These free animation software programs is a great way to learn more about animation and filmmaking, as well as a creative outlet. New users can begin learning the basics of creating animated films by making simple animations with movement only. More advanced users can also use these programs to create complex films, combining audio and video to make a finished product. These apps are a great way to promote your art or business or even make a living from it!
Animation is a creative, multi-modal art discipline. This field of creative expression has the power to transcend age, borders and socioeconomic status… At I’ve found some basic and advanced free animation software:
Pencil 2D
The excellent Pencil 2D is a powerful piece of software for vector and bitmap animation, making it the perfect free animation software for beginners.
The user interface of this open-source, free 2D animation software is simple and intuitive, letting you create your compositions in color, with a pencil, pen and brush tools. Anyone with little to no experience using animation programs — even total newbies — will be able to tell at a glance what they can do with this tool.
The tool features layers, a timeline with a simple keyframe manipulation system, onion-skinning, colors, pressure sensitivity, workspace toolbars, and panels that you can rearrange to fit your animation needs and workspace.
Animators will appreciate the clean, uncluttered timeline where it is quite easy to add new keyframes on different layers, duplicate, change the frame rate and work quickly to create animations with minimal fuss.
Pencil 2D is true to its name, as it fully supports 2D animation only. But if that’s your thing, you can’t go wrong with this free 2D animation software.
To maximize the potential of Pencil 2D, and to see what’s truly possible even with free animation software, you could always post a project on Freelancer. Pro animators can work magic even with the most basic tools.
And the best part is, this animation software is free!
Pros: Intuitive interface; gentle learning curve; perfect for beginners
Cons: Lacking in advanced features
Adobe Animate
Adobe Animate is a vector and 2d animation software that’s designed for web and mobile app development.
You can animate vector graphics, create interactive content, add effects, and more. This software also has built-in templates that you can customize to your liking.
Best for:
Adobe Animate is designed for people who want to either animate vector graphics, create interactive content, add effects, and more. This software also has built-in templates that can be customized to your liking. Adobe Animate is best for people who want to create animations or interactive web pages.
Advanced Features:
- Use Adobe Animate to animate vector graphics.
- Create interactive content with Adobe Animate’s features.
- Create content with simple drag-and-drop actions.
- Add effects to your animations with Adobe Animate’s built-in templates, such as the color and tone effects, the temporal effect for video, and more.
Pros:
- Extensive support for animation of vector graphics
- Built-in templates for simple customizations and interactive content
- Color and tone effects, temporal effect on video, and more.
Pricing:
Here is a simple breakdown of Adobe Animate’s pricing:
Adobe Animate costs $20.99 per month for the personal version.
If you want to get access to all of Adobe’s products you can pay $52.99 per month and get access to all of their tools.
Either way Adobe Animate offers a free trial that you can try 100% risk-free.
FilmoraPro
Looking for some simple while powerful video editing tools? We recommend using Wondershare FilmoraPro. You can use it to create 2D/3D animated texts, shapes, or anything you like for YouTube videos.
The keyframing features will help you make animation effects smooth and precise. When exporting, you can also make it transparent.
Besides, various title templates and transitions are also available for you. Download it now to have a try! Or learn more from Wondershare Video Community.
Key features
- Create various shapes that you like
- Add keyframing to make it move
- Fine-tuning to make it smooth
- Add visual effects/text/color before export it
Cartoon Animator 4
Cartoon Animator 4 is software for all levels of users – suitable for beginners as well as professionals who want to create engaging high-quality animations.
The software allows you to create custom 2D characters, choose characters from the huge database, and import PSD character templates. You can easily make any static image move by applying different motion templates provided in the library, even 3D motions.
The software also comes with a bone rigging tool, supports audio lip-syncing, facial detection, and many more simple and advanced features, depending on the edition you are using. Pretty much, Cartoon Animator 4 allows you to have full control over your 2D characters and create a professional animation.
Features:
- 4K video support;
- library of pre-made character templates and motion templates;
- tools for creating 2D characters including rigging and bone tools;
- tools for animating characters including elastic and bouncy curve editing, facial free form deformation, audio lip-syncing;
- tools for creating talking heads and employing them on any character;
- easy to import PSD files as character templates, and export to PSD for graphic editing;
- live facial motion capture – from any angle;
- head driven body movements;
- up to 360 degrees head turning;
- supports many popular image and video formats;
- plus many more advanced animation features.
Pricing:
- Pro Edition – $99
- Pipeline Edition – $199
- Special bundle discounts
- Free trial – 30 days
Animation Paper
Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux (Android & iPad Pro with Pencil planned)
This free animation software is the follow-up to the highly popular Plastic Animation Paper 4.0 (PAP 4.0) and has earned its place among the plethora of free animation apps available.
Mac users will be happy to note this newer, more concisely-named version – Animation Paper – is available for both Windows and Mac unlike its predecessor.
But you’ll have to get in while the getting is good as it is currently in its alpha state and will remain free throughout both the alpha and beta state releases. Once it’s out of beta, you’ll have to cough up $79 if you want to upgrade to the final version. But you don’t have to upgrade, as you’ll still have access to the alpha or beta versions you’ve already installed.
If you want a finished product, and still don’t want to pay, PAP 4.0 is always free. But remember, this earlier product is for Windows only.
Animation Paper reimagined PAP 4.0 from the ground up, aiming for a more minimalistic and intuitive design. This free 2D animation software will remind you of traditional light-table animation, complete with onion-skinning, light setup, layers, and black, blue, red and green pens for planning and drafting poses and scenes. The application layout is unfussy and simple but packed with features for traditional animation. For many, it will be worthwhile to take the tutorials on YouTube.
When you are familiar with the numerous little icons (placed in well-designed minimalist windows around the workspace) and their capabilities, you’ll find there is a lot you can do with this free animation software.
The free animation app supports your pressure-sensitive Wacom pen, has touch-screen support and has intuitive shortcuts built-in for zooming, rotating and toggling between the draw and erase modes – and other little conveniences whose absence can be frustrating.
Pros: Great for traditional, hand-drawn animation; intuitive interface
Cons: Slow release schedule
Conclusion:
Animation is the art of creating moving images and cartoon characters and objects with the help of computers and different tools and software. Animation software has made this task easier and more interesting. It can be used to create graphics, computer games, animations, and also used as a tool in education for the promotion of learning.