Motionbuilder is the professional-grade 3D animation software by Autodesk. This program combines keyframe animation with motion capture and virtual production. With this 3D animation software, you can animate 3D characters in real-time that are especially suitable for game development and animated.
- 3D animation stands for three-dimensional animation, meaning characters and backgrounds in these types of projects are created in a three-dimensional space. 3D Animation Tools help you to create models, backgrounds, storyboards and apply effects. You can use these tools to animate characters for commercials, movies, and television.
- Use 3D animation software to create clips that leap off the screen. Swoop into your scene with 3D animation software. Bring your 2D animation into a new dimension. Create amazing, fluid spatial effects by spreading your artwork in space and moving your camera to add dynamic movement.
If you are a beginner in animation, you should select right animation software to practice. There are several 3D and 2D free animation software available. Here is easy animation software for beginners to use that comes with great features. The best animation software is very helpful in modern film, education, marketing, cartoon and video game industry.
2D animation software is still popular and mostly used by designers, educators, trainers, and marketers. They are creating animated videos as one of the key tools for increasing audience engagement.
Here are 20 best free animation software for Mac, Linux, and Windows Computer with 64 bit and 32-bit versions.
Top Best 2D Free Animation Software for Mac, Windows, Linux Computer
Pencil2D
Pencil2D is a free 2d animation program for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. With this drawing software, you can create traditional hand-drawn animation. Pencil2D is very easy to use and best animation software for beginners.
This pencil animation software helps you make cartoon animation effortlessly. Pencil2D program allows you to export your graphics many file format such as FLV, Flash Video (SWF), Movie and to many other formats.
OpenToonz
OpenToonz is another open source 2D animation software for Mac and Windows. This program supports Microsoft Windows 7/8.1/10 and Mac OS X 10.9 or a later version.
CreaToon
CreaToon is a free animation software for Windows PC to create 2D animation in cut-out style. Its main advantage is very user-friendly.
Animation Paper
![3d animation drawing software download 3d animation drawing software download](https://cdn.lynda.com/video/79635-60-635186880908959059_338x600_thumb.jpg)
Animation Paper is a software designed to animate hand-drawn pictures in 2 dimensions. This Windows animation software allows the user to draw pictures with a pen tool. After you draw the pictures, Animation Paper collects and synchronize them to create an animation. You can free download Plastic Animation Paper from CNET.
Synfig Studio
Synfig Studio is another free open source 2d animation software for Windows 10/7/8, Linux, and Mac OSX. You can download Synfig Studio here.
Stykz
Stykz is totally free best animation software to create compelling 2D animations. It’s another multi-platform supports operating systems like Mac, Linux, and Windows. You can free download Stykz here.
Tupi
Tupi is another free open-source 2D animation software comes with easy animation creation process. This free animation program supports operating system such as Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. You can download Tupi here
DrawPlus
DrawPlus is another free animation software for beginners. This program was developed for Microsoft Windows and is fully compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista (32 bit and 64bit), Windows 7 (32bit and 64bit) and Windows 8 (32 bit and 64bit).
Toon Boom Free Animation Software
![Software Software](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MApmigvkI0M/maxresdefault.jpg)
Antics 2-D Animation
Top 3D Free Animation Software for Windows PC, Linux, Mac
Blender
Blender is the most popular industry standard free animation 3D software. This program used by animators, video game specialists, architects, interior designers, scientists, students, VFX professionals, 3D Printing, studio artists and more professionals. It available for major operating systems like Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows 64 bit computer. You can free download Blender here.
Houdini
Houdini is a 3D animation application software which is free of charge for non-commercial use. It is available for operating systems like Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
Clara.io
Clara.io is a free cloud-based online animation software that makes complex 3D models and beautiful photorealistic renderings. It is a cross-platform tool that works with a majority of the browsers and OS that includes, Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, and Windows.
Bryce
Bryce is an award-winning 3D modeling and animation package designed to allow new users to quickly create and render stunning 3D environments. You can free download from cnet.
