There are a lot of types of software that can be used for creating animations. This article will tell you about the best 2d animation software for beginners. It was written by a professional content writer who is familiar with animation software and knows the pain of finding it and downloading it.
Here are the best free animation for 2d beginners.
Pencil2D
Light and easy to use tool for 2D hand-drawn animations
If you are into traditional hand-drawn animation, then maybe Pencil 2D is a great software to start your animation project. This free software lets you use both raster and vector graphics and you can switch easily between the two types of artwork. Pencil 2D is a cross-platform tool and lets you focus on animating even when you are on the go. Since the software is completely free and open source, users can have access to the source code and add features.
Features:
- runs on Windows, Mac OSX, Linux & Free BSD
- supports raster and vector images;
- includes various handy tools;
- includes distortion and light effects;
- import/export as a GIF is available;
Synfig Studio
Open-source 2D animation software
Very easy for those of you who have worked with Flash and are looking for a similar animation software instead of a frame-by-frame animation software. Synfig is based on vectors and allows you full control on editing the vector artwork in the animation. You also have advanced control on your characters, as well as the option to create character puppets.
Luckily, Synfig is 100% free and you can use it on Windows, Linux, and Mac. Since the software is open-source, you also have the option to access the source code.
Features:
- full-control vector editing which allows automatic calculation of frames;
- a variety of over 50 layer types including geometric, gradients, filters, distortions, transformations, etc.;
- control over your character by using a bone system and complex deformations;
- advanced controls for creating character puppets and other dynamic structures.
Pricing:
- Free
Adobe Character Animator
Animate in real-time. Really.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/MUtRnMMOTmo
Being one of the newest additions in Adobe family, Adobe Character Animator is a powerful tool which allows you to animate cartoon characters in real time very easily and fast. The software works very simply. You plug in your mic and cam. Then import a character specifically prepared for animation in Adobe Character Animator (called a puppet). The program detects your facial expressions and voice in order to animate the character’s face. By using pre-defined triggers and functions, you make the character walk, make gestures, hold objects, and more.
Features:
- automatic lipsyncing and animation of facial features like mouth, eyes, eyebrows;
- support of real-time animation and live streaming;
- in-app template puppets;
- streamline recording and editing;
- scene snapshots which act like onion-skinning;
- walk cycles, behaviors, breathing, blinking and other animation options;
- replays, magnets, and more functions.
- Perfect for online education, game streaming, live chat and more.
Pricing plans:
- Free trial – 7 days
- Creative Cloud All Apps – $52.99/month billed annually
- Students and teachers – $19.99/month billed annually
- Business – from $33.99/month billed annually
If you are interested in the software, check out these 10 Tutorials to Learn Adobe Character Animator. And if you are ready to go with the software – grab these free Character Animator Puppets.
Do you know, that you can use the software for free? Use our code and get Character Animator Performer Mode* for free: Free Adobe Character Animator Performer Mode – Exclusively for GraphicMama Fans
* Performer mode is a free version of Adobe Character Animator, with some limitations: you can only use the record and streaming features, but can’t create your own puppets.
Cartoon Animator 4 (formerly CrazyTalk Animator 3)
Professional 2D creativity and animation design
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
Stop Motion Studio
Stop-motion animation software for beginners
An app perfect for beginners in video making. Stop Motion Studio will help you create amazing 4K stop-motion animations that can easily be mixed with 2D style drawings painted directly onto the image.
With the frame-by-frame editor enriched with super handy features, you have a powerful and affordable app for your device. Stop Motion Studio can be installed on iPhone, iPad, macOS, Android, and Windows, and you can easily open the same project on different devices.
Features:
- 4K ultra HD videos;
- runs on iPhone, iPad, macOS, Android, and Windows;
- manual or automatic control of the focus, exposure, ISO, white balance
- DSLR camera support;
- green screen option and background library;
- import of images, audio, video files;
- frame-by-frame view and easy editing;
- grid and onion skinning options;
- connect a remote camera as a second device;
- paint tools, sound effects, magic eraser, and more handy tools.
Pricing:
- for iOS – $4.99
- for Mac – $9.99
- for Android – $4.99
- for Windows – $1.99
DigiCel FlipBook
Easy to use and powerful enough to create great 2D animations
Considered as one of the easiest 2D animation software on the market, DigiCel FlipBook allows you to create traditional frame-by-frame animation. You can draw directly onto the software or scan your paper drawings – it’s completely up to your personal preferences! The software also allows you to create stop motion animations if that’s the type of animation you are looking for. Boosted with very useful features, DigiCel FlipBook is a powerful and easy-to-understand tool for traditional 2D animation.
Features:
- shoot and scan your drawings or draw right into the software;
- lipsync support;
- work on one or multiple frames at a time;
- pan, zoom, rotate, blur, dissolve;
- import/export functions, and more;
- runs on macOS and Windows.
Pricing:
- Free version with a watermark
- FlipBook Lite: $19.99*
- FlipBook Studio: $69.99*
- FlipBook Pro: $169.99*
- FlipBook ProHD: $199.99*
*up to 80% off promotional price at the time of writing this article
Moho (Anime Studio) Debut & Moho (Anime Studio) Pro
Complete 2D Animation Software
While Moho (Anime Studio) Debut is aimed for beginners, even for kids, it includes powerful features that allow you to realize your vision into an animation. The revolutionary tools are combined with an easy-to-understand interface. Once you get the hang of it, you can try the Pro version which is quite more pricy, in fact, but it comes with powerful features that will help you create professional animations.
Features for the Debut version:
- available for Windows and macOS with online or offline activation;
- multilingual support: English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese (Simplified), and Japanese;
- advanced freehand tools;
- advanced bone rigging, plus pin bones;
- tablet support with pen pressure support;
- animated effects for layers and shapes;
- easy to edit and animate brushes;
- support for images and layered PSD;
- keyframe options: additive cycle, stagger, bounce, elastic;
- advanced masking options, auto freeze tool and more.
Pricing:
- $69.99
- Free trial: 30 days.
Features for the Pro version:
- all features included in the Debut version;
- advanced bone rigging system, plus Physics engine, Dynamic bones, and Smart bones to control complex movements;
- smart wrap for images and vectors;
- frame by frame capabilities;
- vector tools with bezier handles, plus accurate SVG, AI, and EPS import;
- 4k video export, vector export;
- realistic motion blur;
- easy control of multiple layers and channels, and even more.
Pricing:
- $399.99
- Free trial: 30 days.
Toon Boom Harmony
The most powerful software for animation production.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/MI65MRdKfIY
Professional software for animation used by beginners as well as very experienced animators. Toon Boom Harmony is a product with which you can create any kind of animation, be it traditional drawn animation, Flash-style cut-out animation, particle effects, a combination of 2D and 3D animations, and more. The popular software offers advanced tools and features for drawing, rigging, animation and pretty much, all that is required from animation software.
Features:
Pricing:
Conclusion
We hope you found the program you’re looking for. Don’t forget that Motion, Pencil, and Synfig are powerful animation programs, but they aren’t necessarily the best choice for newcomers. If you have an idea of what you want from your software, then it makes sense to invest your time in learning a more complex tool. But if you’re looking for something simple to start with, give Anime Studio a shot.