Best 2D Animation Software for Mastering the Art of Animation!
Shreshtra - December 31, 2024 - Leave your thoughts. 9 min read
Animation has changed over the years with the way stories are told, ideas are shared, and messages are conveyed.
Whether it’s for creating captivating animated films, engaging educational content, or visually stunning advertisements, the benefits of animation offer limitless creative potential.
As the demand for high-quality animations grows, so does the need for tools that simplify the animation process.
If you’re looking to dive into the world of animation or level up your skills, selecting the best 2D animation software is the first step toward bringing your ideas to life.
Fortunately, today’s market has no shortage of 2D animation tools that cater to a variety of needs, skill levels, and budgets.
The options range from professional-grade software used by top animation studios to beginner-friendly platforms, ensuring there’s a tool suited for everyone.
With features designed to create animated characters from scratch or more advanced techniques like rigging and motion tweening, these tools allow creators to easily make amazing animations.
Join us as we explore the best 2D animation software for creators of all skill levels.
- Animaker
- Toon boom Harmony
- Adobe Animate
- CelAction2D
- Blender (Grease Pencil)
- Synfig Studio
- Pencil2D
- OpenToonz
Let’s begin!
Best 2D Animation Software
1. Animaker
Animaker’s 2D Animation Software is easily one of the best 2D animation software that helps users effortlessly turn their creative ideas into professional-grade animations.
This online platform is not just about 2D cartoon-style animations - it also allows users to create engaging whiteboard animations, offering incredible versatility in style and storytelling.
Animaker offers 1000+ ready-to-use templates to get started on projects if you’re unsure where to begin.
From animating pre-made characters to building custom characters from scratch, Animaker provides a wealth of customization options to ensure a personalized experience.
With access to a vast library of 150M+ assets, including properties, backgrounds, music, and royalty-free stock photos, Animaker gives creators everything they need to produce standout animations.
Apart from its abundance of assets, its AI capabilities make video creation easier. For instance, users can create videos from scratch or use AI to create videos using prompts.
Moreover, they can make advanced edits to create a video that meets their specific needs.
There are other special AI abilities, like an AI voice-over option offering 2000+ voices in 200+ languages for narration or dialogue, which is truly helpful.
Additionally, Animaker enables instant subtitle generation in over 130 languages, ensuring accessibility and clarity for diverse audiences.
These two AI features work together to auto-sync lip movements with voiceovers and subtitles, creating realistic character animations and eliminating the need for tedious manual adjustments.
So, in short, Animaker has it all, all in one place, making it convenient for users! Plus, it offers a free plan apart from its premium plans, so users can explore its features and start animating right away.
Check out Animaker's 2D Animation Software to generate animated videos in minutes!
Pros:
- Free plan available
- Online-based software
- Multiple animation styles available
- Animated templates available
- Huge asset library available
- 2D character creation possible
- AI voice-overs can be added
- Subtitles can be generated using AI
Cons:
- Watermark in the free plan
2. Toon Boom Harmony
Toon Boom Harmony, commonly referred to as Toon Boom, is a powerful software that lets users create stunning 2D animations with ease and precision.
One of Toon Boom Harmony's standout features is its ability to provide dynamic camera movements, offering a near 3D experience in 2D animations.
The tool also excels in frame-by-frame animation, offering tools that support traditional animators.
The software’s color palette system ensures consistency across frames. Animators can manage color schemes easily, apply them uniformly across characters and scenes, and make global adjustments with a few clicks.
This is particularly helpful for maintaining a cohesive look in larger projects.
It also has rigging features for character animation and vector-based drawing tools for detailed zooming without losing quality.
One of the biggest downsides of this software is that it can seem complex for beginners with a steep learning curve.
Toonboom offers a 21-day free trial option for users to try out their features.
Pros:
- Free trial available
- 3D camera movements available
- Rigging feature available
- Can easily maintain a color scheme with its palate system
Cons:
- Steep learning curve for beginners
3. Adobe Animate
Adobe Animate is a versatile and industry-leading software tailored for creating high-quality 2D animations.
The software is a go-to tool for many experienced animators, graphic designers, and web developers looking to produce engaging animations for multiple platforms, including websites, games, and videos.
The software offers features such as frame-by-frame animation, allowing users to bring their creative visions to life with a hand-drawn, traditional feel.
For those seeking efficiency, features like motion tweening and shape tweening provide smooth transitions and movements with minimal effort, making the animation process quicker without compromising quality.
Adobe Animate offers an extensive library of pre-built assets, symbols, and templates that can help users jump-start projects.
The software provides users with a 7-day free trial, after which they will be billed.
Pros:
- 7-day free trial available
- Large asset library available
Cons:
- Requires credit card details to start the free trial
4. CelAction2D
CelAction2D is one of the best 2D animation software crafted for creating high-quality 2D animations, tailored specifically to professionals and studios.
Known for its efficiency and advanced tools, it’s a go-to platform for studios working on large-scale animation projects, including TV shows, commercials, and feature films. It's been used to animate shows like Bluey, Peppa Pig, and Mr. Bean.
