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7 Best Free 2D Animation Software in 2023

Writer's picture: Akash jainAkash jain

Animation is a great way to boost your company's marketing strategies through fantastic methods of motion and captivating stories. And if there's a that people love, it's storytelling! This is why companies consider 2D animations in their videos or in marketing materials since it's enjoyable and exciting. If you've 2D animation expertise then we've collected seven of the top free 2D animation software to help you with your project.

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What is 2D Animation?

Animation is an important aspect of graphic design, which tends more towards movement. If you have more motion in your design, the simpler it will be to tell a narrative. This is a given, animations tell your brand's tale in fun, engaging creative methods making the use of 2D animation ideal for corporate as well as personal portfolio sites.

In simple terms, animation is an array of images. It involves creating a single motion from a series of images or sketches. The images create an illusion of quick action when they are presented quickly . This has everything to be with the way that our brain interprets images.

Eyes can only be able to grasp images for about a tenth of one second. When the brain is presented with an array of images in rapid succession and processes them into a single motion.


The first animators to use the traditional method of animation and drawing on paper, and every single sheet recording each and every motion of a person or animal. The majority of traditional animations fall under the 2D animation class and are produced by using the top both free and paid 2D animated software.


Animation tools creators are keeping up with trends and are moving to 3D animations because of the sharper images. If you choose to use 2D or 3D-animated animations each type of animation has the most captivating draw to viewers as opposed to vector or flat images.


Difference Between 2D and 3D Animations

2D animation is part of the traditional animation umbrella. Examples include Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pinocchio, and The Lion King. Vector-based animation is a different type of 2D animation that isn't tied to the traditional animated genre. This is made possible by the top Free 2D animation software. This we'll discuss in the following article.


You're aware that pixels and vectors are among the most popular images formats. These formats aren't stretchable because it can compromise the quality of the image, while they can preserve quality even after being stretched several times. This is the use of mathematical values, so that images can be scaled multiple times. The result is the movement smooth and of high-quality.


3D animation in contrast it means that animators do not require drawing a set of images in order to make an unison move. Animation software is all they need for moving the character's body components around.


Once all the character's body parts are placed in the right position animators create the digital frames, and then set them for each frame. The computer that is used for animation determines the frame's motion, while animators tweak the character's movement and angles through the film or clip. This being said, 3D animation means that the entire body of the character is always visible.


7 Best Free 2D Animation Software

Animation learning requires time since animators must make precise calculations to ensure that every picture in an entire series create a seamless motion. If you're looking to embark to 2D animation, check out these 7 best free 2D animation programs.


1. OpenToonz

OpenToonz is a freely-available 2D animation program that anybody can edit freely. It was previously was known as "Toonz" and was used in a few Princess Mononoke cuts. Additionally, OpenToonz has also been utilized for digital compositions and colors, as well as the use of ink and paint.

The open-source application was modified and enhanced through Studio Ghibli. The best part about this software is its production team and the creators who used the software have provided comments to help improve the application to the next level. One of the best-known characteristics of OpenToonz is the scanner software called GTS.

Primary Features:

  • Free to use for commercial as well as personal ideas

  • It comes with a effect of plug-ins to process images dubbed SDK

  • OpenToonz can be used with four scanner types

  • Efficiency of scanning sequence numbers between numbers in animation

  • Compatible with TWAIN standards. Compatible with TWAIN

  • This allows you to replicate processes following scanning certain slices


2. Pencil2D

One of the most popular 2D animation programs for free is Pencil2D. Similar to OpenToonz Pencil2D, it is also an open-source program that works to macOS, Windows, and operating systems that are similar to Unix. It was developed by Pascal Naidon as well as Patrick Corrieri in 2005 and is now a cult hit within the 2D animation world. It was known as Pencil at the time.


The moment Pencil came out two creators left the program. But another animator Matthew Chang, merged Pencil with Pencil and named it Pencil2D. There's been numerous adjustments to the software and the regular updates are a priority and include more functions each new time. Pencil2D strives to enhance its software and are ready to receive feedback from users on various operating platforms. The company is also open to projects in animation for users to better understand the use of Pencil2D's capabilities. Additionally, Pencil2D is accommodating to novices, as it provides tutorials and instructions on how to use the application.


Primary Features:

  • Simple and easy-to-use design, so viewers can concentrate on animating

  • Instant switching between vector workflows and the raster workflows

  • It lets you ink or paint while on the move

  • Offers cross-platform installation


3. Animaker

The top animators choose Free 2D animation software due to its impressive capabilities. Also, Animaker is among the top tools that animators use around the world. Animaker has helped more than 10 million users make amazing animation videosabout 20 million videos all together! Also, there are more than 100 million library assets like properties, text backgrounds, backgrounds or even music tracks to suit every single project.

