Getting into 2D animation.

[pocketshotgun 39]

Hello!

 

So recently I have been wanting to get into doing 2D animations, I have done 3D things for a while now (a couple years) in blender, so I have a decent bit of experience with modeling and animation, the work flow and such. But on to my real question:

 

If I was to get into doing 2D animations what programs are good for this? I would want it to be very capable, as easy to use as possible (but not dumbed down) good for art assets (drawing characters) and worth using. It would also be nice if it had good documentation to learn from.

A prime example of what I would be using it for is making MLP animations.

The program does not have to be free, although free is always best, I can't go and spend hundreds of dollars on a random program, so I guess my top price would be about $50. Any help is good help, Thanks!

[Cosmik Vek 764]

Adobe Flash CC is the best software for this as far as I know and that's what Hasbro used to make MLP so yeah, I hope this helps

[Shadow Beam 1,179]

Adobe Flash. Well known and reliable as far as I know.

[pocketshotgun 39]

Adobe Flash CC is the best software for this as far as I know and that's what Hasbro used to make MLP so yeah, I hope this helps

 

Adobe Flash. Well known and reliable as far as I know.

The problem with adobe flash is  that it is expensive, unless there is a proper crack, and cracked software is never very reliable anyways, although if I could find a good working crack I probably would use it.

[Shadow Beam 1,179]

It's not that hard to find reliable cracks out there. Of course you should watch the people opinion about it before downloading.

[pocketshotgun 39]

It's not that hard to find reliable cracks out there. Of course you should watch the people opinion about it before downloading.

Yeah, I've been looking around, but I always prefer to have it honestly, that way you are promised support and all that, I have also been looking at anime studio, it seems to be a pretty good program.

[Shadow Beam 1,179]

Yeah, I'm kinda embarrassed of using pirated programs, but they're very expensive here thanks to the devaluation of our coin.

[pocketshotgun 39]

Yeah, I'm kinda embarrassed of using pirated programs, but they're very expensive here thanks to the devaluation of our coin.

Yeah, I know what you mean, (I live in Canada, our coin has gone down a decent bit in the last months) but I think that although it is still stealing and certainly does not justify it, one or two people using it as a hobby doesn't effect much, it is the big companies, schools, and students that adobe wants to sell to. Not hobbiests.

Edited January 31, 2015 by pocketshotgun

[Shadow Beam 1,179]

Canada is a walk through the park compared to Argentina. Dem dolar is too damn high.

[ErBoi 501]

You're going to have difficulty finding professional grade animation software for $50.

If you're willing to pirate...well, y'know.

 

Speaking for 2D animation in general, I strongly recommend going for Toon Boom as opposed to Flash; it's a much more stable line of software.  Toon Boom Studio (what I learned on in college and what I use at home) is about $250, and that's the cheapest full-featured animation program they have.

And then Harmony (what we use at work) and Animate Pro are awesome, but way way out of your price range.  Harmony's also really complicated to crack.

 

However, if you are specifically interested in animating stuff that looks like MLP, it might be more convenient to use Flash anyway just because there are near-perfect copies of the character's Flash builds from the show available online.

 

You could also try some of these:

http://alternativeto.net/software/toon-boom-studio/?license=opensource

http://alternativeto.net/software/adobe-flash/

 

I've never used any of those myself, I've found very few open-source alternatives to industry software that were actually any good.

Edited February 1, 2015 by ErBoi

[pocketshotgun 39]

You're going to have difficulty finding professional grade animation software for $50.

If you're willing to pirate...well, y'know.

 

Speaking for 2D animation in general, I strongly recommend going for Toon Boom as opposed to Flash; it's a much more stable line of software.  Toon Boom Studio (what I learned on in college and what I use at home) is about $250, and that's the cheapest full-featured animation program they have.

And then Harmony (what we use at work) and Animate Pro are awesome, but way way out of your price range.  Harmony's also really complicated to crack.

 

However, if you are specifically interested in animating stuff that looks like MLP, it might be more convenient to use Flash anyway just because there are near-perfect copies of the character's Flash builds from the show available online.

 

You could also try some of these:

http://alternativeto.net/software/toon-boom-studio/?license=opensource

http://alternativeto.net/software/adobe-flash/

 

I've never used any of those myself, I've found very few open-source alternatives to industry software that were actually any good.

Hmm.. I've heard a bit about toon boom before, I'll look into it, I have been trying anime studio for a bit, it doesn't seem to bad, but then again I wouldn't really know waht to compare it too as I mostly do 3D things. Thanks for the help!

[BayoUni2847 528]

The only 2D animation program that I've used is Flash. It's kind of complicated and daunting at first but like a lot of other things it takes practice to learn how to use it.

 

When it comes to free 2D programs or cheaper programs I can't help you there.