Animation Programs For Mac

The amazingly powerful 3D modeling, rendering and animation software for Apple Mac OS X. Cheetah3D is a powerful and easy to learn 3D modeling, rendering and animation application which was developed from the ground up for Mac OS X. Free Animation Software for Mac: Making the animated movies voiced by you with your favorite cartoon character is really a fun, isn’t it?Right, we can understand your feeling and creativity, you may be a student or employee who want to make a career in this field. Top 10 Free Animation Software for Mac. The software has tools that can be used to draw textures with pencil; it has the morphing tools, deformation tool, particles, built-in compositor, 2D or 3D integration. Cons of toon boom animate pro. There are no online tutorials for some of the versions. We counsel a animation program for mac which triumphant all your desire and needs. It a pleasure time when we are going to describe the top 3 best 3D animation programs for mac beginners & Pro Users. Have you checked our earlier list of best CRM software for Mac OS X here? We think one of our earlier guide you must read because it can help you in increasing your Mac experiences, The Best. 6 great animation apps for the Mac The Mac has long been a premier platform for many artists, and these six apps from the Mac App Store are powerful tools for creating all kinds of animated content.

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

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

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

K-3D is a free 3D animation software for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Pivot Animator

Krita Animator

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Sep 17,2019• Proven solutions

In your search for quality animation software, you may have found that many of the programs cost a lot of money.

It is not ideal if you need to pay so much for animated application, and price should not be the reason that stops you from making animation video.

The good news is that you can choose free animation tools to start the journey in the market.

That is why we created a list of the best animation software on both Mac and Windows. Some of them are excellent to use, even compared with some paid package.

Whether you are a professional editor or just a beginner to start making animation, you will find the tools listed below are easy to use without watermark and won't cost money to improve your skills.

The best part is you will find these free animation programs are also very useful for content creation on Mac and Windows. Besides, we have listed the pros and cons of each software. Keep reading!

Best Animation Software on Mac and Windows - FilmoraPro

Looking for some simple while powerful video editing tools? We recommend using Wondershare FilmoraPro. You can use it to create 2D/3D animated texts, shapes or anything you like for YouTube video.

The keyframing features will help you make animation effects smooth and precise. When exporting, you can also make it transparent.

Besides, various title templates and transitions are also available for you. Download it now to have a try!

Simple steps to make animation easily

  • Create various shapes that you like
  • Add keyframing to make it move
  • Fine-tuning to make it smooth
  • Add visual effects/text/color before export it

Here we have listed 10 free animation software without watermark on Windows and macOS.

  • Synfig Studio
  • Pencil2D Animation
  • Tupi
  • Blender
  • DAZ Studio
  • Terragen
  • Anim8or
  • Seamless3d
  • OpenToonz
  • Stykz

Part 1: Best Free Animation Software for Mac

Listed below are free animation software on Mac. Take a look.

1.Synfig Studio - Mac software to animate video

Difficulty Level: Easy

Pro: You can create many layers once a time and sync audio for your animation.

Con: This one needs much time to learn, especially for beginners.

An open-source 2D animation software that works on Macs, Synfig Studio delivers multiple players while you are creating content. Whether you want to add geometric, filters, distortions or transformations, it is all possible! And thanks to the high-end bone system, you can create cut out videos using bitmap images!

The thoughtful part is there are two download version on the homepage: stable version and development version. If you want to enjoy a stable and smooth animation editing experience, choose the stable one. However, the development package give you access to use the latest features.

For a novice, you can learn Synfig from step by step guide in Wikipeida and video tutorials. Four languages are available including English, Russian, Dutch and French for video course.

Features:

  • It offers support for many layers within the animation.
  • The program’s bone system means that you can easily create animations with bitmap images or vector artwork.
  • It allows you to sync your creative work with any sound that you want. Has a full-featured audio editor.

