It's no secret that video is a powerful marketing tool. Respectivelylook for, video marketers enjoy 66% more qualified leads each year. However, it's not always easy to post content to videos.
The biggest challenge you face is coming up with creative ideas for videos. If engagement is your main goal, try promoting your business through an animated video.
Contrary to popular belief, you don't need expensive software to create animated clips. In fact, you can create these videos for free. Take a look at some of the best free animation software for beginners, experts, and everyone.
Top 13 Free Animation Software for Beginners and Professionals
1.animator
Platforms:web browser based
Animaker is free animation software for beginners with simple drag and drop functionality and an intuitive interface to match. There are six main types of videos you can create with Animaker:
- 2d
- infographics
- handmade
- Chalkboard
- 2,5D
- Typography
With Full HD support, horizontal and vertical video layouts, and pre-built graphics, you can create fun, animated videos in no time.
Audio features include text-to-speech, the option to add background music and sound effects, and voiceover. You can choose from Animaker's sound library or upload your own music.
If you want to pay for the Pro version, you can also get advanced features: in-app camera, multi-motion, curves, transition effects, and entry/exit effects. It's like all those PowerPoint animations, only cool and not so cheesy.
2.Mixer
Platforms:Windows Mac Linux
Use Blender if you are looking for the best video animation software for professional editors and creators. The free and open source 3D animation tool supports "modeling, manipulation, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking,video outputand 2D animation pipeline”. The platform is a public project and creatives from around the world contribute to its ongoing maintenance.
Let's talk about functions:
- Reproduction:Cycles is Blender's ray tracing-based production rendering engine, FreeStyle is a border and line-based non-photorealistic (NPR) rendering engine, and real-time feedback speeds up the editing process.
- Model:Blender's modeling tools include sculpting, retopology, modeling, curves, and more.
- Sculpture:Digital sculpting tools are flexible for each stage of the digital production process.
- Animation and Montage:These tools include a pose editor for character animations, non-linear animation (NLA) for independent movement, forward/backward IK kinematics for quick posing, and audio sync.
- crayon:Draw directly in 3D and combine 2D/3D art.
- visual effects:From camera and object movement tracking to masking and compositing, there are many fixes you can apply in post-production.
- Simulation:Create simulations of fog, smoke, rain, fire, liquids, and more.
- Installation:Choose from a long list of import/export options.
- video output:a built-invideo editorIt allows basic actions like video splicing and more complex tasks like video masking or color correction.
Yes, that's a lot. Blender is a complete tool. And it's all free.
Editor's note: We review Blender along with 29 other video editing tools in this review.
3.K-3D
Platforms:windows linux
K-3D is free 3D animation software that specializes in polygon modeling, a digital graphics approach that uses polygons to represent and approximate object surfaces. Designed for artists, the software combines plugins with a visualization pipeline architecture: it adapts to the look and feel of the tools it integrates with.
start with yoursWiki-Tutorials, which shows you how to master features like textures, shadows, and symmetrical modeling.
One of his best qualities? Easy undo/redo so you can quickly correct a mistake. Most programs only offer the option to undo an action.
With both procedural and parametric workflows, you can make adjustments and see the change immediately. A node-based preview pipeline means editors can create connections and combinations for different elements in the video. You can work on one side of a model and mirror the other side to see how it will weld.
K-3D is an advanced tool for true creatives.
4.OpenToonzGenericName
Platforms:Windows, Mac y Linux
OpenToonz is one of the leading free animation software for 2D videos. Open source software is free for commercial and non-commercial use, so you can use it e.g.create marketing videosfor your brand
It is also packed with features like:
- Digital drawing tools: vector and bitmap drawing tools
- Indexed Color Palettes - Quick Color Changing and Painting
- Effects and Compositing: Animate special effects and composite scenes: choose from blur, lighting, keys, masks, wrappers, and over 100 other effects.
- Scripting: Automation via an ECMA compliant scripting engine
- Motion Tracking: Combine your animation with video footage
- Scan and Clean: Create Vectors from Drawings on Paper
- Frame-by-frame animation: with configurable onion screen
- Motion tween Link objects or use motion paths to create complex movements
- Bone Character Animation - With IK Support and Mesh Warps
- Particle systems: for rain, dust and similar effects
You can create some pretty advanced animations with this tool.
