20 Best Animation Softwares for Animators

20 Best Animation Software for Animators 2d animation services

Animated videos are gaining more and more popularity nowadays. We use animations for different purposes starting from running effective marketing campaigns to congratulating a friend with a creative animated video message. The question is where to find software or an online tool that can perfectly meet our needs.

Best Free 2d & 3d Animation Software Out There

Depending on your skills, you can choose from different types of software available both offline and online, for professionals and amateur users, 2D and 3D animation creators, etc.

Investigating which is the best animation software for beginners? Check out this selection of animation software including some of the most popular and preferred products on the market, as well as lesser-known but still very good animation tools available today.

Animation software platforms may integrate with drawing software, video editing software, or 3D modeling software. Artists and freelancers can use the best free video editing software and free animation software together to create their video animations on a budget.

Unity

Unity is a cross-platform game engine developed by Unity Technologies, which is primarily used to develop video games and simulations for computers, consoles, and mobile devices.

Unity is marketed to be an all-purpose engine, and as a result, supports both 2D and 3D graphics, drag and drop functionality, and scripting through its 3 custom languages.

Adobe Animate

If you need to create vector graphics and animation, Animate is the right tool for you. You can, later on, use your creation for websites, online videos, rich internet apps, video games, and television programs. The program also offers support for raster graphics, rich text, audio and video embedding, and ActionScript scripting

Pencil 2D

Pencil2D uses a bitmap/vector drawing interface to produce simple 2D graphics as well as animation. Pencil2D is an open-source and free 2D animation program. You can easily produce simple 2D drawings, and graphics, and create a hand-drawn animation by using the bitmap/vector drawing interface of the application.

Synfig Studio

Synfig Studio is an open-source, free timeline-based, and 2D vector graphics computer animation program. Synfig has basic features for syncing your animation with the soundtrack using Sound Layer. Linux users can get all the benefits of full-featured audio editors through the JACK integration.

Animaker

Animaker is an online tool for animation that offers plans for all kinds of users – from beginners to enterprises. Each version comes loaded with features and assets to help users create amazing animated videos in a diversity of styles.

CelAction2D

CelAction2D is a professional 2D animation software specialized in films, TV series, and commercials. Using vector graphics and bitmaps, character models and their movements can be edited.

Moho

Moho is a proprietary vector-based 2D animation software for animators. Moho has two different versions: Anime Studio Debut and Anime Studio Pro.

OpenToonz

Is an open-source 2D animation software. Toonz Premium is a professional product of the same family. This program has been used to create many different films and games, such as Futurama, Anastasia, and Asterix in America (in this movie the part of the sea storm was created by Toonz completely)

Blender

Blender is a cross-platform free 3D creation suite offering a powerful arsenal of tools. By using Blender, you can create animations, video games, renders, models, and more 3D-based projects. The software is open-source and developed by many contributors from around the world.

Powtoon

Animation software that’s free is Powtoon, meant for dynamic video presentations. It’s a great tool for beginners, with several professional-looking templates to choose from, including animated explainers and infographic-style videos, as well as templates built specifically for product promotion.

Moovly

A cool online tool for creating animated videos for different purposes: social media, advertising, explainer videos, whiteboard videos, presentations, and more. The tool is perfect for users of all levels, as well as big and small businesses

DigiCel FlipBook

DigiCel FlipBook is a 2D animation software. It was created with the intention of duplicating the animation process in its traditional form, much like Toon Boom Harmony and TVPaint.

Plastic Animation Paper

Plastic Animation Paper, from Krogh Mortensen Animation, is a software package for hand-drawn 2D animation. It allows animators to draw directly on the screen removing the need for line tests. The program is free and beginner-friendly.

Autodesk 3ds Max

Autodesk 3ds Max, formerly 3D Studio, then 3D Studio Max is a professional 3D animation software for making 3D animations, models, games, and images. It’s developed and produced by Autodesk Media and Entertainment. It has modeling capabilities and a flexible plugin architecture and can be used on the Microsoft Windows platform.

LightWave 3D

LightWave is a software package used for rendering 3D images, both animated and static. It includes a fast rendering engine that supports such advanced features as realistic reflection, radiosity, caustics, and 999 render nodes. The 3D modeling component supports both polygon modeling and subdivision surfaces.

Toontastic 3D

Toontastic 3D is a creative storytelling tool available for tablets, phones, and Chromebooks. It works both for iOS and Android. Toontastic allows you to draw, animate, and narrate your own animated cartoons.

Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects is a digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing application developed by Adobe Systems and used in the post-production process of filmmaking, video editing, and television production.

