There are many animation editing programs on the market today, but we have searched and searched to find the best ones for your video editing needs. We have compiled a list of what we feel are the top Animation Editing Software’s available by comparing the features and benefits that each one has to offer
Best Animation is easy to use, yet powerful enough for professional editors in Hollywood. Best Animation features keyframeable object editing (unique in this category), a 3D workspace with full 3D lighting, a camera animation system, advanced built-in video effects, and an industry-leading video generator. All the tools you need to make your animations outstanding!
OpenToonz
OpenToonz is another free, open-source 2D animation software that is computer-based. It has a decent feature lineup that includes old-school integrations as well as newer bells and whistles. However, the interface is dated and not intuitive. That makes it tough to learn, considering the lack of support and tutorials. Fortunately, you can find help from fellow users on YouTube.
OpenToonz works well for basic tasks, although you may have some trouble finding the tools you need since it’s not obvious where they’re hidden. It’s a solid tool for brainstorming and drafting 2D animation before launching your work into 3D. While it may not be the best tool available due to its dated, unintuitive interface, you can’t beat the price.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Pros:
- Free, open-source
- Smooth operation
- Raster and vector image support
- Excellent for basic 2D animation
- Scan capability
Cons:
- Not intuitive
- Limited support
- Limited drawing tools
Autodesk 3D Animation (Maya)
Many consider Autodesk 3D Animation (Maya) to be the industry standard. After all, what else can you say about a company that also created AutoCAD? It happens to be the software of choice for Disney. Enough said. Autodesk Maya is a complete 3D production package that you can customize with plugins and scripts to make it more user-friendly.
The development of Autodesk Maya is geared toward the professional sector. It’s expensive, putting it out of the range for small businesses. However, the company offers three-year licenses, which can save you some cash if you like using this software. There’s no doubt that it’s powerful and can create a broad spectrum of animations. However, it misses the mark on basic features like a better viewport.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Pros:
- Decent integration with other software
- Node-based workflow
- Powerful rendering engine
- Excellent for complex geometry
- Free and paid plugins for customization
- Free trial available
Cons:
- Expensive
- No texture feature
Powtoon
Powtoon is another web-based solution offering free and premium plans for its video animation software. It’s an intuitive and user-friendly option for individuals and small businesses new to this type of software. The site has an extensive library to get you started, although the better stuff comes with the paid subscriptions. Powtoon is also easy to customize to make it even simpler to use.
Powtoon has four price tiers in its subscription model and offers competitive pricing for educational and business plans. The free version is generous with its storage capacity and recordings. However, the three-minute HD videos allowed per month are branded, which isn’t surprising. On the positive side, it’s easy to share your work through YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and PDF export functionality.
Platforms: Web-based
Pros:
- Extensive library of music, characters, and templates
- Decent features, even on the free plan
- Easy to learn
- Node-based editor
- Export to social media
- Collaboration tools
Cons:
- Branding on the free plan
- Lack of collaboration features
- Limited library options with free plan
Toonator
Toonator is an online tool that can help you making your own animations. It lets you draw your own imagination on the screen and turn it into animated effect. It’s an easy to use online platform to help you draw animation online. Here are the positives and negative of this tool.
Pros:
- The interface is really simple.
- People can share their work on this platform and connect with each other.
Cons:
- Animated drawing can only be done in red and black color.
- Functions are limited.
- No name on the icons making it difficult to understand the functionality of each icon.
FlipAnim
Here is the last option you can try for animation drawing. This also lets you draw animation online in an easy way. You get different color options to draw as well as set animation speed. It is fun to use FlipAnim and you can share your work on this tool as well similar to the above one.
Pros:
- Interface is really creative to use.
- Offers a grid area to draw that helps in perfect drawing.
- Zoom option is icing on cake since it lets you draw everything accurately and in detailed way.
Cons:
- You can only create animation of up to 100 frames with this tool.
CelAction2D
The best professional animation software for Windows
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: WindowsPrice: From $71/monthBest for: Beginners, hobbyists and professionalsTODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Supports large teams+Vector and raster support
REASONS TO AVOID
-No cross-platform support
With four Editions of CelAction2D – Studio, Professional, Animator, and Educational – this 2D animation software for Windows has something for everyone. The Studio edition is an excellent choice if you’re working with a large team, producing feature films, animating television series, or creating animated shorts. This edition also includes upgrades and support and is the first to receive new features.
If you’re working alone or with a smaller team, the Professional edition might be the way to go. But if you don’t need all of the rigging tools, there’s always the Animator editor; however, you won’t be able to build assets – for that, you’ll need the Studio edition.
The Educational edition is identical to the Professional edition but only recognized educational institutions can purchase this edition. You also can’t use this edition for commercial productions.
Conclusion
Animated movies have become a massive part of popular culture with an estimated 60% of Hollywood blockbusters containing some form of animation. More and more amateurs are turning to animation simply because it’s cheap and creative. Sticking to 2D is easy, and as long as you have enough imagination you can create something truly amazing. There are many free programs available on the Internet that can assist amateurs in the creation process.