[EMF] Entity Model Features | Custom Entity Models

You found a resource pack that turns every mob into a smooth, animated model. Then you read the requirements and see it expects the classic all-in-one client, the one that conflicts with Sodium and most modern mod setups. That is the exact problem Entity Model Features (EMF) solves. EMF is a client-side mod that adds support for Custom Entity Models (CEM), the resource pack format that replaces and animates entity models. It has been downloaded around 94 million times, and it is actively maintained, with the latest update released in September 2026.

Custom Entity Models (CEM) Support

EMF reads CEM resource packs and applies their custom models to the entities in your world. The developer reports nearly one-to-one parity with the original CEM implementation, so packs behave the way their creators intended. It also goes further in a few spots, adding player animations and armor model support on top of the base format. If custom player models grab you, our Yes Steve Model post covers a mod that takes that idea in its own direction.

The interesting part is under the hood. EMF avoids hardcoding support for vanilla models, which means the CEM format extends to modded entities too. If a pack includes a model for a mob added by another mod, EMF can load it. That opens the door for pack authors to cover modded content, not just vanilla mobs.

One compatibility rule to remember: EMF is not compatible with dorianpb's CEM mod, so keep exactly one CEM solution in your mods folder. The mod is built to sit alongside Sodium and Continuity, so your performance and texture setup stays intact.

Fresh Animations Works Out of the Box

Fresh Animations is the big one, and the developer's answer about it is short: yes, it works. The pack's animated mobs run through EMF without the old client, so you keep Sodium and the rest of your stack.

Animation-heavy packs come with a catch. Every extra animated entity costs rendering time, and crowded worlds make it worse. The developer highly recommends pairing EMF with Entity Culling, which cuts entity rendering lag even harder than the culling Sodium already includes. If you plan to run Fresh Animations on a busy server or a mob-filled survival world, that combo is the setup to aim for. We break down how it works in our Entity Culling guide.

Why EMF Requires Entity Texture Features (ETF)

EMF does not run alone. It requires Entity Texture Features (ETF), a companion mod from the same developer. ETF supplies several features EMF leans on: the random model feature, the config screen, and the ability for textures set inside models to vary instead of staying static.

That requirement works in your favor. With ETF installed you get a config screen for tuning behavior, random model variants for mobs, and proper texture handling for CEM packs. If EMF ever refuses to load or acts strangely, check that ETF is present and up to date first.

How to Install EMF

1. Set up a mod loader if you have not already. EMF runs on Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, and Quilt, so use whichever one your other mods already need.
2. Download EMF from the official project page and drop the jar file into your mods folder.
3. Download Entity Texture Features (ETF) too. EMF requires it.
4. Add Entity Culling if you plan to run animation-heavy packs like Fresh Animations. The developer highly recommends it.
5. Remove OptiFine, OptiFabric, and dorianpb's CEM mod if any of them are present. EMF is not compatible with any of them.
6. Start the game and enable your CEM resource pack in the resource pack screen.
7. Open the config screen if you want to adjust how EMF handles your packs.

EMF FAQ

Does EMF need to be installed on the server?

No. EMF is a client-side mod, and the server side is unsupported. You install it on your own game client, and servers do not need it at all. In multiplayer, each player who wants the custom models runs it on their own client.

Does every CEM resource pack work with EMF?

Most packs work fine. The developer notes that some exceptions exist and asks players to report broken packs on GitHub or the project Discord so they can be fixed.

Does EMF have a config screen?

Yes. The config screen comes through ETF, the required companion mod. ETF also powers the random model feature and lets textures set inside models vary, matching the behavior packs were written for.

Is EMF still actively maintained?

Yes. The project is actively maintained, with the latest update released in September 2026. It has been downloaded roughly 94 million times and is open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License.

If you are building a fresh instance for CEM packs, start with our full Minecraft mod installation guide, then follow our mod loader setup guide for a step-by-step walkthrough.

Screenshots: Traben · via Modrinth