Are you an independent filmmaker, cartoonist, animator or game developer in need of best free animation creation software? With this article I will introduce you to the best animation tools for creating 2D, 3D and even stop-motion films.
There are many animation software in internet, there are many sites on which you can download your required software for free. The list below will help you to find the best animation software for free:
Autodesk Maya
Powerful 3D animation software for VFX and character creation
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows, Mac and LinuxPrice: $1,700/yearBest for: ProfessionalsTODAY’S BEST DEALSAutodesk Maya – 1 YearUS$1,620VISIT SITEat Autodesk
REASONS TO BUY
+Full animation solution+Physics engine and rendering
REASONS TO AVOID
-High yearly cost-Resource heavyAdvertisement
Autodesk Maya is undoubtedly one of the best if you’re a professional animator looking for a powerful 3D animation tool. With Maya, you get it all: modelling, animation, visual effects. As if that wasn’t good enough, Maya has one of the best physics engines and rendering systems on the market.
Maya also ships with a unique feature known as XGen interactive grooming. XGen interactive grooming includes tools like sculpting brushes, modifiers, and sculpting layers. Using these tools, you’ll be able to create many different styles of hair and fur.
Cartoon Animator 4
The best 2D animation software for all content creators
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows and MacPrice: Starts at $79Best for: Beginners, hobbyists and professionalsTODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+3D motion to 2D animation+Works with PSD tools and Wacom
REASONS TO AVOID
-Steep learning curve-No drawing tools
The folks at Reallusion have certainly been busy. Cartoon Animator 4.5 (formerly known as CrazyTalk Animator) is their newest release, and golly if it’s not jammed packed with features. While it may not be an industry standard, Cartoon Animator is powerful enough to create professional animations.
From smart IK motion editing to full-body motion capture, Cartoon Animator has it all and more. For example, with its sprite-based facial system, you can quickly transform a 2D face into a 3D talking head. But that’s not all: Cartoon Animator includes rigging and bone tool so that you can create believable multi-angled 2D characters.
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 CCUS$239.88VISIT 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!
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
Maya.
Initially established in 1998, Maya is an Academy Award-winning (2003) 3D computer graphics and animation software. Currently owned by Autodesk, it is especially useful for the creation of interactive 3D applications like motion pictures, video games, TV series, special effects, and more.
It is, without any doubt, one of the best software tools on the market providing 3D animation, and has been acclaimed for its use in notable films like ‘Lord of the Rings,’ ‘Spiderman,’ ‘Star Wars,’ and ‘Ice Age.’
The best part is that it is compatible with all operating systems including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Best for:
Maya is one of the best animation software tools for creating animation pictures, video games, and adding 3D effects in motion pictures. If you require high-quality visual effects, then Maya has you covered.
Advanced Features:
- Clip matching feature
- Bifrost liquid creation feature that creates simulations of photorealistic movies
- Excellent Adobe character animator
- Allows deep adaptive liquid simulations
- In-built accelerated modeling workflows
- Paint effect feature that allows you to make 3D shapes by freehand drawing tools and drawing software
- Enhanced viewport 2.0 and DX11Shader rendering engine (blur refFlections, shader effects, imparting translucency)
- Free-form approach to 3D modeling that allows you to add as many layers as you want
- Arnold integration – this RenderView feature can be used to view scene changes in real-time
- Create your own scripts and plugins for better customization (in Maya-embedded Language or python scripting)
- Voice-o-matic provides lip-syncing technology, motion capture, and walk cycles
Conclusion
Stop wasting your valuable time trying to find the best free animation creation software! We’ve already done the searching for you and found some of the highest quality free animation creation software available online. This compilation of free animation software programs can be used on its own or in conjunction with purchased software and industry standard 3D modeling tools used by animators all over the globe.