Which software can I use for traditional 2-D animation?

[jorgon]

Hello friends.

I'd like that you recommend me a list of programs for the creation of a traditional 2-D animation.

I remember when I was 13, that I used the Walt Disney Animation Studio for Commodore Amiga 500 (an excellent computer) and his innovator technology of simulation of transparent paper allowed me to re-sketch over the last frame because the last frame turned a bit lighter...And like the previues frame it could be applied for the 4 previous frames, so you could have an idea of the trajectory or path which your object would have.

Has anyone know programs which have implemented this feature or dedicated to this purpose?

Thank you very much.

[Portus]

I still have my original Walt Disney Animation Studio floppies, no longer have an Amiga unfortunately, TVPaint is still around, it does have the lightbox feature. Other program to look is RETAS!PRO but I've never used it, I'm not a animator.

[Arshes Nei]

I believe there is also Anime Studio out too for animation.

[jorgon]

Mmm...The videos of YouTube I've watched just right now indicate me that it's a program which animates vectorial drawings...

Maybe this program includes the tradicional animation via transparent cells or "onion paper" (it's like we call this traansparent paper in Spain) but in these videos I haven't seen anything like this...I will continue searching.

The Walt Disney Animation Studio was a really simple but powerful program with simple tools for filling areas and paintings. This program allowed me to make fast animations in a very easy way. And with the mouse!...The factor of the mouse was thanks to Commodore and the incredible feeling of the mouse: its buttons and ball allowed me to draw in a really precise way. Outstanding hardware and software, without no doubt.

TVPAINT maybe is the program which more remember to the Walt Disney Animation Studio: thank you Portus!!.

Do you know any other program?.

Thank you Arshes Nei too.

[Arshes Nei]

I just remembered another one Toon Boom http://www.toonboom.com/main/

[joeparis]

Yes, Toon Boom Studio has onion skinning. http://toonboomcartooning.wetpaint.com/page/onion+skin

[smithdwsn]

You can use Pencil Animation Program which allows you to draw in traditional pencil animations. Also you can use Toonboom which allows you to make animations in 2D form. With the help of these you can easily draw character, background etc. Otherwise, you can use Anime studio which is also best for 2D drawing. They all are free so there is no problem regarding download, installation etc.

[jorgon]

Thank you Smithdwsn.

I've realised that Corel Painter 11 can make possible drawing 2D classic animation with their onion paper technology so...It's easy.

The list of programs that you give to me is really important, because like you say, all are free, aren't they?

Best regards.

Within 2 days I will have in my hands my new Intuos 4 Medium...I can't wait it!!

[Arshes Nei]

Thank you Smithdwsn.

I've realised that Corel Painter 11 can make possible drawing 2D classic animation with their onion paper technology so...It's easy.

The list of programs that you give to me is really important, because like you say, all are free, aren't they?

Best regards.

Within 2 days I will have in my hands my new Intuos 4 Medium...I can't wait it!!

No, not all these programs are free, best do some research through google or the links to find out the costs and their capabilities. We're listing them because you're interested. It's however, up to you to work on learning whether or not they're going to be right for you.

[jason_maranto]

I would definitely say look hard at Corel Painter as it's traditional animation capabilities are actually very solid -- and it doesn't stop at cell type artwork, you can animate in any style.

Best,
Jason.

[soulmakossa]

My 1st introduction to 2-d animation software is good ol' Macromedia Flash (now Adobe Flash). I remember my 3rd year of college and witnessing some seniors in my Computer Art class do some amazing things with the program to integrate animated images and artwork with web designs.

Flash-created animations are on alot of websites and make for a cool experience. The last really impressive Flash animation I saw while casually browsing online is with the James Bond 007 Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace promotional sites, take a look for yourself, I think you'll enjoy it:

http://www.sonypictures.com/homevide...ale/index.html

If you already are familiar with Photoshop and Illustrator, that's a plus in owning Flash because you can create the artwork you want to animate as separate layers and elements in those programs. Check it out and see what you think. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...1;OLD VERSION]

[artmessiah]

I used TVPaint Animation to help me a bit at Ringling when I was taking animation but a free options is Pencil. It's not tvpaint, but it gets the job done.