Aurora 3D Animation Maker
Aurora 3D Animation Maker is a freeware 3D animation program for Windows 10/8/7/vista/XP, and Mac. You can quickly and easily create 3D animations for movie introductions presentations or websites. Free Download
DAZ Studio
DAZ Studio is the perfect tool to design unique digital art and animations using virtual people, animals, props, vehicles, accessories, environments and more. Free Download
K-3D
Videoboxpro 1 1 7 – professional video captures videos. K-3D is a free 3D animation software for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Pivot Animator
Krita Animator
For the most part, animation is not an expensive craft to pursue but it does come with some fairly pricey overheads when you’re first getting started out.
If you’re in animation school, chances are you’ve got access to all of the equipment and software you could possibly need. But if you’re interested in kitting out your home setup with animation software, the price tag can quickly rack up. Luckily, there are some free animation software alternatives which are good enough to see you through the majority of animation projects you’ll undertake.
Presenting…
Pencil
OS: Mac, Windows, Linux
3d software cura. When it comes to free and open-source 2D animation programs, Pencil is by far the most well-rounded and comes with a surprising number of features given that it comes with no charge.
Although it looks simple from the clean interface, it is packed with all the main tools you’ll find in some of the Pencil’s paid counterparts. It supports both vector and bitmap images, multiple layers and has its own in-built illustration tools (so you can either import graphics or create them right there and then before animating them).
Synfig Studios
OS: Mac, Windows, Linux
Right up there with Pencil, Synfig is very similar in design but arguably comes with a steeper learning curve; reason being, it throws in even more advanced features, and the results which can be achieved once you master them border on the professional level.
Stykz
OS: Mac, Windows, Linux
Given the above two open-source suites which offer an impressive level functionality, why are we featuring a simple stickman animation tool?
3d Animation Drawing Softwares
Simply put, Stykz has got a lot of use for anyone who likes to draft things out before getting down to fully-fledged artwork and animating. It’s completely free with no strings attached, works on any platform and can produce fluid .GIFs incredibly quickly (which will no doubt lead on to bigger things).
One particularly neat feature is that it also integrates with Pivot, another node-based (and free) animation tool.
CreaToon
OS: Windows
An entry-level animation program, CreaToon is cut-out based (all graphics are imported) that takes a lot of the headache out of creating cartoon-esque animation. While it isn’t quite as polished as some of the other names on this list, the real-time editing, auto in-frame filling and versatile file format support are real pulls.
Ajax Animator
OS: Windows, Mac, iPad
Not to be confused with the coding language, Ajax started life back in 2006 and was developed by a 6th grader as a replacement to Adobe’s expensive Flash MX. From such auspicious beginnings emerged a robust and fully functional animator that is well worth checking out despite its primitive look, especially if you’re an iPad user.
Blender
OS: Mac, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD
If you’ve heard of Blender, that’s because it’s one of the most widely-used free animation softwares still in active development (even professional animators and video game developers turn to it from time to time). Although it may take some time for beginners to get to grips with, those who manage to put even half the features Blender offers to use will be able to produce very impressive results.
Bryce
OS: Mac, Windows
Although it’s not strictly an animation suite, free terrain generation software (of decent quality) is hard to come by. Bryce has really stepped up to the plate in this department – as a terragen, it’s both as simple and as elaborate as you need it to be depending on the scale of your project and works seamlessly with most other modeling software.
Best Free Drawing Animation Software
Incidentally, Bryce is developed by DAZ 3D, who are also responsible for:
3d Video Animation Software
DAZ Studio
OS: Mac, Windows 2d drawing software.
This fantastic modeling and animation software wasn’t always free, but as of 2012, the professional version of DAZ is yours simply for signing up for a free registration account. The rendering engine is lightning fast, and the huge library of pre-created component content will have you creating in no time.
Clara.io
Best 3d Animation Software
OS: Browser-based
Not only is Clara free, but it’s the only web-based one we can think of that is fully functional (and you don’t need any browser plugins to get it going). Not only does it feature a good system for polygonal modeling and skeletal/keyframe animation, but due to its 80,000+ user base there’s a strong community feel and plenty of people with which to chat shop.
3d Animation Drawing Software For Beginners
Know of any great free or open source drawing animation software/tools which we’re missing? Do help the animation community out by leaving your suggestions in the comments below. And, if you’re interested in learning more about 3D animation and visual effects, check out NYFA’s 3D Animation & VFX School to begin your journey.