The Ultimate Guide to the Best 2D Animation Software of 2024

2D animation strives to be one of the captivating forms of art in modern digital media. With enchanting and lively animations with numerous applications in the ever-evolving world, animators and studios now have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of software. In this article, we present the best 2D animation software, both paid and open-source for you to choose from and advance your skills. From advanced professional-grade tools to simple tools for beginners, the following options will help you identify the tools that align best with your artistic ambitions. 

5 Best Paid 2D Animation Software 2024:  

Toon Boom Harmony 22 

Harmony 22, developed by Toon Boom Animation Inc., is an advanced 2D animation software that has set the standards high in the industry. Easily one of the vastly regarded software, it is ideal for studios and professionals. Although the software has a steep learning curve, Monolith being a Toon Boom Authorized Training Centre, provides extensive courses for beginners and professionals alike to master.  

Unique Features: Advanced compositing tools and a powerful rigging system that supports both 2D and 3D integration. 

User Experience: Offers comprehensive tools for both frame-by-frame and rig-based animation. 

Support and Community: Strong support, extensive tutorials, and a large user community. 

Adobe Animate 

Previously called Adobe Flash Professional, Adobe Animate is a versatile software with a huge fanbase. With a moderate learning curve and intuitive interface, it is suitable for both beginners and professionals.  

Unique Features: Robust vector-based drawing tools and interactive content creation capabilities. 

User Experience: Versatile and widely used for web and game animation. 

Support and Community: Excellent Adobe support, extensive resources, and tutorials. 

Con: Subscription-based pricing can become expensive over time compared to one-time purchase software.  

Moho 

Moho was developed by Smith Micro Software and later was acquired by Lost Marble. Originally named Anime Studio, Moho has a powerful rigging system. By balancing simple and advanced tools, it is suitable for both beginners and professionals.  

Unique Features: Smart bones for smooth and realistic animations, and a powerful bone rigging system. 

User Experience: Great for both beginners and professionals, known for its powerful rigging system. 

Support and Community: Good support, active community, and plenty of tutorials. 

Con: Limited support for bitmap drawing compared to vector animation, which might not suit all animators’ needs. 

Clip Studio Paint 

Clip Studio Paint was developed by a Japanese company called Celsys. Initially released as Manga Studio, it is especially preferred by illustrators and comic artists. It is very user-friendly software but contains some features that require learning.  

Unique Features: Extensive brush library and robust frame-by-frame animation tools. 

User Experience: Excellent for both illustration and animation, favoured by manga and comic artists. 

Support and Community: Active community, good support, and numerous tutorials. 

Con: The animation timeline is not as advanced or user-friendly as some other dedicated animation software. 

Cartoon Animator 5 

Cartoon Animator 5, developed by Reallusion was initially known as CrazyTalk. Popular among beginners and intermediate users, it has a user-friendly and intuitive interface. Characterized by a minimal learning curve, Cartoon Animator 5 is ideal for developing traditional cartoon animations.  

Unique Features: Real-time lipsync and facial animation, and an easy-to-use 2D bone rigging system. 

User Experience: Easy to use, ideal for beginners and intermediate users. 

Support and Community: Good support and a growing community. 

Con: Lacks some of the advanced animation features found in more professional-grade software like Toon Boom Harmony. 

5 Best Open-Source 2D Animation Software: 

Krita 

Developed by the Krita Foundation, Krita is considered one of the best open-source 2D Animation software. With an advanced learning curve, Krita consists of a user-friendly interface. With a distinct production process, Krita interests both beginners and professionals to produce digital painting and animation.  

Unique Features: Comprehensive brush engine and intuitive animation timeline. 

User Experience: Excellent for digital painting and frame-by-frame animation. 

Support and Community: Strong community support, extensive documentation and tutorials. 

Con: The animation tools, while functional, are not as robust or feature-rich as those in dedicated animation software. 

OpenToonz 

Customized by the world-renowned Studio Ghibli, OpenToonz is an open-source edition of Toonz. With a slightly steep learning curve, OpenToonz boasts powerful features that pose a steep learning curve. By providing accessibility to both aspiring beginners and professionals, OpenToonz is one of the best 2D animation software available for free.  

Unique Features: Professional-grade animation tools and extensive effects and compositing options. 

User Experience: Professional-grade software used by studios like Studio Ghibli. 

Support and Community: Good community support, and active development. 

Con: The interface can be quite complex and intimidating for new users, requiring a significant learning investment. 

Synfig Studio 

Synfig Studio was developed by Robert Quattlebaum. Featuring a robust bone system for complex animations, it consists of a slightly complex interface that demands knowledge to navigate. Synfig Studio is best for professionals although once beginners are familiar with the UI, they can harness the power of this 2D animation software.  

Unique Features: Vector tweening and a robust bone system for complex animations. 

User Experience: Powerful for vector-based animation, ideal for both beginners and professionals. 

Support and Community: Active community and good documentation. 

Con: Performance issues and occasional bugs can affect the user experience, especially with complex projects. 

Pencil2D 

Easily one of the most popular open-course options, Pencil2D was developed by Patrick Corrieri and Pascal Naidon. It became open-source in 2008 and is extremely straightforward. Considered one of the best 2D animation software for beginners, Pencil2D supports users with a minimal learning curve.  

Unique Features: Simple bitmap and vector drawing tools with frame-by-frame animation. 

User Experience: Simple and perfect for beginners. 

Support and Community: Active community, good support. 

Con: Limited advanced features and tools, making it less suitable for professional-level projects. 

TupiTube 

One of the uniquely named open-source options, TupiTube was developed by a Columbian startup called MaeFloresta in 2012. Built for aspiring young animators, TupiTube boasts a simple and easy-to-use interface.  

Unique Features: User-friendly vector-based drawing and animation tools. 

User Experience: Easy to use, great for educational purposes and beginners. 

Support and Community: Growing community, limited support compared to others. 

Con: The software lacks many advanced features, which can be restrictive to create more sophisticated animations. 

Procreate Dreams, Rough Animator and Wick Editor are other 2D animation software voted to be good for their simplicity and ease of use. From the advanced features of Toon Boom Harmony to the user-friendly interfaces of open-source alternatives like Pencil2D, the creative possibilities are limitless. By exploring these cutting-edge tools, unlock new avenues for visual storytelling by choosing one of the many 2D animation courses provided at Monolith to ignite your career.