBlendStyle (string, optional): Default blend style (shared by ClearShot/StateDriven).
• defaultBlendTime (float, optional): Default blend duration in seconds.
• loop (bool, optional): Sequencer — loop playback.

cinemachine_configure_body

Configure the Body stage component (Follow, OrbitalFollow, ThirdPersonFollow, PositionComposer, FramingTransposer, etc.) in one call. Only fields matching the active component are applied. Parameters:

• vcamName (string, optional): VCam name. Provide one of name/instanceId/path.
• instanceId (int, optional): VCam Instance ID.
• path (string, optional): VCam hierarchy path.

Follow / Transposer:

• offsetX / offsetY / offsetZ (float, optional): Follow offset vector.
• bindingMode (string, optional): Binding/target attachment mode (e.g. LockToTarget, WorldSpace).
• dampingX / dampingY / dampingZ (float, optional): Positional damping.

OrbitalFollow / OrbitalTransposer:

• orbitStyle (string, optional): Sphere or ThreeRing.
• radius (float, optional): Sphere orbit radius.
• topHeight / topRadius (float, optional): Top ring parameters.
• midHeight / midRadius (float, optional): Middle ring parameters.
• bottomHeight / bottomRadius (float, optional): Bottom ring parameters.

ThirdPersonFollow:

• shoulderX / shoulderY / shoulderZ (float, optional): Shoulder offset.
• verticalArmLength (float, optional): Vertical arm length.
• cameraSide (float, optional): 0 = left, 1 = right.

PositionComposer / FramingTransposer:

• cameraDistance (float, optional): Distance between camera and target.
• screenX / screenY (float, optional): On-screen target position (0–1).
• deadZoneWidth / deadZoneHeight (float, optional): Dead zone size (0–1).

cinemachine_configure_aim

Configure the Aim stage component (RotationComposer, Composer, PanTilt, POV, etc.) in one call. Only fields matching the active component are applied. Parameters:

• vcamName (string, optional): VCam name. Provide one of name/instanceId/path.
• instanceId (int, optional): VCam Instance ID.
• path (string, optional): VCam hierarchy path.

Composer / RotationComposer:

• screenX / screenY (float, optional): Target on-screen position.
• deadZoneWidth / deadZoneHeight (float, optional): Dead zone size.
• softZoneWidth / softZoneHeight (float, optional): Soft zone size.
• horizontalDamping / verticalDamping (float, optional): Composition damping.
• lookaheadTime / lookaheadSmoothing (float, optional): Target lookahead tuning.
• centerOnActivate (bool, optional): Re-center on activation.

PanTilt / POV:

• referenceFrame (string, optional): Reference frame for pan/tilt axes.
• panValue / tiltValue (float, optional): Explicit pan/tilt values.

Target offset:

• targetOffsetX / targetOffsetY / targetOffsetZ (float, optional): Offset from target pivot.

cinemachine_configure_extension

Configure a Cinemachine extension (CinemachineConfiner, CinemachineDeoccluder/Collider, CinemachineFollowZoom, CinemachineGroupFraming, etc.). If extensionName is omitted, the first extension on the VCam is used. Parameters:

• vcamName (string, optional): VCam name. Provide one of name/instanceId/path.
• instanceId (int, optional): VCam Instance ID.
• path (string, optional): VCam hierarchy path.
• extensionName (string, optional): Extension type name (e.g. CinemachineConfiner).

Confiner:

• boundingShapeName (string, optional): Name of the bounding shape GameObject.
• damping (float, optional): Damping applied when confining.
• slowingDistance (float, optional): Slow-down distance inside the bounding shape.

Deoccluder / Collider:

• cameraRadius (float, optional): Camera collision radius.
• strategy (string, optional): Deocclusion strategy name.
• maximumEffort (int, optional): Maximum raycast iterations.
• smoothingTime (float, optional): Smoothing time for occlusion changes.

FollowZoom:

• width (float, optional): Target width in world units.
• fovMin / fovMax (float, optional): FOV clamp range.

GroupFraming:

• framingMode (string, optional): Framing mode name.
• framingSize (float, optional): Desired framing size.
• sizeAdjustment (string, optional): Size adjustment strategy name.

cinemachine_configure_impulse_source

Configure CinemachineImpulseSource definition (shape, duration, gains). If no source is specified, the first CinemachineImpulseSource in the scene is used. Parameters:

• sourceName (string, optional): Source name. Provide one of name/instanceId/path; omit all to pick the first source.
• sourceInstanceId (int, optional): Source Instance ID.
• sourcePath (string, optional): Source hierarchy path.
• amplitudeGain (float, optional): Amplitude gain multiplier.
• frequencyGain (float, optional): Frequency gain multiplier.
• impactRadius (float, optional): Impact radius in world units.
• duration (float, optional): Signal duration in seconds.
• dissipationRate (float, optional): Dissipation rate over distance.

RunCommand Examples

Recipe path rule: ../../recipes/cinemachine/<command>.md