What is THE BEST 3D Software?What 3D programs are used in the VFX industry?What should YOU learn?Let's talk about the 5 main 3D programs out there: Maya, Hou. Adobe Character Animator is one of the best animation software and is used by many Hollywood film houses. The software offers a huge variety of options for animating. You can also use the built-in puppets to begin animating as soon as you open the software. Animation options include breathing, walking, blinking, behaviors, etc.
Living in a digital age, animated content is now not only used in the entertainment industry but it is also gaining popularity as an effective marketing tool. The use of animations in video marketing conveys that the domain of animations is certainly very vast. From 2D animations to 3D content, you have countless options to choose from, however; many individuals have the perfect concept for their animation video but they do not know how to create one. For that purpose, the emergence of animation software and tools helped them produce quality content to befit their preferences.
You do not have to be a professional animator to use these tools as all you have to do is follow the given guidelines and you will master the notion of animation creation without any hurdles. In this article, we are presenting you with top 10 video animation tools and software that you can use to create contemporary videos. The use of these tools results in an Animation Wonder, one that allows users to see beyond and in-depth.
1. Bryce
Free Cgi Animation Software
Bryce, an animation, 3D modeling, and rendering program that is unique to its capabilities in fractal landscapes. With first appearing in the commercial world in 1994, Bryce was platform specific to Macintosh. Bryce was released under critical acclaim from designers and still remains to be one of the best animation software, one that relishes its position in the market as having one of the simplest and easiest to use user interface.
2. LightWave 3D
Used for both static as well as animated 3D rendering. LightWave is light years ahead of its rivals in terms of rendering speed, supporting an engine that allows quick and seamless renderings even on features that are excessively advance like, caustics, radiosity, and reflection. LightWave also allows the user to use both subdivisions as well as polygon animation, this fact alone puts LightWave as a standalone animating software and in a league of its own.
3. Blender
Blender as a 3D animating tool contains features that allow users to indulge in raster graphics editing, rigging, UV un-wrapping, skinning, smoke and fluid simulation, particle simulation, sculpting, match moving, rendering, compositing, camera tracking, video editing, image editing, and soft body simulation. Blender as a software is highly professional in its standard, it allows users to use a sandbox element in its GUI thus allowing open sourcing and allowing users to create some of the most ostentatious 3D computer graphics, with very high visual effects and 3D models.
4. Houdini
Brought to us by the Toronto based developers, Side Effects Software. Houdini as the name suggests, is a 3D animation software that has applications of various sort and with results that are of magical in quality. Using the PRISMS suite of procedural generation software tools by Side Effect was adopted Houdini, they made sure to build a software that standouts as one that provides unique detailing in procedural generation software tools. Houdini also has a free version that is available for non-commercial use called Houdini Apprentice.
5. Cinema 4D
A 3D animation, modeling, rendering, and motion graphics application built by the brains at MAXON Computers is CINEMA 4D. Built by MAXON in German for AmigaOS, MacOS and Microsoft Windows operating systems. The software is highly capable of producing, both polygonal and procedural modeling as well as allowing in-depth edits and detailed editing in animating, texturing, lighting and rendering. Cinema 4D is available for purchase in 4 forms; Prime, Broadcast, Visualize and Studio, with all four variants having distinguishing and unique functions and applications.
6. Autodesk 3ds Max
Autodesk 3ds Max also known as 3D Studio is a 3D computer graphics program that is professional in its standards and allows users to create animations, renderings, models and various other 3D CGI. Autodesk 3ds Max is built to provide its users a very flexible user interface, on that is highly customizable. It can only be used on Windows 7 and all later versions, which is one drawback that we can easily ignore due to the sheer capabilities and resulting quality of the software itself.
7. DrawPlus
DrawPlus, an animation studio that is available for purchase as DrawPlus X8 but also comes as a Starter Edition which is completely free of cost. DrawPlus is purely an animation studio that crowns itself as one of the very best in 2D graphics. Vector creation and editing are the real USP of DrawPlus, from realistic watercolors to very high-quality brushes. DrawPlus has a lot to offer to any user that is interested in creating professional 2D vector graphics.
8. Digicel FlipBook
A 2D animation software, Digicel FlipBook was created to provide users with an animation style that is as close to the traditional and non-digital form. Flipbook the creators of Digicel Flipbook wanted to stay true to the traditional ways of 2D drawings and wanted to bring it to the digitized word, hence creating a unique animation studio that is easy to learn for anyone that is a hand drawing artist and/or otherwise.
9. TVPaint Animation
TVPaint Animation, available on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, AmigaOS (from v1.0 to 3.59) is a paint software and 2D digital animation package. Developed by TVPaint Developpement SARL, the software is unique to its creation as it is one of the few that supports almost all of the operating systems that we surround ourselves within the digital world. Over the years TVPaint Animation has been used in the completion of many movies and animations that we see on TV and otherwise.
10. Toonz
Opentoonz or Toonz is one of the only few 2D animation software available now that is open-source. Users can buy 2 versions, Regular, and Premium with the premium being the more professional of the two. Toonz over the years has been used to create some of the most famous cartoons that we have seen on the television.
