Animation software is used to create 2D and 3D animated images, including titles, static background images, in-betweens, character animation, signage and cut-outs. It allows users to experiment using digital content creation tools, compositing multiple layers of media, editing digital audio and adding special effects. These benefits of the software include digital asset management, compound clipboards and customisable shortcuts.
Graphic design software for creating animations and motion graphics. Animate your designs in a vector-based environment with Character Animation Master’s intuitive interface. Render your creations directly onto video media, or import them into any popular 3D application for more complex effects. Featuring advanced features such as lip-syncing tools, motorized bone rigging, and a wide range of transformation options, this 2D animation program is an affordable and efficient tool for budding animators.
Toonator
Pros
- The easy and funny animation style is loved by many users
- Users can upload thire work to here
Cons
- Lack of advanced features
Toonator is a very niche online animator that will allow you to create cartoons to your liking. Say you want to create a funny cartoon from scratch, or edit some graphics that others have created – you can do it with Toonator.
And the best part is that it features fill integration with tablets. You can open up a window and start drawing with your fingers or a pen immediately!
Features:
- A library of popular and recently-added cartoon clips made by other users of the program.
- Easy to create your own cartoons, edit others, or enhance ones that you have created in the past!
- The ability to draw right onto the program when you are using a tablet is very helpful.
Powtoon
Price: $19/month. $29/month. $99/month.
Pros
- Making prensention online is what Powtoon focus
- Business users give a high rate
Cons
- It doesn’t suport 3D animation and keyframing
Hoping to create professional videos or animated content that you can showcase to customers or clients? With Powtoon you do not have to pay tons of money for expensive software.
In fact, you do not even need a powerful computer to get these videos made. You can use this cloud-based animated video maker to create professional animated content.
Features:
- Powtoon has integration with some of the top sites, apps, and content providers out there.
- There is a vast collection of media files that you can use for free within your own content.
- Customizing the templates and graphics you have chosen is very easy. Your video will look unique by the end.
Vyond
Price: $299/year. $649/year. $999/year.
Pros
- Use storytelling to let animation interesting
- It is easy and afforable to for everyone
- Offer a comprehensive business solution service
Cons
- The pricing plan is more expensive compared with other online solutions
Wanting to create professional animated videos that will impress your bosses? Hoping to promote your personal brand through a social media video? You can create such content using Vyond.
You can try the program for free before you choose whether you want to purchase the full version.
Features:
- There are options for video marketing, training videos, whiteboard animations, sales videos, and video presentations.
- Many templates available to help you get your animated video made quickly.
- Many royalty-free images and videos you can use to enhance your content.
- Three subscription plan options after the free trial run out: GoPublish, GoPremium, and GoTeam.
Adobe Character Animator
Bring your characters to life with this beginner-friendly software
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows and MacPrice: $52.99/monthBest for: Beginners, hobbyists and professionalsTODAY’S BEST DEALSAdobe Character Animator CC£238.42VISIT SITEat Adobe
REASONS TO BUY
+Animate in real-time+Integrates with other Adobe products
REASONS TO AVOID
-Limited use cases-No drawing tools
Adobe Character Animator gives you all of the tools you need to quickly and efficiently animate your 2D characters, from lip-syncing to motion capture technology. With its seamless Photoshop and Illustrator file integration, you can create your characters using your favourite tools and then bring them into Character Animator to bring them to life. You can even live-stream your characters!
Clip Studio Paint
A cross-platform drawing and animation software
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows, Mac, iOS, AndroidPrice: $219 or 2.29/monthBest for: Beginners, hobbyists and professionalsTODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Includes drawing tools+Multiple export options
REASONS TO AVOID
-Confusing UI-No rigging tools
Clip Studio Paint is a powerhouse when it comes to an all-in-one drawing and animation solution. While it may not offer a powerful rigging system, Clip Studio Paint lets you combine frame-by-frame animation with camera effects so that you can create stunning full-length animations. In addition, with its simple timeline interface, you’ll be able to easily tweak the speed of your animation and even rearrange the animation cels. Best of all: Clip Studio Paint runs on nearly every major platform.
Adobe Animate
The best animation software for beginners
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows and MacPrice: $20.99/monthBest for: Beginners and hobbyistsTODAY’S BEST DEALSAdobe Animate Single AppUS$239.88VISIT SITEat Adobe
REASONS TO BUY
+Easy to use+Good for interactive animations
REASONS TO AVOID
-Better alternatives
Despite being relatively simple to use, Adobe Animate sure does has a lot to offer. The interface is clean and recognisable, especially if you’re already familiar with other Adobe products. And the ability to quickly share and publish your work to social media sites like YouTube and Twitter makes it easy to get your animations online.
Adobe Animate isn’t quite the powerhouse you’d need as a professional animator. Still, if you’re looking to create interactive animations and simulations with minimum ease, then Adobe Animate could be right for you.
Pencil2D
Image courtesy of Pencil2D
This 2D animation software allows users to create more traditional, hand-drawn scenes. This is accomplished using bitmap and vector graphics. Not only is Pencil2D free, but it is an open-source animation software.
Pencil2D offers a number of features to make animation easy, including but not limited to:
- A lightweight and easy design interface
- The ability to seamlessly switch between raster and vector files
- Cross-platform functionality to facilitate operation on Mac, Windows and Linux
What users like
“I enjoy how easy it is to understand this right off the bat. I was able to start animating immediately! Another extreme plus is the ability to use layers.”
— Pencil2D review by Sara C.
What users dislike
“You’ll have to redo your setting preferences because the program resets to default whenever you open it up. This is especially true for if you want to use the pen tool, or if you want to use different colors to connote different parts of your animation.”
— Pencil2D review by Sabrina B.
Recommendations to others considering the product
“Recommended 100 percent for the general public and people who want an efficient app.”
— Pencil2D review by Grey P.
Conclusion
Glad to share my list of best free open source animation software, which is absolutely free to download, install and use. Animation is an art. It’s the process of making an object appear as if it is moving on a series of images. We can display an object moving in different forms such as a sequence, space or time. To create a motion picture animation makes use of series of images which are shown one after another in a faster rate to give us the experience that object is moving. The most common form of creating animations is cartooning where we draw pictures and then take pictures in consecutive frames and display those pictures quickly to create the impression or illusion of the object moving on each frame.