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Dec 21, 2023 · The best 2D animation software. Buying Guides. By Tammy Coron. Contributions from. Daniel John. last updated 21 December 2023. The best 2D animation software for beginners, hobbyists and professionals including free and paid-for options. (Image credit: Maya) Jump To: How we test 2D animation software. How to choose 2D animation software. FAQ.
Mar 15, 2024 · 1. Linearity Move. Unleash your creativity with Linearity Move, the vector animation platform built for modern creators of all levels. Launched in 2024, it's bridging the gap for animators, designers, and marketing teams. If you need to animate eye-catching social media content, ads, or announcements, then Linearity Move is the right tool.
- Benjamin Barnhart
- What Is The Best Animation Software overall?
- Best Animation Software Buying Guide
- 14 Best Animation Software in 2024
- Best Animation Software Summary
When it comes to the best software for animation, we’ve chosen Adobe Animateas our top pick. This impressive animation program allows users to create animation for websites, tv shows, and video games and is great for cross-platform work as well. And although there is a lot more high-end 3D animation software on the market, we’ve picked Adobe Animat...
System Specifications
Quite an important factor while choosing animation software, the specification of your system plays a vital role in indicating what kind of software would suit you best. This depends entirely on your graphics card, RAM, processor, and hard disk space. For most users, a RAM of 16GB is what we would recommend for smooth functioning along with a 4GB graphics card. Other than this, it’s important to pick one that’s compatible with your operating system.
Features
When it comes to features, it depends entirely on the type of animation you’re opting for. For the most part, 3D animation relies more on sculpting, lighting, textures, and the type of material you’re using. 2D animation, however, is a lot less demanding and can make use of a skeleton or bone rig. In some cases, they still use the more old-fashioned frame-by-frame animation. Generally speaking, though, you’ll know what your specific niche is over time. That said, a good feature to look for wo...
Budget
When it comes to 2D animation software, a lot of it comes down to how much you are willing to spend. For more of the higher-end, film industry-standard software, you’ll likely have to spend more than 500 dollars a year, but for students, a lot of these come with educational versions, which are free or more affordable. If you’re not willing to spend a lot, however, there are still quite a few solid options out there that are capable of powerful 2D and 3D animation systems.
1. Adobe Animate
Platform: Windows, macOS Pricing: Free 7-Day Trial / US $19.99/mo When it comes to vector-based animation software that is great for beginners yet convenient for cross-platform projects, Adobe Animateis the best animation software to pick. This program has raster support, audio-video embedding, rich text, and even action 3.0 scripting. Preceded by Adobe Flash, which is an application no longer available, Animateis capable of creating animations for video games, television shows, websites, app...
2. Canva Animator
Best free, easy-to-use web-based animation software Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux Pricing: Free 30-Day Trial / US $119/year(Pro) / US $149(for teams) If you are a beginner looking for easy-to-use animation software, then you can choose to work on Canva. This animation tool is free to download and easy to use on phones, PC, tablets, and laptops. You can create any type of video, export, schedule, and publish it anywhere.
Features of Canva Animator:
1. Magic Resize:With Canva, you can magically animate your designs with just one click. You can instantly add animation to social media posts, presentations, or anywhere else you need to make a stunning visual impression. All you have to do is click once to automate and then download it as a GIF or video. 1. Add Text, Transitions, Graphic Elements, and More: Get creative by adding more graphic elements and colorful texts to your movie or video as add-ons. 1. Music and Sound Effects: Music and...
Animation can be tricky, especially if you are a newbie looking to get into it. However, it is relatively simple once you know what to look for based on your style and budget. While there are several animation software, a select few can completely cater to your requirements. Hence, we created a list comprising various choices for different kinds of...
- Adobe Animate: Best 2D animation software overall. Adobe Animate is a big name in the world of 2D animation and it gets that recognition for a reason, it's one of the best.
- Autodesk Sketchbook: Best budget 2D animation software. Autodesk Sketchbook has always been a top-end 2D design software offering that had a price to match that.
- Harmony 20: Best professional 2D animation software. Toon Boom Harmony 20 is the professional standard for 2D animation software. In fact Toon Boom software is used by plenty of big name shows like South Park, The Simpsons, SpongeBob, Rick and Morty to name just a few.
- Moho Debut 13: Best 2D animation software for beginners. Moho, formerly Animation studios, offers its Debut 13 as a 2D animation software that's great for beginners but delivers the end result expected by pros.
- Toon Boom Harmony. $25/mo. (Essentials), $64.50/mo. (Advanced), $117.50/mo. (Premium) OS: Linux, macOS, Windows. Level: Professionals. Toon Boom Harmony is an Emmy-winning, industry-leading 2D animation software designed for both beginners and professionals.
- Pencil2D. Free. OS: Linux, macOS, Windows. Level: Professionals. Pencil2D is one of the most powerful 2D animation programs today. This software features a minimalist-style workspace, created to avoid distractions from the main animating window.
- Synfig. Free. OS: Linux, macOS, Windows. Level: Professionals. Synfig is an open-source, free 2D animation software with the power of a professional one. The program was designed to look like and work similar to Adobe® Flash® (now called Adobe® Animate), so if you've used Flash in the past, you will quickly adapt your development to the Synfig workspace.
- Cartoon Animator 4. $248 (free trial) OS: macOS, Windows. Level: Professionals. Cartoon Animator 4 is a pro-level 2D animation program used by artists and illustrators, movie and video creators, web and game designers, and students and educators.
Oct 3, 2023 · 20 Best 2D Animation Software: Free or Paid. We are reader-supported. Purchases made through links on our site may earn us a commission. Learn More. Animation has evolved immensely in the last decade. 2D animation is used in games, ads, educational resources, and traditional media. It’s one of the most popular ways to enhance any design.
Jun 29, 2022 · 1. Toon Boom Harmony. If you want to create narrated animations for films, web or TV, then Toon Boom Harmony is a must-have animation tool. Toon Boom is paid professional software used for shows like The Simpsons, Rick and Morty, Futurama, Bob's Burgers, and Klaus to name just a few.