2.Pencil2D Animation - Animation program for 2D pencil lover

Difficulty Level: Easiest

Pro: Easy to start and make animation as the interface is user-friendly for many people.

Con: You need to set your preference every time to open it up, so it takes up some time

Pencil2D Animation is one of the simplest 2D hand-drawn tools available. It will work flawlessly on Mac computers. It is ideal for beginners, as the commands and interface are very easy to understand.

Whether you want to create a simple one, or you want something with many layers for videos on YouTube, you can use Pencil2D animation to get it done. Its time is easy to use at the first glance. You can add and duplicate different frames on different track.

The frequency of releasing new version is very fast as Pencil2D is committed to bring the lasted features to each users. The newest version is v0.6.4 (as of August, 2019). Its user guide is informative with video tutorial, FAQ and manual material.

Features:

  • Lightweight and minimalistic design that makes it very easy for beginners.
  • Features raster and vector workflows, with easy switching between them. You can paint and sketch as you want!
  • Will run on all platforms - Mac, Windows and Linux.
  • Completely free and open source.

3.Tupi - free animation application for mac users

Difficulty Level: Middle

Pro: It supports vector illustrations. Besides, various formats are available.

Con: If you want to make 3D animation, it will fail. You can only make 2D effects.

A free software application for YouTube, Tupi will allow you to create 2D animations to your heart’s content. The tool was started by animators who wanted to create something that others could use.

It is an open-source tool, which means that users can make their tweaks to the program if they have some interesting ideas. The program works on both Windows and Mac. You need to use Tupi and Papagayo to make lip-sync animation with different mouth shape.

It offers solution for schools with related features including academic license, technical support and ads-free, so many schools choose use this one to teach kids on how to make an animation video.

Features:

  • Support for vector illustrations. You can add rectangles, lines, polygons, and other shapes as you please. To fill areas, just use the paint bucket.
  • You can import raster images using this program.
  • You can export all your finished images into different file formats.
  • Support for tweeting positions, scale, shear and rotations.

4.Blender - need some time to learn this animation tool

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Pro: Really powerful software that you can make for professional users.

Con: It is not easy to make image animation as it focuses on 3D.

Blender is an open-source 3D animation creation suite without watermark. If you find that 2D is a little bit limiting, we think that you will be very happy with what this free program offers. You can take your projects to a whole new level when you can use this program on your Mac.

You can use Blender to make video game, modeling and high quality animation. However, it involves steep learning curve. Luckily, there are many tutorial to guide you through the journey. You can also ask for help in Blender community that millions of talented people like you are there.

Features:

  • Creating renders is no problem with this program.
  • Modeling, such as sculpting, retopology and creating curves is not an issue either.
  • VFX and animation features are better than any option on the market.
  • It offers powerful simulation tools.
  • Integration with pipeline tools is easy.

Part 2: Best Free Animation Software for Windows

Below are free animation software on Windows. Keep reading.


5.DAZ Studio - free software for 3D lovers

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Pro: You can make game animation for fun. It also supports GPU accelerated real-time rendering.

Con: It has high demand for the device, but owns a steep learning curve.

Daz 3d is a powerful and completely free 3D creation tool that will let you create the short videos that you want. Whether you are using this for business or pleasure, you will find the program is very easy to understand. Within a day, you will be completely used to its interface.

3D effects is the core focus of DAZ Studio. You can build model, render and pose animation within skin texture level. It has a high requirement for device. For Windows 64 bits, its recommended RAM is 3G.

Features:

  • Options for 3D morphing, animation, and rendering.
  • GPU accelerated real-time rendering, which delivers the best results.
  • Interactive tutorials to help you become a better 3D artist.
  • Everything you make is yours, royalty-free!

6.Terragen - use it to make CG animation

Difficulty Level: Middle

Pro: The recently updated version is the best one. Ray-traced preview is a great function to help us making animation.

Con: The interface looks complicated, but it gets easy to know after you are familiar with it.

