--- name: animation-shader description: READ this skill when implementing or configuring animation-style shaders (Toon/Cel Shaders) — including outlines, rim lighting, toon shading, MatCap, emission, dissolve, hatching, or any stylized rendering effect. Contains preset styles and feature-to-reference mappings for lilToon, Poiyomi, UTS2, RToon, SToon, and ToonShadingCollection. Works as a domain knowledge plugin alongside workflow skills (OpenSpec, SpecKit) or plan mode of an agent. metadata: short-description: Implement and configure Animation-Style Shaders ---

# Animation Shader Skill

Domain knowledge reference for animation-style shaders (Toon Shaders). Contains preset styles, feature lists, and reference mappings for popular shader libraries.

> [!NOTE] > This skill contains **domain knowledge only**, not a workflow. Pair it with a workflow skill (e.g., OpenSpec, SpecKit) or an agent's plan mode for structured design flow.

## Usage Modes

### With Workflow Skill (Recommended)

When used with a workflow skill (e.g., OpenSpec, SpecKit) or in the plan mode of an agent, this skill serves as a domain knowledge plugin:

- **During requirements/spec phases**: Use the Presents section to identify the target style and map user requests to concrete feature sets - **During design/planning phases**: Use the Feature List to look up all relevant `references/` documents for each feature - **Key rule**: For each identified feature, read ALL reference files listed — do not select just one

### Knowledge Mode (Query)

When user requests to query knowledge for animation shaders, this skill provides preset styles and feature-to-reference mappings based on the task.

## Presents

Use these presets when the user is unsure about specific features or wants a quick starting point for a specific style.

### 1. Basic Anime * **Description**: The standard, clean anime look. Efficient, readable, and widely used. * **Features**: Base Color / Main Texture, 3-Tone Shading (Double Shade), Outline (Inverted Hull). * **Use Case**: General avatars, NPCs, standard anime characters, performance-critical scenes.

### 2. Advanced Illustration * **Description**: A high-quality, detailed look with rich lighting, material definition, and depth. * **Features**: Base Color / Main Texture, Layered Textures, 3-Tone Shading (Double Shade), Alpha Mask,Outline (Inverted Hull), Rim Light, MatCap (Material Capture), Specular / HighColor, Shadow Ramp. * **Use Case**: Main characters, close-ups, high-fidelity VRChat avatars, cinematic cutscenes.

### 3. Stylized Sketch * **Description**: Mimics hand-drawn art, manga, or pencil sketches with a rougher, artistic feel. * **Features**: Color Adjustments (Desaturated), Sketchy Outline, Hatching, Halftone Overlay, Sketch / Paper Overlay. * **Use Case**: Flashbacks, artistic indie games, unique aesthetic styles, manga adaptations.

### 4. Cyber / VFX * **Description**: High-tech, glowing, and dynamic style with motion and reactivity. * **Features**: Base Color / Main Texture (Dark), Emission / Glow, AudioLink, Dissolve, Vertex Manipulation (Glitch), Rim Light. * **Use Case**: Sci-fi characters, powered-up states, music visualizers, holographic effects.

### 5. Semi-Realistic Toon * **Description**: Blends anime aesthetics with realistic material properties for a modern, high-fidelity look. * **Features**: PBR (Metallic/Smoothness), Normal Map, Shadow Ramp, Subsurface Scattering (SSS), Outline (Inverted Hull). * **Use Case**: Modern action RPGs, high-end cinematic characters, "Genshin-like" but more detailed.

### 6. Retro 90s Anime * **Description**: Recreates the look of classic cel animation from the 90s. * **Features**: Color Adjustments (High Saturation, Posterization), 3-Tone Shading (Double Shade), Outline (Inverted Hull), Film Grain. * **Use Case**: Nostalgic projects, retro-style games, lo-fi aesthetics.