Imagine this scenario. What if you have a story to share with the world and you want to keep the visuals of it a novelty. Well, in that case, there is a good chance one will want to create either 2D or 3D animation. It is after all the best way to engage a broader sector of audience as viewers. But again, the issue with this medium is the lack of natural talent. There are very few storytellers or for that matter visualizers, who have the skill to create character models and backgrounds that go with the story. With the advent of technology, there are now many software available in the market with which they can create and express their story.
Best Animation software for PC
Listed below are the best animation software for Windows PC that are easily downloadable.
1. Pencil 2D:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: Free
- Output: 2D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X and Linux
- Download: Here
This software is perfect for newbie animators. With an easy to use interface, one only needs to focus on the art they are creating and not the technicalities of the software. With this software, one can easily switch from simple Bitmap images to high end Vector images. One can sketch, ink and paint and even create rendered background images with it. Due to its ease of use, it is quite popular for creating anime style animation. The timeline helps one create easy keyframe manipulation and placement of layers and onion skins is easily done too.
2. Synfig Studio:
Cgi Effects Software
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: Free
- Output: 2D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X and Linux
- Download: Here
This software in particular helps the animator to explore and create ‘bones' in the model of the character that they are creating. This additional feature is useful as it makes the character have a professional touch. The interface of this software is split in 4 different windows with which one can easily access the multiple nodes such as tools window, an editing window, a navigator window, and a set parameters window. All these contribute to a seamless creation of animation. This software even has an amazing range of features and tools through which one can give personalized touches to their art and animation. The animation keyframes , get automatically attached to the timeline as they're created. This leads to steadier motion in the character's movements.
3. Bryce 7 Pro:
What Is The Best Cgi Software
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: $19.95 (free version with limited features also available)
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X
- Download: Here
To give your art realistic backgrounds and to create whole islands with a few clicks of buttons, Bryce 7 Pro is the tool for you. One can also add features like people, sceneries, wildlife characters, with just a few clicks. In fact, features such as landscape, clouds, rocks, water, sky, vegetation, fog and composition of all with the pre created background occurs seamlessly. It has an interactive user interface and is easy to use. This software is a must use for those that want to give their animation a realistic touch.
4. Clara.IO:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: $1000 /year (free version with limited features also available)
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X, Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Linux
- Download: Here
How does one further describe a software that proudly claims to be professional and made by professionals? Well, one call just simply calls it by its name. Clara. What an amazing software this turned out to be? Polygonal modeling and skeletal animation becomes easy as pie, simply because the professionals behind Clara know what their end customer requires. Sub object editing, while keeping tabs on subdivision surfaces including the extensive range of mesh instruments and operators is not something that is offered by just anyone. What makes this software even more awesome is the fact it allows importing files from almost 30 other 3D formats such as Blender, Collada, STL, etc.
5. Blender:
Specifications:
Cgi Animation Software
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: Free
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X and Linux
- Download: Here
Halfway through our list of the best animation software for Windows PC comes the one software that shook the entire industry with its many innovative features clubbed along with the fact that is an open source 3D animation suite. Its features include cloth texturing, blending of lights and VFX along with a horde of multiple animation options makes it a favorite of many. In fact, its online community is filled to the gills with professional animators, VFX experts, game developers, students, artists and hobbyist. It has a little something to offer everyone. Used in mainstream Hollywood movies, this software is especially famous for the multiple lighting options that it has to offer.
6. Aurora 3D:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: $69.99 /year (Free Trial Available)
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X
- Download: Here
For those who are interested in pursuing a field of SEO, this software is especially famous for web designing purposes and for creating titles or logos. To further enhance the animation one has created, this software has a key feature which is a must use and that is embedding a watermark. In the world where everyone is out to steal content and take credit of one's creation such a feature shall definitely come in handy. Aurora 3D gives the user the choice to export its video on to Flash (Windows), GIF or Video formats. Effects like fireworks, snowfall, flames and more give the end product a realistic feel.
7. MODO:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: $599 /year ( 30 day free trial available)
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X and Linux
- Download : Here
Simulation tools are not easy to use. One needs to be hyper aware of each and every facet that is being animated at the same time. Hence, with the launch of MODO, one can be assured of getting the best visual effects with the least amount of worry. It specially excels as a texturing and rendering toolset. Many industry professionals prefer using MODO for its seamless rendering qualities.
8. Houdini FX:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: $ 269 /year (free learning edition available)
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10 and Linux
- Download: Here
A VFX special software that delivers industry standard of special effects with a simple home PC. This software offers its users the basic features such as texturing, modeling, animation and adds on extra features that aren't available with other 3D enabled software. Creation of Wire frame, cloth, fur, crowds and liquids including the waves are easily done with Houdini VX. just like its namesake, it surprises a user with the ease and speed at which the final render is undertaken.
9. Stykz:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: Free
- Output: 2D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X and Linux
- Download : Here
Before we wind up this list of best animation software for PC, let's take a step back to the basics. With Stykz, one gets exactly what has been promised in the product's name. Macbook software updates list. Stick figure animations along with Onion skin features allows for seamless animation tweaking from the first frame to the last. It's timeline too is easy to tweak. One can edit, preview and develop all creations before getting the final output. A must-have for novices in the field.
