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Best Animation Apps in 2021

Animation is on boom.

By Sharad GuptaPublished 4 years ago 13 min read
Best Animation Apps in 2021
Photo by Afif Kusuma on Unsplash

Once upon a time, there were some people who showed the dance drama of wooden dolls with the movement of their hands.

They were called ‘puppet show'. That was so popular then. Gradually science started to grow fast.

And we are all blessed with a lot of new technologies. The name of one of its blessing is ‘Animation'.

Animation is like to play with images. After creating some designs, through a computer movements are added to the designs.

In a word, animation means giving life to inanimate items. Some are possible by fast-moving sequence pictures and some are done by simple computer graphics.

Nowadays animation creates vast career opportunities among the young generation.

Numerous fields like advertising, marketing, gaming etc. are using animation. There are also some animation apps available. Let’s focus on these apps.

20 Best Animation Apps in 2021

Before going to know about the animation apps we have to know the types of animation on which the apps are based on.

There are four types of animation- 1) 2D Animation, 2) 3D Animation, 3) Stop Motion Animation and 4) Graphic Animation.

• 2D Animation: It is the traditional animation. The animator created hand-painted characters, background and formulated the frames. After that they forged the movement by shifting one after another frame.

• 3D Animation: It is computer-based based. Here the animator has to move the characters individually by some specific controls and key frames.

• Stop Motion Animation: Stop motion is that the solely style of animation that provides animators one thing “touchable” to figure with since they utilize original items. Stop motion animation encompasses subtle activities of real-life items, that are photographed once each single motion.

• Graphic Animation: To animate text, images, logo the Graphic Animation is borrowed. It can be both 2D and 3D. It is mainly utilized in sport-related events, film's promo, title etc.

2D Animation Apps of 2021

1. Adobe Animate

Inventing in 1996, Adobe Animate app is one of the most demanding apps in the filed of animation.

It was inaugurated by Adobe Inc. It is founded on the vector based 2D software.

The first name after inauguration was ‘FutureSplash Animator'. Next it is grabbed by Macromedia.

They gave the name of the software ‘Macromedia Flash'. Later it is associated with Adobe and heaved the name of Adobe Animate to show the vast market demand of Adobe.

The app is loaded with numerous features. It is used friendly for the beginners.

Normally this app is used for websites, the ads in banner, development of any game etc.

It conjointly automates and offers support for formation graphics, audio and video embedding, rich text, and more. it's out there on Windows Desktop, iOS, android and macOS. It provides about 100GB of cloud storage, Adobe Animate conjointly encompasses entrance to Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and Adobe Spark.

HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, Flash/Adobe AIR, and SVG are the major export options for this app.

While this selection is nice for obtaining started and nice for youths, it's going to not be the simplest choice if you wish to create skilled animation products since this computer code app has restricted capacities distinguished to a number of its competitors.

2. Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects app is one of the best app for 2D animation, motions graphics a few features of 3D animation.

As it is not fully support every features of 3D animation. It can be utilized as the basic of 3D animation.

There will be more better apps for 3D animations. If someone is tired of searching for puppet tool.

Then Adobe After Effects App is just for them. Adobe After Effects has the 3rd party plug-ins system.

For this you can be to use as explainer animation. Once you starts to use Adobe After Effects, you will fall in love with the app.

Even you can include directly the features from Adobe Photoshop in this. But the bad thing is that Adobe After Effects are not suitable for the beginners or learners.

As there are so many advanced features, so for learners these will take more time to understand properly. But for a professional Adobe After

Effects app is too good to use. On the other hand, the files take too much space in this app. And there is no in-build audio capacity. So that one has to use additional audio software for this.

3. Adobe Character Animator

The Emmy-award winning software is Adobe Character Animator. The code name of this software is ‘Animal’.

It comprises the live motion graphics with multiple track recording techniques.

Do you think what is the advantage of this combination? Actually, this assortment helps to work with layered 2D puppets which was drawn in Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.

One of the best feature of this app is this app permits you to use your own camera and microphone.

Using your camera and microphone you can seize your own movements which are shifted to animated movement or character.

Though it takes a longer time to understand in a right way. But after understanding it becomes interesting to make your self animation through your original movements.

It runs so fast that you are able to show in live stream and share with your audience.

Anyone can enjoy this because it gives life to the instant movement. But if you want to buy it individually, then you can't get. It is mainly used in cartoons to create the scenes with dialogues.

4. Toon Boom Harmony

Toon Boom Harmony app is one of most demanding all for its several cool features.

It is a 2D animation app, available in three different versions- Premium, Advanced and Essential.

Premium- If you prefer for professional use for your start up, or schools or any studio. Then the premium version of Toon Boom Harmony is perfect for you. Here you are accessible to use all types of features. This provides real movement animation.

