astronaut

12 Best Free and Open Source Animation Tools

Linux has matured into an excellent platform for artists, photographers, animators, and designers. With inexpensive hardware, free software, and a modicum of talent and inspiration, anyone can create professional-looking computer graphics.

There is a huge range of open source software available to create, modify and convert 2D and 3D computer graphics. In the field of 2D animation, Linux is endowed with a good range of open source software.

With the right tool and a large dollop of creative juices, you can create superb animations.

Captured in a legendary LinuxLinks chart, we make the following recommendations. Each program is free and open source.

Ratings chart

Note the ratings reflect a program’s animation functionality only.

Let’s explore the 12 animation tools. For each program we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, a screenshot of the program in action, together with links to relevant resources.

Animation Tools
SynfigCapable of producing feature-film quality animation
Blender3D creation suite with a huge variety of uses including animation
LibreSpriteCreate 2D animations for videogames
Pencil2DEasy, intuitive tool to make 2D hand-drawn animations
OpenToonzBased on Toonz Studio Ghibli Version
Tahoma2DFull-featured 2D and Stop Motion animation creation based on Toonz Studio
DrawpileDraw, paint and animate together with others on the same canvas
GlaxnimateSimple and fast vector graphics animation program
K-3D3D modeling and animation software
FrictionMotion graphics software for vector and raster animations
enveCreate vector animations, raster animations, with sound and video files
Inochi CreatorTool to create and edit Inochi2D puppets

This article has been revamped in line with our recent announcement.

Best Free and Open Source SoftwareRead our complete collection of recommended free and open source software. Our curated compilation covers all categories of software.

The software collection forms part of our series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. There are hundreds of in-depth reviews, open source alternatives to proprietary software from large corporations like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk.

There are also fun things to try, hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more.
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Please read our Comment FAQ before posting a comment.

3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
rafael
rafael
1 year ago

I don’t understand how you forgot to include Krita.