Are you a business person who is interested in creating powerful and viral animation videos to help boost sales for your business? If that’s you, then you might need to polish up your animation skills. More than that, you would also need a few tools to help you achieve that. One of these tools is animation software.
However, how do you go about choosing one? Do you even know what to look for? Fortunately, you have limitless options. A few factors should inform your choice. These include your skills, goals, and customer support. This article reviews the best animation software that you must consider if you want to create something fast and efficiently.
Adobe Character Animator
Are you interested in learning to animate in real-time? In that case, nothing works better than Adobe Character Animator. It is one of the newest software from Adobe, which has a reputation for churning out top stuff. It not only works in real-time but also fast. Moreover, it is easy to learn and use. Mostly, you only need a camera and a mic.
Afterward, import a character/puppet that is animation-ready from the software. Next, speak to the mic while making as many appropriate facial expressions as possible, as the software recognizes them all. Additionally, it relies on pre-defined functions and triggers, which save time.
Pros
- Creates characters in seconds
- Matches your facial expressions while syncing lips and tracking eyes
- Saves all movements as buttons hence making them easier to remember
- Highly compatible with HTML5
- More intuitive workspace
- Allows uses to not only create but also organize layers
- Supports interpolation between frames
- Super-effective at linking symbols together fast and easily
Cons
- Requires a better understanding of web code, which could be a nuisance to anyone disinterested in such
Autodesk Maya
Computer animation does not come any easier than with the help of Automated Maya, which is the industry leader. It is the go-to tool if you want your animation to be as professional as possible. Further, you can use it for all your modeling and simulation needs. You will not have to look elsewhere if you need a rendering software that comes equipped with powerful, integrated toolsets either.
Do you need it for virtual reality, motion graphics, pure animation, various environments, or character creation? It will serve you well in all these aspects. For students, the software costs nothing while non-students part with a relatively affordable fee that is paid monthly.
Pros
- Perfect for 3D animation
- Multifunctional hence usable in performing many other jobs
- Makes realistic animations easily
- Its motion-capture handling is truly exceptional
- 3D modeling is not limited to modifiers only but also open to a free-form approach
- Full of awesome poly tools for character rigging, organic modeling, and animation
- Ideal for intuitive and practical animation
- Paint Effects feature supports free-hand drawing of 3D shapes
- Seamless integration with multiple Autodesk software
Cons
- Not easy to learn, particularly if you have no iota of animation background
- Node editor is quite awkward
- Scene hierarchy induces headaches
- Presence of compatibility issues necessitates the use of several plugins to smooth everything out
Blender
You probably want to create some spellbinding animation but lack the finances needed to invest in quality software. That should not worry you, though. Blender is one of the most powerful free and open-source software that you can use to create amazing 3D animation. More than that, it also performs other functions equally well. Therefore, feel free to use it in texturing and lighting. It will not disappoint you in modeling either.
With its open architecture, you can look forward to a stunning video post-processing functionality. Its tightly integrated workflow, coupled with the incredibly small footprint, makes the software a good bet. Since it is free, nothing holds you back from using it to improve your skills before trying premium ones.
Pros
- It is fun to use to create animation
- Perfect for creating simulation games too
- Has awesome modeling tools
- Works across multiple platforms
- Amazing scripting tool
- Superb path-tracer engine
- Wonderful rendering process
- Fast workflows
- Blender website is full of useful tutorials
- Supports modification and importation of various assets such as animations, objects, and textures
Cons
- Can be difficult to learn if you are accustomed to working with other software
- Hotkeys can be problematic
Cartoon Animator 4
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced animator, you will benefit greatly from software such as Cartoon Animator 4, which was previously known as CrazyTalk Animator 3. It stands out as a tool for creating 2D animations professionally. Furthermore, you can customize the 2D animations and characters to your satisfaction.
The software also comes with a huge database from whence; you can select your preferred characters. Alternatively, you would love it if you like importing characters since it comes with a feature that is full of PSD character templates. For all these, you only need to pay for either the Pro Edition or Pipeline Edition, depending on your personal preferences. What is more, there is a 30-day free trial offer worth checking out.
Pros
- A large library full of attractive character templates
- Has a 30-day free trial option
- Works on Mac and Windows devices
- Sensible workflow and user interface
- Super-intuitive, easy to learn and understand
- Perfect for creating custom content
- Incorporates fresh fantastic features such as Motion Capture technologies and 3D Head creation among others
- Features intuitive bone rigging mechanisms
- Easy to order more content from the maker’s (Reallusion) store and marketplace
Cons
- Lacks drawing tools
- Is not compatible with Android or web-based devices
- Training is only available through webinars and documentation
Cinema 4D
Few things can mesmerize the minds of motion graphic artists better than Cinema 4D. This 3D software is the perfect tool for an After Effects user. The fact that it is highly intuitive makes it the perfect accompaniment in After Effects use. Furthermore, it removes the need for rendering pre-After Effects. However, for heavy-duty 3D film production, you would be better off with another alternative apart from this one simply because it was designed with motion graphics in mind. Nevertheless, for all the attractive benefits that it offers, you should snap it up for the level of versatility that it guarantees. That is not all, though, since the software is not only powerful but also takes such a short time to learn.
Pros
- Well-equipped for multiple uses
- Comes with perfectly streamlined variants for specific functions
- Fitted with wide-ranging functionality thus easy to use on whatever your heart desires
- Supports polygonal and procedural modeling, lighting, animation, rigging, rendering, and texturing
- Full of headlining functions
- Equipped with the Team Render feature, which is basically in-built render farm
- Equipped with Irradiance Cache; that is, the algorithm that draws renders nearer to global illumination
- Easy integration into workflows courtesy of After Effects, which is Adobe’s suite for all types of video editing and animation
- Super-stable thus highly unlikely to crash on you
Cons
- Modeling workflow falls short of the competition
- A few tweaks needed in UV Editing and Bodypainting
Animate CC
Fewer animation programs are as popular as Animate CC, which was formerly known as Flash. It has a rich history of usefulness in making animations too. To check its worth in this field, you would have to go back to the early days of online video publishing. Several factors make it highly suitable for making animation. The first is the fact that it will not cost you an arm and a leg, which is great news when you are on a tight budget. Other than that, its intuitive interface is a massive attraction as well. With this software, you would have little trouble creating 2D animation either by creating puppets or in hand-drawn formats.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Doesn’t involve too much time or effort to learn to use
- Plugins are readily available for all browsers
- A perfect cross-platform software
- Smooth compression thus bandwidth efficient
- Supports animation, audio, and advanced interactivity
Cons
- Struggles on Apple devices
- Poor battery consumption in mobile gadgets
Conclusion
Now that you have this information, you should not be like a person taking part in an extreme sport as look for good animation software to use. You have the freedom of choosing between free or premium software. Further, you can choose one based on your skillset. When buying, remember to consider the software’s ease of use too. The features are equally important as they determine whether you create a stunning animation or something that makes you a laughing stock. Additionally, the compatibility of the software with different browsers and across multiple platforms should help you to limit your choices further.