COULD YOU PUT AN EXAMPLE HERE?https://twitter.com/hashtag/opentoonzany ideas:
- https://twitter.com/tonygaddisart/status/1087045058417684480
- https://twitter.com/DarrenTAnims/status/1176928091811254272
- https://twitter.com/Ghostiesfm/status/1176645497240588288
If you're having trouble using free animation software, you can always contact the user community or developer forum.
5.2D blessing animation
Platforms:Windows, Mac y Linux
Pencil2D is simple animation software that allows you to create hand-drawn 2D videos. The open source software is free for both personal and commercial use, so you can use it just for fun or create videos for yourself.promote your products.
The interface is simple and easy to use. Also, there are several tutorials on the Pencil2D website to help you get started.
Other properties:
- Import image and sound
- Switch between raster and vector workflows so you can draw, ink and paint
- Adjust frame rate
- Add distortion and light effects.
- onion peel
- Toolbar Customizations
- pressure sensitivity
- Various export formats
6.plastic animation paper
Platforms:Windows, Mac y Linux
Although the user interface is outdated, Plastic Animation Paper (PAP) is free to download and use.
With PAP, you can create hand-drawn 2D animations while previewing your edits in real time. The editing experience can be clunky, but it's easy for beginners to pick up and get comfortable with. It is enough for simple animated videos.
Prominent features include basic drawing tools, zoom, rotate, crop, levels, and more.
Soon, the creator of PAP will launch a new, more advanced program called $79AnimationsPapier.
Best suited for experienced animators, Animation Paper helps animators create 2D graphics from hand-drawn artwork, along with a long list of features:
- Small and large format frames.
- Smooth real-time zoom and rotate, plus multiple flip options
- Advanced and customizable onion skin
- layers and lace
- High quality lines and stabilization.
- coloring and painting
- Full screen real-time references on a second monitor for quick editing
When you're done creating your animated video, export options include .mp4, .mov, and .png or .svg image stacks.
7.powtoon
Platforms:web browser based
The next free video animation software is Powtoon, which is designed for dynamic video presentations. While there are paid options with more advanced features, Powtoon also offers a simplified free tool for videos up to three minutes in length.
In addition to what is mentioned above, Powtoon freeware also has:
- custom styles
- Adjustable proportions and sizes.
- YouTube, Facebook, Wistia, Vimeo, PowerPoint and PDF export
- Full implementation of videos, animations, GIFs and image files.
It's a great tool for beginners, with many professional-looking templates to choose from, including animated explanations and infographic-style videos, as well as templates built specifically for this.product promotion. You can also start from scratch or import a PowerPoint design.
8.Contact
Platforms:Windows, Mac y Linux
Contactis one of the easiest animation programs to use. With it, you can create simple 2D animated videos.
Stykz is frame based, which means it works on only one frame at a time. He uses onion skins so that he can see the previous frame and how the two flow together.
All editions are made within the "Stage"; in other words, you make your edits and see your changes in the same window. You don't have to switch between views.
Edit single or multiple stick figures, fill shapes, and import your own stick figures. Everything is automatically saved as you go, so you don't have to worry about losing all your hard work.
9.Synfig-Studio
Platforms:Windows, Mac y Linux
The next free online video animation is Synfig Studio, an open source platform for creating 2D animated videos. Use this to use vector graphics to create animations based on the timeline.
Like OpenToonz, it offers a bone system for animation control so you can create natural movements. Create jagged animations with bitmap images and use the additional Skeleton Distort layer for complex deformations in bitmap graphics.
Advanced features include linking parameters to layers, allowing you to create character puppets and other advanced dynamic structures. It's certainly not made for beginners, so choose a simpler option to start with before upgrading to Synfig's more advanced features. Many video tutorials will help you get familiar with the program.
