3d animation is widely used in the computer graphics industry. However, there are a lot of software programs and applications used in 3d animation that not many designers or artists are aware of. This article aims to list those known 3d animation programs and show you what they can do to help your job.
Looking to find out which are the best 3d animation software available? We’ve compiled a list of great 3d modeling and animating software solutions and listed them here for you.
iClone
Iclone is a tool for creating real-time 3D animation. This tool helps you to produce animation for films, video games, education, content development, etc. It allows you to create realistic or stylized animation without any hassle.
Features:
- You can assign and manage materials via a simplified interface to control textures.
- This software provides a tool for the face and body to animate any character instantly.
- It offers drag and drop facility to light any interior or exterior scene.
- You can turn a normal 3D scene into a photo-realistic world.
- Iclone provides ready to animate motions, characters, and accessories.
- You can extend IClone by using Python API.
Link: https://www.reallusion.com/iclone/default.html
Unity
Unity is a fully integrated development game engine that gives functionality to create games and other interactive 3D content. It helps you to assemble art and assets into scenes and environments.
Features:
- You can use it for Windows, Linux, as well as Mac.
- This tool can be used for 2D as well as 3D development.
- It helps you to create user interfaces intuitively and fast.
- You can extend the unity editor with numerous other tools to match your team workflow.
- It enables you to collaborate with others.
Link: https://unity3d.com/unity
Mixamo
Mixamo is a tool that allows developers and artists to customize and create 3D character animations. It has a collection of high-quality 3D ready to use characters.
Features:
- It can automatically set custom characters according to a full human skeleton.
- You can transfer readymade characters into your own characters.
- It allows you to download animations in multiple formats.
Link: https://www.mixamo.com/
Cinema 4D Studio
Cinema 4D Studio is another top animation software that you can use to easily create character rigs and advanced character animation with numerous tools.
Cinema 4D is very easy to learn, and it’s also compelling. It really is the perfect package for all 3D artists out there who want to achieve breathtaking results as fast as possible and hassle-free.
All beginners and seasoned professionals will be able to take advantage of the program’s vast range of tools and features to achieve amazing results.
The software’s reliability will make the perfect app for demanding fast-paced 3D production and a range of attractively priced software packages is available to fit every need an artist has.
You can get started with the software straightforward and quickly to create cool results. The software’s intuitive and simple interface makes it very easy for beginners to jump right into the middle of the software and take control.
It never stops to amaze professional users as well, and the many tutorials and the global community are essential for bringing beginners to a pro-level of use.
All the program’s new functions work intuitively, and they are exactly what users need. The Cinema 4D’s layout can also be easily customized to precisely fit a user’s needs.
The program’s stability is great, and all the new features and functions are tested before they are released.
The developers release free service packs on a regular basis, and these will optimize the software and let the creators respond to changes in drivers and operating systems as quickly as possible.
Staying flexible for last-minute changes is important no matter which project you’re working on.
Cinema 4D offers numerous options for working non-destructively: parametric modeling, procedural shaders, textures, and more.
And the Cinema 4D Take System lets you save and manage multiple versions of a scene in a single file!
Houdini
Pros:
- Time-space motion path handles
- Support import and export to a range of formats
- Robust built-in rendering solution
Developed by the Toronto based Side Effects Software, Houdini covers every major part that a 3D animation software should do. This 3D animation maker was adapted by the PRISMS group of procedural generation software tools. The keen focus on the procedural generation by Houdini differentiates it from other 3D animation creators. The features of this 3D animation software are:
Features:
- Powerful and accessible 3D animation experience
- Rigging animate characters
- Add Character FX like fur, hair, etc.
Blender
Blender is a 3D computer graphics software application for developing visual effects, animated movies, games, and more. This free 3D animation software allows you to import or export videos in MPEG, QuickTime, and AVI file formats.
Features:
- This tool provides a Python API for scripting and customization.
- You can customize shortcuts.
- It has a path tracer for realistic rendering.
- You can create, transform, sculpt, and edit your models.
- This 3D rendering software offers a real time preview of the 3D scene and tracked footage.
- It helps you to turn still characters into impressive animations.
Link: https://www.blender.org/features/animation/#animation-toolset
LightWave
LightWave is a 3D computer graphics software application developed by NewTek. It can be used for both animated and static 3D images. This software provides independent scaling options for a multi-monitor setup.
Features:
- It provides metamorphic animated sculpting or painting.
- You can work with FBX (Filmbox) data.
- This tool kit allows for live Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) operations, and grid filtering.
- You can map 2D image texture onto a 3D structure using the UV technique.
- It offers shading and rendering characters.
Link: https://www.newtek.com/lightwave/2020/
Aurora 3D Animation Maker
Aurora 3D Animation Maker is among the best animation software, and it features an extensive range of functions.
The software will allow users to create eye-catching 3D animations that will transform your logos or your text into original and awesome creations.
You will get the opportunity to control all aspects of your animation, including the speed of playback, the animation’s length, and more.
You can create your own movie title animations for the web and your movies in minutes. You don’t even need mastery over the basics of 3D Design.
Aurora offers 3000+ symbols, 60+ additional TrueType fonts, 80+ object style, 200+ 3D object templates, among others.
Using Aurora 3D animation software you can get the best results. You should know that web design is more than just choosing the right layout and graphics.
You will need eye-popping visuals that will capture and hold your audience’s attention. And Aurora 3D Animation Maker allows you to create awesome 3D animations that will take your logos and your texts as well to the very next level.
The software will allow you to create limitless special animation effects and you will be able to go as far as your creativity allows you to work.
Just imagine how it would be to apply particle effects to simulate fireworks, smoke, snow, flame, or the emptiness of space.
Or use motion effects like Linear, Quad, Cubic, and Quit to add choreography like bounce and twists.
When you are absolutely pleased with your final result, Aurora 3D Animation Maker makes it easy to incorporate your animation into your website, giving you the options to export as Video, Flash, animated GIF, or as a sequence of images.
Aurora 3D Animation Maker is one of the best cool 3D text, logo animation, 3D video title maker tools.
Conclusion
There are numerous 3d animation software packages, including 3DS Max, Maya, LightWave 3D and Cinema 4D but only a few of them are capable of producing high-quality animation. To make it easier for you to decide which one is best for you, we have conducted an analysis based on the characteristics of each.