7 Best Animation Software You Must Try Out In 2022

Excellent animation software can breathe life into a static image or collection of images. This is beneficial for audience engagement.

After all, everyone, children and adults alike, enjoy cartoons. It is not required to spend half your life training to master video animation software, make a cost-effective short explanation film, and animate a button or banner. All you need to master initially is some useful free software, and then you can focus on polishing your skills.

We’ve compiled a list of useful animation software accessible for free; while some are trial-only, and the rest are premium which means you have to purchase them.

So, without any further ado, let’s begin.

Cinema 4D

Let’s start with our list with one of the most popular animation software Cinema 4D. It’s an advanced video animation and modeling software that allows animators to draw cute cartoons and highly-realistic characters.

Despite the vast array of possibilities that this software offers to a motion designer, a newbie may rapidly learn it through a series of simple steps. Even if you rarely use such software, the UI is intuitive.

Following are some of the notable features of the software:

Take system
Graph view for motion tracker
SketchUp Integration
Lens distortion support
Sculpting improvements

To access the other advanced features, you need to upgrade to the premium version to create excellent video content.

Compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Adobe Animate

Adobe is one of the most popular software used by graphic and video makers across the industry. Industry experts use this video animation tool because it’s highly flexible and offers plenty of customization features.

If you’re new in this business, you might find it a bit challenging to use since it’s not beginner-friendly. Only an expert animator can use this 2D animation tool to produce high-quality animation from scratch.

Following are some of the notable features of the software:

Export format
Adobe animate camera
Vector brushes
Audio synchronization
Integration of Typekit

The software allows you to download the resulting content quickly and integrate the video into any platform and device.

Among other astounding features of the animation editor, the software also allows you to publish your content on social platforms. Moreover, it offers innumerable built-in templates and supports multilanguage.

Compatible with macOS and Windows.

Toon Boom Harmony

This Canadian animation software, Toon Boom Harmony, is designed for hardcore professionals. As per animators, this is one of the most powerful animation software in the market.

This is a complex software for amateurs because this is more of a professional workflow tool.

You might not know this, but some popular animation production companies like WarnerBros and Disney love using Toon Boom Harmony.

But why so?

Because it’s the most feature-rich video animation application available, whether you want to create a 2D or 3D animation, you can do it all with this robust software.

Following are some of the notable features of the software:

Stabilizer tool
Pen rotation
Adjustable pen pressure
Tilt sensitivity
Motion blur node

All in all, you can use Harmony to create emotion and art with one prevailing end-to-end video animation software

Compatible with macOS and Windows.

Pencil2D Animation

Pencil2D Animation is a tool for creating animated shorts that seem like they were sketched with a pencil. Even novices will be able to produce their own animated films with this software, owing to its straightforward training and user-friendly design.

In addition, the software has a basic timeline and none of the obnoxious adverts typically seen in free applications.

Video import in standard formats including WMV, AVI, MOV, and developer-assisted upgrades are also available options.

In addition to this, Jitter has been hailed as a game-changer for makers of motion graphics. That is to say, and motion designing is now a breeze.

Following are some of the notable features of the software:

Raster and vector
Minimal design
Cross-platform
Flipping and rolling

All in all, it’s a professional and fantastic animation tool that allows you to create stunning and fabulous 2D animations effectively.

Compatible with macOS, Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD.

Blender

Among the free applications for 2D animation, Blender may be regarded as a relatively advanced and flexible tool.

In addition, you may design three-dimensional graphics with the application. There are many tutorials to help you get to grips with Blender’s capabilities.

Following are some of the notable features of the software:

Grease Pencil
Digital sculpting
VFX
Integrates with plenty of multipipeline tools
Animation and rigging

Because of its relatively high hardware requirements, it’s challenging to use. A powerful computer with quick picture processing is required to operate it.

Compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Plastic Animation Paper (PAP)

Plastic Animation Paper, aka PAP, is a free animation software perfect for newbies who don’t want to splurge their money initially.

Even though the interface of PAP is pretty outdated, but it’s entirely free to download and use. With this software, you can beautifully create 2D hand-drawn animations. Plus, it allows you to see the edits you’re making in real-time.

However, the editing experience can be a little bit clunky. But it’s a blessing in disguise for beginners because it’s not only free but easy to use.

If you want to create a simple video animation, this tool is perfect for you.

Highlights include basic sketching tools, zoom, rotation, cuts, layers, and many others…

The good news is the new and improved versions of PAP will be available for $79.

Following are some of the notable features of the software:

Stabilized lines
Lasso
Onion skinning
Highly responsive
X-Sheet
Rotoscoping

Plus, it offers various video exporting options including, .mov, .mp4, .svg, and .png.

Compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Toonatastic 3D

Toontastic 3D, Google’s own free animation tool for Android, is designed for children, but marketers may also use it to create animated 3D films. Toontastic is ideal for storytelling since it allows you to create your own characters from scratch or an uploaded photo. Then you may begin incorporating your characters into a plot.

Toontastic is intended to inspire aspiring storytellers to experiment with their storytelling, and companies may do the same. Create a screenplay, then animate it. You can also add other elements like music or voiceover. Once it’s ready, you can export the created content flex it on all your social and other platforms.

Your storyline is constructed using Toontastic templates, each containing a unique number of scenes. Toontastic also includes pre-drawn scenes, so the only “drawing” required is for the characters.

Following are some of the notable features of the software:

Three Story Arcs
3D drawing tools
Built-in soundtracks
Extensive collection of unique characters

Compatible with Android devices.

In conclusion

Understanding the basics of animation software for beginners can help you get a feel for how much control you have over the process of generating animations, as well as how much of a challenge it may be.

Those who can keep going after a few hours of playing with animation software are on to something. Work on your skills every day, and you’ll soon be able to make the most basic animations at the introductory level or perfect your professional abilities.

Next, you move on to more advanced animation software, such as Cinema4D or After Effects, with greater excitement.

However, if you ever get stuck, you can seek consult from a video animation like BuzzFlick it’s one of the top 5 animation outsourcing companies offering various video animation and production services in the industry for a decade.

We hope this article will be of great help to you.

Happy Animating!