Here is an example of a fun animated short made with Synfig Studio:
10Toontástico 3D
Platforms:Androide iOS
Google's free animation software for Android, Toontastic 3D, aimed at children, but brands can also use it to create 3D animated videos. ideal forNarrativeGet started with Toontastic by creating your own characters, either from scratch or based on an uploaded photo. Then it's time to put your characters in a story.
Toontastic encourages aspiring storytellers to get creative with their stories, and brands can do the same. Plan your story, animate it, add narration and music, then export it to share with the world.
Its plot is based on Toontastic models, each with a different number of scenes. Toontastic also has pre-made scenes to choose from, so all you have to do is "draw" the characters.
If that sounds like a lot of steps, Google says you can create a one-minute video with up to six scenes in just one minute, though that doesn't include the time it takes to create your characters in advance. It also works offline so you can create videos on your daily commute or when your WiFi is down.
If you're looking for more control and creative flexibility, Toontastic isn't the best choice. It is more appropriate for those who areverynew to animated videos. You'll soon be completing one of the others on this list!
11TubiTube
Platforms:Windows, Mac y Linux
TubiTube is among the best video animation tools for beginners. Ideal for enthusiasts, hobbyists, and even kids, this simple software makes animation accessible to everyone. A clean and simple interface means you don't have to spend a lot of time learning before you can bring your creations to life.
With TubiTube you get a fantastic range of basic 2D animation solutions including painting and drawing tools, image/vector import, manual scaling, rotation and opacity.
Available under the "GPL" license, TubiTube is ideal for budget-conscious animators and is also flexible. You can render parts in SWF, MPEG and AVI formats. There's even a social media community where you can connect with other animators for quick tips.
12Who 4D
Platforms:Windows y Mac
Suitable for both beginning and advanced animators, Cinema 4D is versatile software that allows users to do more than just animate. You can use Cinema 4D for modeling, texturing, visual effects, and lighting, all within an intuitive interface.
Cinema 4D's customizable design is ideal for creating the most convenient user experience for every animator. There's also access to Mograph, which allows designers to create more complex sequences without the clutter of traditional software.
If you're looking for something that's easy to learn but scalable enough to help you create more sophisticated animations, this might be the tool for you. Additional features include ZBrush automatic retopology for creating optimized meshes and advanced quilt simulation.
13clara.io
Platforms:Web browsers, Mac, Windows and Linux
As a web-based application for creative professionals, Clara.io ensures that you can work in your browser when creating, animating, and rendering 3D content. The streamlined user interface features a powerful set of tools including sub-object editing, VRay cloud rendering, and responsive workflows.
As you work on your animations with the modern interface, you can also invite other colleagues to share with you. Simple sharing and embed features make collaboration easy. Clara also automatically saves all of her work and progress to the cloud.
More than 30 popular 3D file formats are supported for import and export. Additionally, you can customize and extend the functionality of your application with plugins and REST API access.
If you need help figuring out what to build with Clara.io, there's onefantastic library of 3D modelsYou can use it as inspiration.
Promote your path to success
There you have it: a list of the 13 best free animation software for beginners and professionals alike. The tool you choose really depends on your skill level, hardware, and the types of videos you want to create. In short, this is what you get with the software featured in this article:
- Animator:Simple browser-based animation software for beginners, with paid upgrades available
- Mixer:advanced open source 3D animation software for video savvy people
- K-3D:3D animation software with polygonal modeling
- Open Toonz:2D animation software with a long list of features for professionals or video experts
- 2D pencil:Hand-drawn 2D animation videos with a simple, beginner-friendly yet feature-rich interface
- Plastic Animation Paper:useful for embedding hand-drawn characters into 2D animated videos
- Poton:ideal for creating simple three-minute explanatory videos or infographics in presentation format
- Contact:Beginner-friendly stick figure-based 2D animation software
- Synfig-Studio:Robust software for creating vector-based animated videos with advanced character controls
- Toontástico 3D:for people who are new to creating animated videos; aimed at kids, but you can also create simple, story- and character-based videos for brands
- TubiTube:For enthusiasts, hobbyists, and even kids, this software is a great option to start your animation journey.
- Who 4D:allows users to create complex sequences without the confusing elements of standard animation software
- clara.io- Provides a variety of powerful tools to easily animate your video content
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