A completely free program that you can download and install on all Windows computers and tablets, Terragen is the ideal program for you to create the 3D animations and environments that you want. If you want a photo-realistic CG environment, using Terragen is the best way to do it!

Releasing imagination instantly, Terragen Creative is the one tool you'd like to consider. You can use it to make beautiful scenery.

For advanced tools, you can choose FBX to make animation quickly. The featured image gallery on its homepage will give you a deep understanding about the final outcome you can achieve with Terragen.

Features:

  • Ray-traced preview. Without watermark after exporting
  • Photo-realistic clouds and ozone simulation
  • Rendering is twice as fast as the previous version of the program.
  • Adding terrain, objects and shader to your final product is very easy with the intuitive interface.

7.Anim8or - free tool to make 3D modeling

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Pro: Anim8or supports 3D modeler and TrueType fonts to meet advanced needs.

Con: Beginners will find it difficult to learn.

Anim8or is a free 3D modeling program that will let you create the unique work that you want. It is a personal project from an animator, but the program does get regular updates and troubleshooting.

It is not going to give you the same features as something like Studio Max or Maya, but you will get the basics. Beginners who are getting into animations will love this program.

Anim8or is a great tool to step into 3D animation ff you think other software is too different to start. In some way, it means you need to give up some advanced features. But all in all, it's still recommended for you.

Features:

  • A full 3D modeler that allows you to create spheres, cylinders, platonic solids and any other objects that you want.
  • Features support for TrueType fonts.
  • Easy to create 3D scenes and output them as video files or images.

8.Seamless3d - open-source free software

Best Free Animation Programs For Mac

Difficulty Level: Easy

Pro: It is an open-source 3D modeling package. The good thing is the handy infinite Undo/Redo operation.

Con: Some advanced features are missing like drawing.

Seamless3d, an open-source 3D modeling software that you can download, is among the best animation worktable if you want to create specialized images, animated videos or 3D characters.

It supports FFmpeg video format, so you can use AVI, MP4 and more. Besides, the forum is not active compared with before, but you still can find answers from many tutorials.

Features:

  • It comes with infinite undo and redo options for complete flexibility to correct mistakes.
  • It allows for partitioned and seamless texture mapping for YouTube videos.
  • Has a specialized tree view interface.

9.OpenToonz - support plug in to make animation freely

Difficulty Level: Middle

Pro: It is an open source software, so you can change the code freely.

Con: The plug-in effects are limited.

This animation program is made for beginners on Windows. It is among the best 2D animation software in the market. You can use plug-in effects to change image style, add lights and distort details. It supports Windows 7/8/10 only for 64 bit.

Features:

  • You can add provisional colors to make your animation more colorful.
  • Smooth correction without frame losing.
  • Compatible with black-and-white, colored, or without binarization scanning.

10.Stykz - Simple to use animation program for beginners

Free 2d Animation Programs For Mac

Difficulty Level: Easy

Pro: It is the best stick figure animation if you want to make this kind of video.

Con: The UI is not modern to use and needs time to adapt to using it.

Stykz is completely free to use and without watermark. If you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator, then you will find Stykz is similar to it, but you can import the previous .stk files to animate it again. Microsoft office for mac 2013. You can use it to make animation smooth frame by frame.

With its frame based feature, Stykz is easy to cutomize each frame. You can change previous and current frames to get what you want. You can download it to have a try considering its easy to use features.

Features:

  • There is some animes file on this website, so you can have a reference.
  • Edit animation in the software without using another editing window.
  • You can share the final work with others including information.

Conclusion

With any of these free animation maker programs on Mac and Windows, you will have an easy time creating your next 2D or 3D video. Ensure you choose the program that has the features and compatibility that you desire. Then it is up to your creative mind to come up with stunning animations! If you want to make animation easily, download FilmoraPro to have a try.

Easy-to-use and powerful video editor for all creators.


Animation Programs For Mac Free

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