Advanced – This Advanced version of Toon Boom Harmony app is for those are working in studios, graphical field etc. There exit so many advanced features. The cut-out style animation is also available here.

Essential- It is the basis version of Toon Boom Harmony App. It is suitable for a learner to use for basic drawing, painting and creating basic animation.

In a word, Toon Boom Harmony App is a super app for beginners to the professionals. Here you can learn basic to premium level. For this it the most demanding 2D animation app.

5. Pencil 2D

Pencil2D provides an open-source stage. It is utilized to make second hand-painted animations victimization the image or vector sketch interface of the appliance.

It carries out on Windows, Linux etc. However it is not correspondent with smartphone appliances.

However, this computer code has FreeBSD cross-platform capabilities so you'll continue your work flow at numerous locations. Pencil2D is excellent if you're a beginner and appearance forward to victimization minimalist computer code.

Pencil2D is additionally standard as associate animation software for youngsters. youngsters will produce straightforward animations with

Pencil2D since it's terribly intuitive and straight forward to use. To get the foremost out of your hand-drawn animations, we'd advocate investment in exploit a graphics pill and a stylus.

Function-wise, Pencil2D switches between raster and vector workflows that happen seamlessly and quite naturally, enabling you to focus a lot on the task at hand.

6. Pixel Studio

One of the most interesting apps among 2D animation app is Pixel Studio. Yes, it is accessible on Android phones.

It will offer fun to enjoy the pixel animation.

Pixel art could be a kind of digital art, constructed through the utilization of software package, wherever pictures square measure altered on the pixel level.

The aesthetic for this sort of graphics, from 8-bit and 16-bit computers and computer game consoles, additionally to alternative restricted systems like graphing calculators.

This app is suitable for both learners and experts. The process is not too tough to understand. Here you can also able to use external drawing accessories. Automatic saving option and backup system are also available here in the app.

7. Motion Book

This traditional 2D animation app sets the phase for different advanced animation strategies that exist these days and may be a nice learner’s equipment for novice animation enthusiasts. obtainable completely on iOS devices, MotionBook - Draw & Animate is a wonderful tool for creating extra-ordinary cartoon-style flipbook animations.

This app comes jam-choked with several options, and easy.

Files that you’re performing on may be saved on iCloud and synced across your iPhone and iPad.

You'll be able to conjointly import original videos and use them as references to assist you to draw stances or motions.

8. Rough Animator

Rough Animator App is a 2D animation app for using artistically. The procedure of this app steps into victimization.

Rough Animator depends on the normal hand-paint and frame-by-frame animations.

The learning curve isn’t the steepest, either. But, usually, once performing frame-by-frame animations, retaining patience is must.

It's a creative trade that plays the foremost polar role, instead of the particular capability in drawing or be a better artist. Once it involves options, and there square measure lots, it’s essential to understand that you’ll primarily be operating with layers and inside a timeline.

This types of animation apps permit space for omission, since you’ll be working frame by frame; deleting and transforming bound elements of your animations won’t cause an excessive amount of headache.

As long as you’re feeling galvanized, this app ought to offer you with enough options and tools to start creating exciting and quality hand-painted animations.

9. Open Tunz

Open Tunz is one of the elevated using 2D animation app. This app is naturally used in the field of film production and even for video games. It is first free to access.

By this free features you can create frame by frame sequence animation. Though it is partially simple, but if you have any experience in animation, then it is easy to be used.

The interesting matter is you can customise some features as per your wish.

It is open for both learners and professionals. But for customization you need to have a deep knowledge in code. Naturally it is excellent for an experienced animator.

10. FlipaClip

FlipaClip may be a cartoon animation video app. It is effective on Android and iOS and rates in concert of the most effective frame-by-frame animation methods for moveable appliances.

You can wield it to make animations by picturing and storyboarding, all whereas having access to a good vary of options that square measure intuitive and easy to use.

Sharing options are deeply integrated into the app, thus posting your work to platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook can solely need a press of a button. With FlipaClip, you’ll even be in a position to create GIFs and save your add the MP4 format.

What’s even a lot of exciting is that this app hosts contest events wherever you'll win prizes and become a locality of a community of animators which will assist you get impressed and grow as an animator.

This app may be entertaining to begin invigorating and discovering as you keep company with all of the accessible options.

These are all notable 2D animation apps. Now we are going to elaborate on some 3D Animation Apps.

3D Animation Apps Of 2021

11. Cinema 4D

Cinema 4D app is a very prominent 3D animation app.

You may have already tried Adobe After Effects Animation app for 3D effects.

This app may not be able to fulfil your desire related to 3D animation. Then here it is Cinema 4D for you. Even you can use this app directly with Adobe After Effects app. Cinema 4D app is too much flexible app. Whether you use alone or with team, it is suitable for any condition.