10. Autodesk Maya:
This software in particular helps the animator to explore and create ‘bones' in the model of the character that they are creating. This additional feature is useful as it makes the character have a professional touch. The interface of this software is split in 4 different windows with which one can easily access the multiple nodes such as tools window, an editing window, a navigator window, and a set parameters window. All these contribute to a seamless creation of animation. This software even has an amazing range of features and tools through which one can give personalized touches to their art and animation. The animation keyframes , get automatically attached to the timeline as they're created. This leads to steadier motion in the character's movements.
3. Bryce 7 Pro:
What Is The Best Cgi Software
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: $19.95 (free version with limited features also available)
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X
- Download: Here
To give your art realistic backgrounds and to create whole islands with a few clicks of buttons, Bryce 7 Pro is the tool for you. One can also add features like people, sceneries, wildlife characters, with just a few clicks. In fact, features such as landscape, clouds, rocks, water, sky, vegetation, fog and composition of all with the pre created background occurs seamlessly. It has an interactive user interface and is easy to use. This software is a must use for those that want to give their animation a realistic touch.
4. Clara.IO:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: $1000 /year (free version with limited features also available)
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X, Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Linux
- Download: Here
How does one further describe a software that proudly claims to be professional and made by professionals? Well, one call just simply calls it by its name. Clara. What an amazing software this turned out to be? Polygonal modeling and skeletal animation becomes easy as pie, simply because the professionals behind Clara know what their end customer requires. Sub object editing, while keeping tabs on subdivision surfaces including the extensive range of mesh instruments and operators is not something that is offered by just anyone. What makes this software even more awesome is the fact it allows importing files from almost 30 other 3D formats such as Blender, Collada, STL, etc.
5. Blender:
Specifications:
Cgi Animation Software
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: Free
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X and Linux
- Download: Here
Halfway through our list of the best animation software for Windows PC comes the one software that shook the entire industry with its many innovative features clubbed along with the fact that is an open source 3D animation suite. Its features include cloth texturing, blending of lights and VFX along with a horde of multiple animation options makes it a favorite of many. In fact, its online community is filled to the gills with professional animators, VFX experts, game developers, students, artists and hobbyist. It has a little something to offer everyone. Used in mainstream Hollywood movies, this software is especially famous for the multiple lighting options that it has to offer.
6. Aurora 3D:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: $69.99 /year (Free Trial Available)
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X
- Download: Here
For those who are interested in pursuing a field of SEO, this software is especially famous for web designing purposes and for creating titles or logos. To further enhance the animation one has created, this software has a key feature which is a must use and that is embedding a watermark. In the world where everyone is out to steal content and take credit of one's creation such a feature shall definitely come in handy. Aurora 3D gives the user the choice to export its video on to Flash (Windows), GIF or Video formats. Effects like fireworks, snowfall, flames and more give the end product a realistic feel.
7. MODO:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: $599 /year ( 30 day free trial available)
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X and Linux
- Download : Here
Simulation tools are not easy to use. One needs to be hyper aware of each and every facet that is being animated at the same time. Hence, with the launch of MODO, one can be assured of getting the best visual effects with the least amount of worry. It specially excels as a texturing and rendering toolset. Many industry professionals prefer using MODO for its seamless rendering qualities.
8. Houdini FX:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: $ 269 /year (free learning edition available)
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10 and Linux
- Download: Here
A VFX special software that delivers industry standard of special effects with a simple home PC. This software offers its users the basic features such as texturing, modeling, animation and adds on extra features that aren't available with other 3D enabled software. Creation of Wire frame, cloth, fur, crowds and liquids including the waves are easily done with Houdini VX. just like its namesake, it surprises a user with the ease and speed at which the final render is undertaken.
9. Stykz:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: Free
- Output: 2D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X and Linux
- Download : Here
Before we wind up this list of best animation software for PC, let's take a step back to the basics. With Stykz, one gets exactly what has been promised in the product's name. Macbook software updates list. Stick figure animations along with Onion skin features allows for seamless animation tweaking from the first frame to the last. It's timeline too is easy to tweak. One can edit, preview and develop all creations before getting the final output. A must-have for novices in the field.
10. Autodesk Maya:
Specifications:
- Online Tutorials: Available
- Cost: $1,505.00 /year
- Output: 3D
- Compatibility: Windows 10, Mac OS X and Linux
- Download: Here
How can a list on the best animation software for Windows PC be complete without the mention of Maya? It is after all the mother of dragons. We mean, this software is the big daddy in the field of animation. Used in creating effects, characters on many renowned shows and movies on the small screen and large (cough* Game of Thrones cough*) this software is where the real magic (Maya) happens. This software is a must for all those who want to create the most professional 3D animation right on their home PC. A word of caution. Like all magic, there is no end to the many ways it can surprise you. With new features and developments that are actively updated, one can get quite addicted to this software. But with it, they can create the most noble and novel animation of all time.
There you have it folks. Do drop us a line in the comment section below. Share your views on the products reviews and suggest those you want to see featured.