What is the best animation software to use? This is the most common question asked by the students learning animation. In this blog you will learn about top 2D and 3D animation software that are mosy sought by animation students.This article will give you clear insights about best animation software for beginners.
Price: Free Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux, Online Piskel is a streamlined program dedicated to creating pixel art and animation. It’s an excellent choice for artists looking for a free, bare-bones solution to their pixel art needs. Not only is it offered as a free download, but there’s a web version available so you can try it out in your. OpenToonz is another popular 2D animation application, and it’s widely accepted as a free substitute for apps like Adobe Animate. It may have more of a learning curve than other beginner apps, but it has a host of professional features — onion-skinning, bone rigging, node-based editing options, and more.
What is 2D Animation? (Two-Dimensional Animation)
- Animation Paper is one of the best animation software on the market right now and offers a variety of 2D animations for multiple uses. Compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac, this software is useful for pro-animators, film-makers, students, and game developers.
- Verdict: CelAction2D is free animation software for beginners and professionals. It is a complex solution, with interesting and unique features to create a top-grade 2D animation film at a professional level, even if you are only a beginner.
- A free open-source draw app for mac, Krita is made by artists for artists. It is ideal for use for artists of all skill levels. It has all the features and tools needed to create stunning concept art, illustrations, visual effects, and animation.
The creation of moving characters/pictures in a two-dimensional environment, such as through “traditional” cel animation or in computerized animation software. This is done by sequencing consecutive images, or “frames”, that simulate motion by each image showing the next in a gradual progression of steps. The eye can be “fooled” into perceiving motion when these consecutive images are shown at a rate of 24 frames per second or faster.
Following is the list of Best 2D Animation Softwares.
Here I did not include every animation software out there, just top 5 software which useful for 2D animation.
1. Anime Studio :-
Anime Studio is your complete animation program for creating 2D movies, cartoons, anime and cut out animations. Anime Studio has everything you need to make amazing, professional animations.
Supported platforms:
- Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8
- Mac OS X
Website: Smithmicro
2. Adobe Flash :-
Adobe known as “Macromedia Flash” and “Shockwave Flash”. Adobe Flash, commonly referred to simply as Flash, is a multimedia system for computers that is generally accessed through a web browser, though it is also used for standalone development and as a method of creating compelling user interfaces and menus on some cell phones. Flash is also the system that supports streaming video on sites like YouTube. Adobe is now promoting Flash through its Open Screen Project, which counts many other companies as members. Some phones make use of a system called Flash Lite, which offers a subset of the full Flash capabilities that is enough to enable most online Flash-based video content to be viewed.
Supported platforms :
- Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8
- Mac OS X
- Linux
Website: Adobe
3. Toon Boom :-
Toon Boom is a Canadian software company that specializes in animation production and storyboarding software.
Supported platforms :
- Windows XP
- Mac OS X
Website: Toonboom
4. CreaToon :-
CreaToon is a powerful PC software solution to create 2D animation in cut-out style. Its main advantages are the ease of use and the real-time feedback. Moreover, CreaToon allows you to add effects that are simply not possible with traditional cut-out animation. CreaToon software is real time editing and previewing your animation and easy to use drag-and-drop interface.
Supported platforms :
- Windows XP
5. Adobe Photoshop :-
Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe Systems for Windows and OS X. Adobe Photoshop is the predominant photo editing and manipulation software on the market. Its uses range from full featured editing of large batches of photos to creating intricate digital paintings and drawings that mimic those done by hand.
Supported platforms:
- Windows XP
- Mac OS X
Website: Adobe
Learning 2D animation will be more fun if you master ine of these high end animation softwares for 2D animation.
What is 3D Animation? (Three-Dimensional Animation)
The creation of moving characters/pictures in a three-dimensional digital environment. This is done by sequencing consecutive images, or “frames”, that simulate motion by each image showing the next in a gradual progression of steps, filmed by a virtual “camera” and then output to video by a rendering engine. The eye can be “fooled” into perceiving motion when these consecutive images are shown at a rate of 24 frames per second or faster.
Following is the list of Best 3D Animation Softwares
1. Maya :-
Maya , also known as Autodesk Maya is an animation and modeling program used to create 3D (three-dimensional) full-motion effects. Maya incorporates the natural laws of physics to control the behavior of virtual objects in computer animation. Maya can produce videos that are more life-like than has been possible with less sophisticated programs.
Supported platforms :
- Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8
- Mac OS X
- Linux
Website: Autodesk
2. Lightwave :-
LightWave 3D is a 3D computer graphics software developed by NewTek. It has been used in film, television, motion graphics, digital matte painting, visual effects, video games development, product design, architectural visualizations, virtual production, music videos, pre-visualizations and advertising.