No external features are needed to add. This app offers you do create excellent animations.

It is very simple to learn. Even it is also simple to use. The app is so fast. And it is powerful enough to work with the other app.

But to buy this app is little bit of tough because it is much expensive.

Though here is a tragedy that it was trying to be made with 4D effects. But it was not ready for that platform.

12. Blender

Blender is such an animation app which owns high quality and excellent features.

With that excellent feature one can make numerous outstanding animations which becomes look so professional. But unfortunately, it is not accessible to smartphones.

It is available only in windows, Linux etc. To learn the tools and protocols of Blender is not just a game of your hand. As this app is perfect for expert users.

Audio tracking and various visual effects make this app premium in quality. If you have a desktop or laptop with some decent systems then you can use Blender to make developing 3D animation.

13. Autodesk Maya

For a person who is pursuing his freelancing jobs and for a small trade, Autodesk Maya is the best app for them.

The best thing is that no tools can not be purchased. If you wish to try for once, you can avail of the 30 days free trial session.

Not only a freelancer, a student can also take the fun with this app. With the help of Autodesk Maya app the animations are created professionally and the animation characters are also be made excellently.

This app offers several options, also because the choice to add scripts and plug-ins. Autodesk Maya can be borrowed for 3D modelling, animation and rendering, and also shadowing, outfitting, character invention, dynamics and practical impacts, action graphics etc.

This code animation app isn't suggested for learners because it is incredibly complicated and seeks quite some animation information.

Even for knowledgeable graphic designers, this tool can be tough at initial. However the a lot of you employ it, the higher you'll get at it. follow creates excellent.

Though the app is expensive, but customization is available here.

14. Toontastic

Acquired by Google, Toontastic is a wonderful 3D animation app. With this app you can drive storytelling and create fantastic cartoon characters.

In a word, this app is entertaining for children and youngers.

In this app, you are able to create your own liked characters and deliver movements as per your story.

There’s a few of pre-made arenas to decide on from, and it becomes up to you what precisely happens in your story, so let your intuition run vicious.

On the technical facet of things, it’s one amongst the foremost simple applications to use that we’ve coated on the list.

The whole method, from setting out to finish, feels and intuitive as it's fun. simply understand that it’s not synonymous with some older appliances, thus best check that that your contraption has what it takes before speeding to hit the transfer button.

This wonderful app can be used for free and simple. There are several skill level. But the sound effects are not proper. It seems overloaded on the characters.

Stop Motion Apps Of 2021

15. Animation Desk

Animation Desk also a great app of Stop Motion version. It is good for learners for using frame to frame based animation.

And the professionals become so much pleased to use this app for its advanced features. It has a ton of quality features that assists one to make short to long any kind of animating characters.

Various types of export and import options are also available in this app. One of the most stunning key features is Onion Skinning.

Yes, this app is accessible on Windows, Android etc. But it flourishes on the iPad more.

16. Stop Motion Studio

This app is acceptable on Android, Mac, Windows etc.

In recent markets, Stop Motion Studio app is used as one of the decent film making app.

In this app, there are so many wonderful advanced features to cherish your thrust to create stop motion and making characters.

The best part is if you commence any program in a single device, you can also finish it on another multiple devices also with it’s an advanced system. It is also used as film editor app.

17. Dragon Frame

Dragon Frame animation app was introduced in 2008. It is mainly utilized in motion pictures.

Onion Skinning feature is also included. It is best for that user who wants to create motion videos.

Motion Graphics Apps Of 2021

18. Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark is one of the best Motion Graphic apps to use with flexibility in desktop and smartphone both.

Through this app, an animator can create short video types stories and social graphics by using various themes and logos.

This app is majorly used to make videos for professional uses. Even it can enhance the quality of social media posts with it’s expert touch.

19. Textro

The name of the app suggests the most creative feature of it that is can add text with animating videos.

But unfortunately, we can get this app in Google Play Store. This app is quite simple to use and you can show your creativity through making text on the running videos.

It is also borrowed for the Instagram stories and YouTube videos. It has plenty of wonderful features. There are so many bright colors which are really easy to mix and match.

20. Animoto

Animoto app is mainly used to create videos related to digital marketing and high professional work.

It is not acceptable on Android and only accessible on iOS. It takes not too much time to understand.

If you wish to make an excellent video for any project then it is one of the best choices for you. Because it gives practical feel on a video.

In the high technological world, people are busy in creating unique things with the help of apps. And in the field of animation these mentioned apps can satisfy everyone with their great features. Now it is your choice which one will you select as per your work. But all are great in their own field.

apps

About the Creator

Sharad Gupta

I am a passionate writer.

My interest include fashion, relationship, health , life , make money, dating , digital marketing , education , career, parenting , Investment and many more .

My aim is Read , Write and Help.

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