The Best Free Animation Software That Animators Swear By

There can be lots of free animation software out there, but nothing beats the classic Blender software that every animator loves.

But did you know that there’s actually something better than Blender with almost the same features?

Plus, you don’t even need to have extensive knowledge in animation since you can easily publish an animated video in only a matter of minutes.

So what exactly is animation software and why is it one of the most trending software in the business world?

Animation Software

Animation software is generally software that’s used to create animated videos for different purposes.

This type of software is what turns each frame (equivalent to a single image or drawing) into an animated video.

Basically, animated videos are just compilations of frames arranged in a particular order.

Different types of animation software

There are only two types of animation software: 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional animation software.

2D animation software is used to create characters, backgrounds, storyboards, etc in a 2-dimensional flat space.

These can be done by hand where animators are drawing each frame or photographing still objects before they are edited and turned into an animated video.

Examples of 2D animation software are Pencil 2D, Synfig Studio, Adobe Animate, OpenToonz, Maefloresta, and more.

Meanwhile, 3D animation is much more complex, advanced, and popular since they are more realistic and dynamic.

This type of tool utilizes motion to bring objects or characters come to life.

A few good examples of 3D animation software are Blender, Autodesk Maya, Cinema 4D, Daz Studio, etc.

Why are animated videos great?

Did you know that humans have very short attention spans and it’s only getting shorter for reasons we don’t know?

Animated videos have this amazing power that instantly grabs the attention of viewers, especially on social media.

For content creators and digital marketers, animated videos work well in increasing conversions and engagement.

In fact, animated videos are known as the “golden standard” when it comes to marketing and advertising.

It helps boost your business

If you’re looking to grow your brand or business, then animated videos are definitely the way to go.

Because these videos are easy to share, they help increase traffic to your website.

You can also use them to promote products, services, events, and anything else you want to sell online.

Animated videos help increase conversion rates and it even helps build trust and credibility among customers.

You’ll see how effective animated videos are when you start creating them yourself.

It makes complex topics simpler and easier to understand

One of the things that make animated videos great is that they can deliver messages easily.

For teachers and students, animated videos can be very useful in turning complex ideas into something that’s easier to understand.

It’s also what other people use to explain things smoothly than letting the audience read what is being presented.

To put it simply, animated videos can turn any idea or story to a whole new level, making learning even more exciting.

It’s cheaper to produce than any type of video content 

Animated videos aren’t as expensive as creating live-action videos.

Even if you’re not using professional equipment like cameras and lights, you’ll still get decent results by using animation software.

You can always edit these videos later so you won’t lose anything if you want to try different styles.

And unlike live-action videos, you don’t need to hire actors and crew to shoot them.

All you need is a computer, some time, and a creative mind.

Blender: The best free animation software

What makes Blender great is its ability to create high-quality animations without having to pay thousands of dollars.

Blender has been around for over 20 years now and it’s used by many professionals all over the world.

It’s a free open-source program that allows users to create high-quality animations.

With its powerful features, you can do almost everything with it.

For example, you can animate characters, add effects, change colors, and more.

There are also lots of tutorials available online to help you learn how to use the software.

Blender Features

With Blender, you can animate everything from simple cartoons to complicated movies, depending on how you want it.

There are many features in Blender that make it one of the best free animation software.

Some of these include:

Rendering – EEVEE is the real-time rendering engine of Blender that offers ultra-realistic rendering. It also speeds up the whole process of shading and texturing.

Modeling – this feature makes creating, transforming, sculpting, and editing models easier and faster.

Sculpting – Blender also comes with sculpting tools that simplify the process of producing the final output.

Animation and Rigging – this feature is included to animate still objects or characters easily.

Grease Pencil – another amazing feature that lets animators draw in a 3-dimensional space. It’s also used to make 2D and 3D objects.

VFX – this built-in compositor allows animators to post-produce renders without leaving the software. It also makes importing raw footage efficient since it’s used to track motion automatically or manually.

Simulation – easily add simulations like fire, smoke, fluid, crumbling building, rigid bodies, or even particles with Blender.

Video Editing – the built-in sequence editor is also every animator’s favorite. This tool is used to edit imported videos since you can use it to do video cuts, splicing, video masking, color grading, and more. 

Premium Cloud Membership – a very powerful storage solution for people with multiple workstations to synchronize their projects via the Blender Cloud.

Blender requirements

If you’re looking for a powerful but easy-to-use animation software, then Blender is definitely worth checking out.

The animation software works well in different operating systems making it the most accessible tool for animators.

It works on Windows 8.1, 10, and 11, macOS 10.13 Intel, 11.0 Apple Silicon, and Linux.

Blender Pros and Cons

If you’re looking to create your own animated videos, then Blender should be at the top of your list.

It’s a powerful yet easy-to-use tool that will allow you to create amazing animations without spending tons of money.

Here are the Pros and Cons of using Blender:

Pros

• Free and open source software
• Lots of online tutorials available
• User-friendly interface
• Lots of tools and features
• Cloud membership
• Flash drive portability
• Doesn’t require an internet connection

Cons

• Not recommended for beginners
• High system requirements

Now that you already have an idea about the best free animation software out there, let’s talk about other topics related to this article.

What software do game animators use?

Game animators usually need high-performance software that can handle large amounts of data efficiently.

They also need a robust set of tools to help them create awesome games.

Some of the popular software used by game animators include: Blender, Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, Cinema4D, Houdini, and more 

These programs offer lots of advanced features that help them produce high-quality animations quickly. 

What animation does Pixar use?

Pixar Animation Studios has been around for over 30 years now.

They have created such popular movies as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Wall-e, and many more. 

In fact, its huge success has led to the development of its very own animation software called RenderMan (previously PhotoRealistic RenderMan).

It is an award-winning animation software and is one of the most powerful rendering engines used by studios around the world.

Is Adobe Animate free?

Adobe Animate is a good choice for beginners because it’s easy to use.

It’s also compatible with all major platforms including PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and web browsers.

You can enjoy a 14-day free trial version of the animation software or you can a monthly fee (starting from $20.99) to enjoy its tools and features.

Which animation software is best for beginners?

With Blender being one of the best animation software out there, there’s still a learning curve for beginners since it can be too advanced.

So if you’re new to the whole animating thing, I’d recommend starting with something simpler first. Like Toonly, for example

Toonly is an amazing animation software that’s highly recommended for beginners who want to create their very first animation video.

It requires little to no knowledge in animation since it’s perfectly built for newbies thanks to its drag-and-drop feature.

With Toonly, you can create all sorts of videos for your marketing campaigns and so much more.

The animation software also comes with lots of online tutorials and also some other cool features that make you say, “Wow! I never thought it was that easy!”.

Oh, and did I mention it also comes with pre-designed animated characters and backgrounds?

You literally have nothing to worry about the whole animating thing with Toonly and you can click here to learn more about the animation software.