Brash Monkey

Brash Monkey Use your Spriter animation files directly in your games to benefit from silky smooth tweened animations that take a fraction of the memory. Suddenly customizable player characters and smoothly animated giant on-screen bosses are a breeze.

Character Animator

Character Animator uses your expressions and movements to animate characters in real-time. It’s so fast, that you can livestream while you work, to wow audiences every step of the way. Turn any art into an animated character with your webcam, powered by Adobe Sensei AI.

Stop Motion Studio

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.

5 Tips for Making Great Animations for 2D Games

5 tips for making great animations for 2D games

Ever since animation acquired the power to attract much attention, many animation and game designers usually strive to keep up-to-date with more sophisticated and trending animation and game designs. However, in order to achieve the best and make great animations, especially for 2D games, you have to consider some important aspects of importance concerning the same.

First and foremost, push the animation to the limit. In order for the animation to be more interesting, the designer has to use the extremes and this means embroidery and attractions without forgetting to think about the possible reaction from other people and ensure their limit is achieved. Additionally, if the animation uses real expressions and movements, it has fewer chances of succeeding since people are familiar with these moves and definitely will not be impressed. Intense animations will draw much attention and will have higher chances of succeeding.

Secondly, make everything in the animation effervescent and feel lively.  The animation should not appear as if they are stiff and made up of autonomous moving parts.  Even if the animation is as simple as drinking water, strive to make the hand look like it is picking up the cup and taking it toward the mouth. However, the main idea is that your animation should seem moving even if it is at a standstill and this can be achieved by adding some bounce to the character to make it give the impression that it is alive and kicking.

To add that, for the animation to be perfect, they have to contain strong keyframes. When animating your sprites, you should ensure that they have strong and extreme keyframes that depict a particular movement. To add on that, for the animation to be best, the sprites should also be in order according to the stated move.

Furthermore, to ensure that you get a good one, you should limit the animation keyframes. Even though sometimes most animators exaggerate the specified animation to achieve a visible move, some designers tend to over-exaggerate and therefore make the animation lose its desired meaning. It is however advisable to use a limited number of frames but boldly highlight the important moves.

Last but not least, do not give much care and attention to the craft. Many 2D game designers usually pay too much attention about the craft and end up losing sight over the entire content. However, great care is supposed to be directed to the whole image and take much care of what it transmits and also the message it posts to the viewer.

For more details about animation and 2D game design, contact us and we will ensure you acquire what you desire. Satisfaction is our priority.

Free 2D Animation Software

2d animation software

It is really fun to create a unique creative animation with your own effort and voice-over. Great animation software is essential in this field even if you are a beginner or an expert in animation. The requirement for free animation software is generally among students who are looking to create a great career. Currently, numerous free software’s are available online to create animation quickly and easily. But for a professional and best quality output, it is necessary to contact a perfect animation company that meets your needs. The best part is that the available free software is equally effective as paid ones. The following list consists of the top three free 2D animation software currently available online. Now turn on your ideas, and make your creativity, these free software will help you to create great quality 2D animations.

Pencil 2D

Pencil 2D is free open-source software available on Mac OS, Linux, and Windows that helps to create 2D animation very effectively with the least effort. Pencil 2D offers a wide range of stunning features available on most of the paid software. Still, this software is packed with numerous important tools; the interface seems simple and immaculate. Pencil 2D also helps to export graphics along with Flash videos, movies, and many other formats. Determining the frame rate, image import and sound, and adding colors are some of the features offered by Pencil 2D software.

CreaToon

CreaToon helps to create 2D animations in cut-out fashion and enables us to add a wide range of special effects very easily. The interface of creation seems very simple and outdated but is capable of performing complex tasks resulting in remarkable outputs. It is really easy to access the main features since the menus are displayed on both sides of the working area. You can determine the frame rate along with height and width but the interface cannot be customized on creatoon.

Plastic Animation Paper

Plastic Animation Paper is the best 2D animation software for an expert animator. The uncomplicated and powerful tools in this software help to convert your creativity into animations and cartoons for free of cost. The main attraction of this software is to manage your swift sketching movements and as a result analysis of work as well as real time corrections can be done easily and quickly.

Make your creativity happen. If you are looking for free 2D animation software please try these softwares to create good-quality animation outputs. But for a professional animation, it’s better to contact one of the best animation companies in India. Prayan Animation has been the leading 2D and 3D animation company in India for the past few years serving the best quality outputs at an affordable rate. Contact Prayan Animation now for more.

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