One of CelAction2D’s standout features is its rig-based animation system, which allows animators to create characters and scenes with minimal frame-by-frame effort.
The software supports a multi-layered approach and tools to create dynamic camera movements, enabling users to add depth and detail to their animations.
While it’s a powerful tool, CelAction2D is best suited for experienced animators who can use its features to their fullest potential.
Unlike many other animation tools, CelAction2D does not provide a free trial. Instead, it offers rental options, allowing users to subscribe monthly or annually based on their project needs.
Pros:
- Rig-based animation system
- Ideal for professional, large-scale projects
Cons:
- Expensive software
- Steep learning curve for beginners
5. Blender (Grease Pencil)
Blender, widely known as a powerful 3D modeling and animation software, also offers impressive 2D animation capabilities.
The software’s dedicated 2D toolset, Grease Pencil, allows artists to create stunning 2D animations directly within a 3D environment.
This capability allows for a seamless blend of 2D and 3D elements, setting Blender apart from traditional 2D animation tools and expanding the possibilities for creative storytelling.
With features like pressure-sensitive drawing tools, customizable brushes, and layers, animators can achieve a different range of styles, from sketchy, hand-drawn animations to more polished designs.
It also offers robust features like rigging and animation of 2D characters.
Additionally, Blender’s built-in composting tools allow for adding shadows, highlights, and special effects that can help create a professional quality finish.
However, the most impressive aspect is that the software is entirely free and open source, making it accessible to a wide audience, from independent creators to professional studios.
Though it is free, it is worth noting that Blender’s vast features can be overwhelming for beginners.
Pros:
- Free and open-source software
- Multitude of features available
- Multiple styles of animation available
Cons:
- Can be overwhelming for beginners at first
6. Synfig Studio
Synfig Studio is an open-source software designed for creating 2D animations without any frame-by-frame techniques.
One of Synfig Studio’s standout features is its layer-based system, offering a variety of layer types, such as geometric, gradients, filters, distortions, and more.
Additionally, the software supports vector tweening, allowing smooth transitions between keyframes and saving time.
While Synfig Studio is free and open source, its user interface can be challenging for beginners. The learning curve is steep, and newcomers may find it takes time to understand and utilize its features.
Furthermore, compared to professional-grade software, its feature set is somewhat limited, which could pose challenges for highly advanced projects.
Pros:
- Free and open-source
Cons:
- Limited features compared to other 2D animation software
- Complex interface
7. Pencil2D
Pencil2D Animation is a lightweight and open-source software that enables users to create traditional hand-drawn 2D animations with ease.
It’s designed for simplicity and is perfect for beginners and hobbyists looking for a straightforward tool to bring their creative ideas to life.
Pencil2D supports bitmap and vector graphics, allowing users to work in their preferred style.
The software has a minimalistic workspace, making it easy for users to focus entirely on their animation without being distracted by unnecessary features.
Despite its simplicity, Pencil2D includes essential animation tools, such as onion skinning, timeline editing, and layer support, for creating frame-by-frame animations with easy control.
However, Pencil2D lacks the advanced features offered by other 2D animation software.
Additionally, it does not include a built-in asset library, requiring users to create or source their assets externally.
Pros:
- Free and open-source
- Beginner Friendly interface
- Supports both bitmap and vector workflows
Cons:
- Limited advanced features compared to competitors
- No built-in asset library
8. OpenToonz
OpenToonz is also easily one of the best 2D animation software that is widely recognized in professional productions including Studio Ghibli films.
This open-source software offers traditional animation techniques, allowing animators to create frame-by-frame animations.
One of its standout features is its support for both vector-based and bitmap-based animation styles. This flexibility makes it an excellent choice for animators looking to explore or combine different artistic approaches.
In addition to fundamental tools like onion skinning and motion tweening, OpenToonz provides access to a rich library of pre-made assets, including characters, backgrounds, and effects.
These assets can significantly speed up the animation process while maintaining high quality.
Another unique feature is its ability to scan hand-drawn artwork and seamlessly convert it into digital animations.
This feature bridges the gap between traditional art and modern digital techniques, making it a favorite for artists who prefer sketching on paper.
While the software is free and open-source, its interface can be challenging for beginners.
The learning curve may require users to spend some time familiarizing themselves with its advanced features and workflows.
Pros:
- Free and open-source
- Supports both bitmap and vector workflows
- Built-in asset library available
Cons:
- Complex interface
***
In conclusion, choosing the best 2D animation software depends on your specific needs, skill level, and the type of animation you want to create.
It doesn't matter if you're just starting and experimenting with basic concepts or if you're a seasoned professional seeking advanced features. There are plenty of excellent options available to bring your ideas to life.
Options like CelAction2D offer powerful industry-standard capabilities, while versatile and user-friendly tools like Animaker make it easy to craft high-quality animations quickly.
If you're looking for an easy-to-use, powerful solution for creating stunning animations quickly, Animaker's 2D Animation Software is the perfect choice.
With its vast library of assets, AI-powered features, and intuitive interface, Animaker makes it easier than ever to produce high-quality 2D animations online.
Give it a try and experience the magic of animation today!