See here

http://www.pencil-animation.org/

Another option is DigiCel Flipbook. It's really simple but like TVPaint Animation it's a bit expensive unless you can get a student discount.

See here

http://www.digicelinc.com/

[Arshes Nei]

If I hadn't done a look at other posts, someone was gonna be banned for coming off as a spambot :/

[artmessiah]

If I hadn't done a look at other posts, someone was gonna be banned for coming off as a spambot :/

Ha, ha, there is major linkage going on with this post.

[iven]

I am into flash but would like to use other animation Programs, You can see some of the key by key animations on my website.

Flash is perfect for 2D traditional,...I find the guide layers are very helpfull !!

[spencer12]

There are lots of software available. It is depend on you use. If you want to work with large project than you can use Maya or 3D Max. Otherwise you can use any of the following list :

- DIGICEL
- AXA Software
- Animation stand
- CTP
- RETASpro

[artmessiah]

Since this has been bumped. Plastic Paper Animation is free now. Go geet id NawWaaaah!

Professional animation stuff Here

[nikolaibaluev]

Nassos Vakalis is an animation artist and illustrator best known for his work for Warner Bros and Dream works Animation Studios. He has used 3D applications such as those listed below to create personal works of art too, some teeshirts is offered through your store

[MiladThaha]

Pencil is a good open source animation software. It lacks several features for high end animation though. And exporting to a video file is not possible at the moment, so it makes it pretty much useless for serious works (ofcourse, you can export frame-by-frame). Its not at all actively developed (last update at 4/2008 ). Drawing isn't intuitive too, lapses lines here and there.

Plastic Animation Paper (PAP) is something I've been using for a long time. Recently, they gave away version 4.0 for free, and its a superb little piece of software. It has pretty much everything you need to try out animation. Keep in mind that it cannot be used for creating a complete sequence (with color and all) rather, its more of a tool to try out concept animations. Its still too awesome though. It's crazy list of hotkeys allows you to work really fast and keep the screen clean too, once you learn 'em.

Digicel's Flipbook is also something I used to use until quite a while back. You can pretty much make an entire sequence (including color) with it. It has a darn brilliant XSheet, something I want to see in PAP. But its not free; its ridiculously expensive. If you don't want too many layers, you could try out the home edition. If you have a Wacom Cintiq or a similar alternative, you can pretty animate as in traditional cel.

Then there's TVPaint, which looks pretty awesome. Looks like you can paint in it too, and it has a vast set of paintbrushes and image editing tools built-in. I played around a bit, but it has a pretty steep learning curve. So instead of trying to learn everything and reach nowhere, I turned to PAP.

Then you have the popular ToonBoom packages. There are quite a few packages, like ToonBoom Animate, Studio, Express and all. I had played around with the Studio package trial once. Its pretty cool, you have both cut out and traditional studio in your hands; also, the 3D camera is one awesome feature. Its what most studios use too. But personally, something about it put me off.

There's Flash too. But the style is very limited if you want to do in it. For cutout style animation, you can look into Anime Studio. It has a very easy to use animation+rigging system. But its severely limited to 2D (just sideways) but I've seen people do wicked stuff with it though. Its hard to deviate from Anime Studio really intends to do though.

Personally, I use PAP for all rough timings and concepts. I haven't cleaned up, or colored any of my animation yet, in any software. People usually export it to Photoshop or any other painting software that has a timeline feature and get it colored. I don't have much knowledge in that case though.

Hope I helped a bit in your hunt.

[staigerman]

it sounds like with 'traditional animation software' you want a paint program that lets you use onion skins to paint frame by frame. You might want to look into Dogwaffle. Or Pencil, TVpaint and more.


www.dogwaffle.info/pdpro5 is the latest

there's a demo version of pdpro4 and pdpro 3.5 as well as a fully functional free version 1.2 (based on a subset of 2.1)

There's a few more listed at http://thebest3d.com/animationsoftware/

you probably saw them listed in prior replies and posts.