### 7. Oil Painting / Artistic * **Description**: Simulates traditional media like oil painting or watercolor. * **Features**: Brush Stroke Textures, Distorted UVs, Sketch / Paper Overlay, Smudged Shadows, Sketchy Outline. * **Use Case**: Storybook visuals, artistic showcases, dream sequences.

### 8. Flat Pop Art * **Description**: A bold, graphic style with minimal shading and vibrant colors. * **Features**: Base Color / Main Texture (Unlit), Outline (Inverted Hull), Halftone Overlay, Stencil Patterns. * **Use Case**: UI characters, music videos, stylized indie games.

## Feature List

A comprehensive list of features available across the supported shaders, organized by category.

### 1. Core Shading & Coloring * **Base Color / Main Texture**: The primary color and texture of the model. (All) * `references/lilToon/Details/01_Base_Main.md` * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/01_Base_Main.md` * `references/ToonShadingCollection/Details/03_Diffuse.md` * **Color Adjustments**: Adjusts Hue, Saturation, Brightness, or applies Posterization to the final color. (Poiyomi, SToon, lilToon) * `references/lilToon/Details/01_Base_Main.md` * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/01_Base_Main.md` * **3-Tone Shading (Double Shade)**: Defines shadows using two distinct shades (1st and 2nd) for a traditional anime look. (lilToon, Poiyomi, UTS2) * `references/lilToon/Details/02_Lighting_Shadows.md` * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/02_Lighting_Shadows.md` * `references/UnityChanToonShaderVer2/Details/01_DoubleShade.md` * `references/ToonShadingCollection/Details/09_Lighting_Shadows.md` * **Shadow Ramp**: Uses a gradient texture to control the falloff and color of shadows, allowing for soft or stylized transitions. (SToon, Poiyomi, RToon) * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/02_Lighting_Shadows.md` * **Shadow Texture (ShadowT)**: Applies a pattern (like hatching or halftone) specifically within the shadowed areas. (RToon, SToon) * `references/RToon/Details/02_ShadowT.md` * **Shading Grade Map**: Controls the shadow threshold per-pixel using a grayscale map, allowing for organic shadow shapes. (UTS2) * `references/UnityChanToonShaderVer2/Details/02_ShadingGradeMap.md` * **Position Maps**: Fixes shadows to specific areas (e.g., under the chin) regardless of lighting direction. (UTS2) * `references/UnityChanToonShaderVer2/Details/01_DoubleShade.md` * **Ambient Occlusion (AO)**: Adds soft shadows in crevices and corners to increase depth. (Poiyomi, SToon, lilToon) * `references/lilToon/Details/02_Lighting_Shadows.md` * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/02_Lighting_Shadows.md` * **Cell Shading / Hard Shading**: Uses hard cutoffs for shadows to create a cel-shaded look. (RToon, SToon) * `references/RToon/Details/01_Core_Shading.md` * `references/SToon/Details/01_Core_Shading.md` * **Diffuse Warp**: Distorts the shading terminator for irregular, hand-drawn shadow edges. (SToon) * `references/SToon/Details/05_Artistic_Controls.md` * **Normal Map**: Adds surface detail and depth without changing geometry. (All) * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/01_Base_Main.md` * **Detail Maps**: Adds high-frequency surface details using secondary textures. (Poiyomi, lilToon) * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/02_Lighting_Shadows.md` * **Layered Textures**: Allows stacking multiple texture layers with blending modes for complex surface details. (lilToon, Poiyomi) * `references/lilToon/Details/01_Base_Main.md` * **Decals**: Applies sticker-like textures on top of the main surface with independent transforms. (Poiyomi, lilToon) * `references/lilToon/Details/01_Base_Main.md` * **Alpha Mask**: Controls transparency or restricts features to specific areas using a mask texture. (lilToon, Poiyomi) * `references/lilToon/Details/01_Base_Main.md` * **RGB Masking**: Re-colors specific parts of the mesh using RGBA masks. (Poiyomi) * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/01_Base_Main.md` * **Triplanar Mapping**: Applies textures based on world space, useful for models without proper UVs. (RToon, SToon) * `references/RToon/Details/06_Advanced_Features.md`