Supported platforms:
- Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8
- Mac OS X
Website: Maya
3. 3D Studio Max :-
3D Studio Max,is known as Autodesk 3ds Max, is a professional 3D computer graphics program for making 3D animations, models, games and images. It is developed and produced by Autodesk Media and Entertainment. It has modeling capabilities, a flexible plugin architecture and can be used on the Microsoft Windows platform.
Supported platforms:
- Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8
4. Blender :-
Blender is a professional free and open-source 3D computer graphics software product used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, interactive 3D applications and video games. Blender’s features include 3D modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, raster graphics editing, rigging and skinning, fluid and smoke simulation, particle simulation, soft body simulation, sculpting, animating, match moving, camera tracking, rendering, video editing and compositing. Alongside the modeling features it also has an integrated game engine.
Supported platforms:
- Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8
- Mac OS X
- Linux
Website: Blender
Learning these software will help you crack any animation interview.
Anibrain School of Media Design has been successfully offering professional courses both in 2D and 3D Animation.
More than the tools, it is passion,patience and strong desire to learn and adapt new techniques is all what required to become a successful animator.
For the most part, animation is not an expensive craft to pursue but it does come with some fairly pricey overheads when you’re first getting started out.
If you’re in animation school, chances are you’ve got access to all of the equipment and software you could possibly need. But if you’re interested in kitting out your home setup with animation software, the price tag can quickly rack up. Luckily, there are some free animation software alternatives which are good enough to see you through the majority of animation projects you’ll undertake.
Easy Animation software, free download
Presenting…
Pencil
OS: Mac, Windows, Linux
When it comes to free and open-source 2D animation programs, Pencil is by far the most well-rounded and comes with a surprising number of features given that it comes with no charge.
Although it looks simple from the clean interface, it is packed with all the main tools you’ll find in some of the Pencil’s paid counterparts. It supports both vector and bitmap images, multiple layers and has its own in-built illustration tools (so you can either import graphics or create them right there and then before animating them).
Synfig Studios
OS: Mac, Windows, Linux
Right up there with Pencil, Synfig is very similar in design but arguably comes with a steeper learning curve; reason being, it throws in even more advanced features, and the results which can be achieved once you master them border on the professional level.
Stykz
OS: Mac, Windows, Linux
Given the above two open-source suites which offer an impressive level functionality, why are we featuring a simple stickman animation tool?
Simply put, Stykz has got a lot of use for anyone who likes to draft things out before getting down to fully-fledged artwork and animating. It’s completely free with no strings attached, works on any platform and can produce fluid .GIFs incredibly quickly (which will no doubt lead on to bigger things).
One particularly neat feature is that it also integrates with Pivot, another node-based (and free) animation tool.
Free 2d Animation Software For Beginners Mac
CreaToon
OS: Windows
An entry-level animation program, CreaToon is cut-out based (all graphics are imported) that takes a lot of the headache out of creating cartoon-esque animation. While it isn’t quite as polished as some of the other names on this list, the real-time editing, auto in-frame filling and versatile file format support are real pulls.
Ajax Animator
OS: Windows, Mac, iPad
Not to be confused with the coding language, Ajax started life back in 2006 and was developed by a 6th grader as a replacement to Adobe’s expensive Flash MX. From such auspicious beginnings emerged a robust and fully functional animator that is well worth checking out despite its primitive look, especially if you’re an iPad user.
Blender
OS: Mac, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD
If you’ve heard of Blender, that’s because it’s one of the most widely-used free animation softwares still in active development (even professional animators and video game developers turn to it from time to time). Although it may take some time for beginners to get to grips with, those who manage to put even half the features Blender offers to use will be able to produce very impressive results.
Bryce
OS: Mac, Windows
Although it’s not strictly an animation suite, free terrain generation software (of decent quality) is hard to come by. Bryce has really stepped up to the plate in this department – as a terragen, it’s both as simple and as elaborate as you need it to be depending on the scale of your project and works seamlessly with most other modeling software.
Incidentally, Bryce is developed by DAZ 3D, who are also responsible for:
DAZ Studio
OS: Mac, Windows
This fantastic modeling and animation software wasn’t always free, but as of 2012, the professional version of DAZ is yours simply for signing up for a free registration account. The rendering engine is lightning fast, and the huge library of pre-created component content will have you creating in no time.
Clara.io
Free Animation Software For Mac Beginners For Beginners
OS: Browser-based
Free 3d Animation Software For Beginners Mac
Not only is Clara free, but it’s the only web-based one we can think of that is fully functional (and you don’t need any browser plugins to get it going). Not only does it feature a good system for polygonal modeling and skeletal/keyframe animation, but due to its 80,000+ user base there’s a strong community feel and plenty of people with which to chat shop.
Know of any great free or open source drawing animation software/tools which we’re missing? Do help the animation community out by leaving your suggestions in the comments below. And, if you’re interested in learning more about 3D animation and visual effects, check out NYFA’s 3D Animation & VFX School to begin your journey.