If you use Animaker it will be filled with new features. But, the free version allows you to create only two characters that you can customize each month. In addition, the free plan allows you to download a maximum of five HD downloads. You can also expect an Animaker watermark in your projects that are free. If you do not want the watermark, you could change to premium plans.


Primary Features:

  • The feature of one-click allows users to alter the expressions and perform actions

  • It is easy to modify everything, like background colors, colors properties, character looks as well as other aspects.

  • Allows you to make gradient backgrounds with at most five shades

  • A plethora of screen and camera effects, animations over 100 audio tracks plus more.

  • It allows you to record your voice, and then integrate it into the video


4. Animation Paper

The creator of this no-cost 2D animation program comes from Niels Krogh Mortensen. He's worked in this area for more than 30 years and has worked as a game designer, director of animation and animation producer. He is also a creative program creator, character animator as well as a graphic artist.

The first time he created Plastic Animation Paper two decades back. However, the 2D animation program wasn't as he had hoped for in software for animation. Therefore, he conducted a total overhaul of the software and improved it and renamed it Animation Paper. As of today, Animation Paper is today the most effective software to create hand-drawn animation that filmmakers game designers, and professional animators adore!


Primary Features:

  • Rapid response to almost everything that you can think of.

  • Lines of high-quality with no degrading regardless of resolution changes

  • Zooming in real-time and seamless rotating of the view

  • Table lamp

  • Toolbar and speed dial that you can customize for access to your most-used functions

  • Provides real-time, full-frame views for the second screen

  • The other cool tools are cleaning up, flipping, paint, and lasso to add more energy to your video


5. Krita

Krita is among the best free 2D animation tools that any artist could utilize. is ideal for texture and matte artists concepts, personalized illustrations comics, many more. Krita has been around since 1998. It was created by Matthias Ettrich wanting to show the ease of being able to modify an Qt GUI involving an existing software. Also, Ettrich picked the software GIMP to demonstrate. But, the application was not made available for sale.


He then created an application for image editing, which is how Krita became a reality. Krita offers a user-friendly drawing and painting software designed to artists who work with digital media. It provides easy solutions for creating stunning digital art out of scratch. Krita is a painting platform since 2009 and has been bringing in many conceptual artists, illustrators as well as cartoonists to join the platform. In addition, Krita is always looking for ways to improve the software therefore they launched Krita Foundation in 2012 to provide support for its development. Krita Foundation at the end of 2012 to offer a lot of support for the development of Krita.


Primary Features:

  • Provides more than 100 stunning and professional-designed brushes

  • Customizable layout

  • Pick between dark and light theme colors.

  • Over 30 dockers

  • Vector tools built-in to make comic-book panels

  • You can transfer texture packs imported from other artists.

  • With features that can be used for productivity (layer management full color management transform and select, PSD support, HDR painting, Python scripting, and much more)


6. Synfig

Synfig is a different free 2D animation program that offers two options for customers to test. The first is stable that comes with tested functions that are suitable for use in everyday life. Another is the Synfig development version. It is the experimenting version of Synfig. It includes the most recent features as well as bugs fixed.

Synfig comes with all of the standard 2D animation software features. But the most effective feature is the ability to create bitmap and vector-based animation. Additionally, the platform includes more advanced functions that might require a short training curve.


Primary Features:

  • A smooth workflow that automatically adds keyframes

  • The vector tweening process allows for the complete control over projects using vectors

  • Over 50 layers to help you with your animation project

  • It has a bone-based system that allows you to create animated cut-outs

  • Advanced tools to make animated characters as well as dynamic structures and structures


7. Blender

Blender is a new player for the best free 2D animation software, Blender was launched on the 03rd of December 2021. It is aiming to provide the next generation of open-source animation software for 2D as well as 3D-based content development. The goal of HTML0 is to provide the most advanced 3D CG tools for artists in the form of free, open-source software.


It was initially known with the Blender Foundation and soon announced Blender 3.0 in the year 2003. Blender Institute Blender Institute is Blender Foundation's spin-off initiative. It currently has 24 staff members working to improve Blender's capabilities. Blender platform. Creatives are able to make use of Blender to create educational and commercial uses.


Primary Features:

  • Use of Cycles to produce amazing renderings

  • Features for modeling like retopology models, modeling, sculpting curves, and much more

  • Animation and rigging feature for feature and short films

  • Interface that can be customized

  • It allows integration with multiple pipeline software tools

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