### 2. Surface & Reflections * **Specular / HighColor**: Adds stylized highlights to the surface, often with masking or cartoon shapes. (All) * `references/lilToon/Details/03_Surface_Reflections.md` * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/03_Surface_Reflections.md` * `references/ToonShadingCollection/Details/04_Specular.md` * `references/SToon/Details/04_Specular_Rim.md` * `references/RToon/Details/05_Gloss_Rim.md` * **MatCap (Material Capture)**: Simulates complex lighting and reflections (like metal or hair sheen) using a sphere texture. (All) * `references/RToon/Details/04_MatCap_Reflection.md` * `references/lilToon/Details/03_Surface_Reflections.md` * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/03_Surface_Reflections.md` * `references/UnityChanToonShaderVer2/Details/04_SpecialFeatures.md` * **Camera Rolling Stabilizer**: Keeps MatCap reflections upright even when the camera tilts. (UTS2) * `references/UnityChanToonShaderVer2/Details/04_SpecialFeatures.md` * **Rim Light**: Adds a highlight to the edges of the model based on the viewing angle (Fresnel effect). (All) * `references/RToon/Details/05_Gloss_Rim.md` * `references/SToon/Details/04_Specular_Rim.md` * `references/lilToon/Details/03_Surface_Reflections.md` * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/03_Surface_Reflections.md` * **Backlight**: Simulates light coming from behind the object, enhancing the silhouette or adding a rim on the shadowed side. (lilToon, SToon, UTS2) * `references/lilToon/Details/02_Lighting_Shadows.md` * `references/SToon/Details/04_Specular_Rim.md` * **Shadow Rim / Antipodean Rim**: Adds a rim light specifically to the shadowed side of the object. (UTS2) * `references/UnityChanToonShaderVer2/Details/04_SpecialFeatures.md` * **Side Shine**: Adds a specific highlight on the side of the object to increase volume. (SToon) * `references/SToon/Details/04_Specular_Rim.md` * **Anisotropy**: Specialized highlights for hair or brushed metal surfaces. (lilToon, Poiyomi, SToon) * `references/lilToon/Details/03_Surface_Reflections.md` * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/03_Surface_Reflections.md` * `references/ToonShadingCollection/Details/04_Specular.md` * **Clear Coat**: Adds an extra glossy layer on top of the material for a varnished look. (Poiyomi) * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/03_Surface_Reflections.md` * **Faked Reflection**: Uses a static texture for reflections instead of a probe for stylized control. (RToon) * `references/RToon/Details/04_MatCap_Reflection.md` * **Environment / Reflections**: Configures environment reflections using Cubemaps or Reflection Probes. (All) * `references/ToonShadingCollection/Details/05_Environment.md` * **Iridescence / Color Shift**: Changes color based on viewing angle or time. (UTS2, Poiyomi) * `references/UnityChanToonShaderVer2/Details/04_SpecialFeatures.md` * **Subsurface Scattering (SSS)**: Simulates light penetrating translucent surfaces like skin. (Poiyomi) * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/02_Lighting_Shadows.md`

### 3. Outline & Edge Detection * **Outline (Inverted Hull)**: Creates outlines by extruding back-facing vertices; widely used for character outlines. (All) * `references/lilToon/Details/08_Outline.md` * `references/PoiyomiShaders/Details/05_Outline.md` * `references/RToon/Details/03_Outline.md` * `references/UnityChanToonShaderVer2/Details/03_Outline.md` * `references/ToonShadingCollection/Details/02_Outline.md` * **Stylized Outline**: Noise, Sketchy, Hand-drawn look. * `references/SToon/Details/02_Outline.md` * `references/RToon/Details/03_Outline.md` * **Baked Normal Outline**: Uses a smo