Best Animation Mods?

[Fear2288]

So I've used a few here and there but every so often I'll see a clip of someone playing Skyrim and they'll have really nice animations for NPC movement, combat, idles, etc as well as physics for bodies, hair, and clothing.

Where/what are these mods?

Is anyone using animation/physics mods and can point me in the right direction for the best ones?

[Ilja]

(You need to be logged in to Nexus, to see some of these.)

Let's start from basics.

First and foremost you need requirements for animations. Standard skeleton can't handle them, so you will need a custom one.

Realistic Ragdolls and Force
Requirement for most popular custom skeleton.
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/601/?

XP32 Maximum Skeleton -XPMS
The most popular and widely used custom skeleton. This is also what I am using. Note! You might wish to install this last, because it must override all others in NMM. If you include new animations later on, do not let them overwrite the skeleton. If something does not work, then reinstall the skeleton.
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/26800/?

Fores New Idles in Skyrim - FNIS
Nothing works without this. You will have to run FNIS after your add or remove animations to your game. You can't get around it, or your characters will just stand as big Xs around the screen. Always use this with top 2 selections active (gender and left hand fix.) Rest of selections are for spesific mods and PCEA is meant only for custom race characters.
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/11811/?

Now you can search trough animations in Nexus
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/searchresults/?src_cat=51

XP32 New Animation Package - Nexus Exclusive
My favorite collection for female characters. I am using both running animations, getting up animation, jump animation, magic animation and walk animation. (And they might not be for all.) This pack with those selections would require 4th and 6th boxes selected from FNIS as well.
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/29622/?

[Ilja]

Dual Sheath Redux
For proper dual-wielding and to display various items - like mage staff - in character. Read the instrucitons carefully! You will have to run SkyProc patcher, if you do any changes for files considered as master for other files.
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/34155/?

Immersive Animations
Install basic files. Rest of them are meant for characters that already know precisely what animations they wish to use in game. They *will* overwrite other animations for all melee weapons, so only use them if you have a very customed battle style: like always dualwielding a sword and a dagger. (Not compatible with 1-handed style from "XP32 New Animation Package - Nexus Exclusive.")
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/34950/?

Edit: I forgot to add the easiest mod to use. You will not require much of anything for this, but it makes a visual difference in the game.

The Dance of Death - A Killmove Mod
It moves and kills.
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/10906/?