Jul 06, 2019 Cheetah3D is a powerful and easy to learn 3D modeling, rendering and animation application which was developed from the ground up for Mac OS X. So jump right into the world of computer generated imaging, create 3D artwork for your next iPhone game or make your first animated character. License: Demo, $99. Best animation apps for Mac. Synfig Studios - Free. Open-source and free 2D animation maker software for Mac, Windows, and Linux. User-friendly 2D animation software for Mac, Windows and Linux. Suitable for beginners. Toon Boom - Paid (starting from USD $23 monthly) but offers free trial.
Free Animation Software for Mac: Making the animated movies voiced by you with your favorite cartoon character is really a fun, isn’t it? Right, we can understand your feeling and creativity, you may be a student or employee who want to make a career in this field.
No matter you are a beginner or an expert in the field of animation you always need a great animation software. There are many animation software available online which are available they are not free of cost but are also equally effective and competent.
Free Animation Software for Mac Download
The free alternatives do an excellent job when it comes to meet your requirements for the animation projects that you want to work for. You can create some excellent animation using different tools they offer. You can also transport tools in various formats, make use of image animation tool and much more.
If you are a creative person, you can turn your ideas into reality. By using these best free animation software for window users. Here we are going to mention free animation software in this article.
Best Animation Software for Mac 2018
The program that changes the position, size and visibility of layers. For each layer, you can add an infinite number of Linear Motions and Fixed Positions. During the playback, the program performs the motion sequence for each layer.
Animation Software creates motion on a frame-by-frame basis. Each frame appears like a single drawing or an image. Usually, the frames are created within the software, on the other, hand most animation software allows frames to be bought from external sources. The frames are strung together and you can view back seamlessly in a movie format. Once everything is done the resulting frames are transferred to a hard drive rather than film.
Types of Animation Software
There are two types of Animation software. The 2-dimensional or 2D and another is 3-dimensional or 3D.
2D Animation Software
It represents everything in a cell and has only a width and a height. Simply it is flat, this animation has little in the way of shadows, shading and perspective. The examples, of this type of animation software, can be seen in The Simpsons and The Lion King.
With 2D text, you have character-level control over all text attributes, including its color, outline and filling. You will be able to draw with a shadow and live effects using any font that your device contains. Font preview allows you to see a font before selecting the same.
3D Animation Software
3D represents everything in a cell which is having width height and depth. It tries to mimic real life. 3D animation also has shadows, shading and perspective. The examples, of 3D animation, are Finding Dory and The Lego Movie, Kung Fu Panda they started with 2D dream scene and then moves to 3D.
The 3D text is a three-dimensional text string. You can change the thickness and font of 3D text. You can rotate it, resize it and draw it with a texture. This program contains two types of lights Direct and Omni. The lights can be placed in any place and have any color. The 3D text can be animated with the rotation and dynamic lightning.
Top 10 Best Free Animation Software for Mac
1. Pencil
Bring your creativity out with a simple but innovative tool through colorful 2D graphics. It is free open-source software through which you can create 2D animation without of any effort. It is the most versatile program in the 2D category and offers the stunning features without charging any amount.
The interface of pencil looks extremely simple and immaculate. The Pencil comes stuffed with all important tools that are offered by some of the paid programs in this category. It aids bitmap and vector image, it also supports multiple slabs and owns an inbuilt set of design tools that help you to bring in graphic images or draw them on the sport prior to the animation part.
Features of Pencil Free Animation Software
1) Determines the frame rate
2) Sound and image import
3) Adding the colors
4) Export your graphics
5) Get the .FLV, Flash videos Movie etc. formats.
2. Creatoon
It is a simple, instinctive and user friendly software that facilitates you to create 2D animation in cut out fashion and add various special effects to the same. The interface is quite simple and out-of-date, but the software carries out some of the complex tasks that can produce remarkable results.
It has menu of each side of the working area which helps you to quick access to the main features. Despite the interface is not customizable you can properly arrange for you to have a clear view of the project in process. It allows you to determine the frame rate per second along with the height and the width. You can select the format of the project file.
You can add special effect to your animation using Creatoon, conveniently store your work manually or simply just allow it save your tasks automatically every five minutes. You can enjoy the option to personalize the drawing tool and make it work according to you. This program allows you segregate your animation elements in slabs that helps you to make the required changes swiftly.
Free 3D Animation Software for Mac
Features of Creatoon
1) Create animation effortlessly.
2) The perfect solution even beginners can use it.
3) Stores your tasks manually or simply as you want to save them.
4) Allows quick access to the main features.
3. Plastic Animation Paper
Plastic Animation Paper provides you simple and powerful tools to convert your imaginations into beautiful cartoon characters and animation in 2D without paying anything. This program is the creation of those expert animators who need a quick and compelling solution. This software is simple as well easy to work with.
You will get the real-time suggestions and an easy process that facilitates you to analyze your concepts for a specific movement quickly. The specific movement character or your upcoming action sequence helps you to easily create it with your hand. It manages Swift sketching movements, Control the Process of rough sketches and Manage Space where you animate
Features of Plastic Animation Paper
1) Sketching space.
2) Adding colors to the sketch
3) Setting the frame speed
4) Zooming in and out
5) Insert music
6) Save the drawing in various formats such as AVI, PNG, TGA, GIF etc.
4. Synfig Studio
It is an open source and a multi-platform free software which allows you to create animations in 2D. The design made by Synfig is quite close to that of Pencil. Due to its sharp learning curve to its avant-garde features and awesome results which will definitely get the results once you have mastered using its tools at a professional grade.
The interface of Synfig studio is segregated into four separate windows such as tools windows, editing window, navigator window and parameter window. Once you learn the skills of using the features efficiently, you will be able to create superior quality cartoons, movies and animations. This program is based on the vector and bitmap technique.
Features of Synfig Studio
1) Helps the animator to insert the soft shading.
2) Draw effortlessly without any sketching.
3) Animate on each frame separately.
4) Offers a host of layers including gradients, fractal, geometric etc.
Free 2D Animation Software for Mac
5. Stykyz
You can get the Stykz if completely free of cost which enables you to create compelling 2D animations. It supports mostly all OS such as Mac, Linux and Windows. You can download the full version of this program without of any cost. It offers plenty of handy tools that help you to create great animations on a user-friendly interface.
Stykyz allows you to draft your animation before you step into the painting and animation in full. With the help of this first cross-platform stick figure animation software, you can develop, edit and preview your creations. This software is extremely similar to the Pivot StickFigure Animator and it adapts some of its features and its own unique features.
Features of Stykyz
Free 2d Animation Software Mac
1) It brings in the .stk files of Pivot 2 & Pivot 3.
2) Based on the frames.
3) The Onionskin feature helps you to view the earlier frame.
4) Helps you to tweak your present frame easily.
6. Blender
It is one of the most popular free animation programs that is used by many animators, scientists, students, video gamers, studio artists and much more. Due to the constant development which is helpful to create amazing 3D animations without paying anything.
Blender requires a steep learning curve for the beginners so it will take some time to get hold of it. If you are able to manage 50% of its functionalities it results in extraordinary results. It offers a host of tools for lightning, animation, modeling and video post-conversation operation and much more. It offers cross-platform functionality and works with various operating systems such as Linux, Mac OS X and Windows.
Features of Blender
1) Improved handling
2) Receptive bug fixes.
3) Addition of new functionalities.
4) Offers smooth performance.
7. Brycee
Although it is not a traditional animation software but works as a landscape creating a program which is hard to find them in the category. The quality of this program is too good and you can download it free of cost.
It has carved that place in the Terragen department which is both uncomplicated and detailed as per your need as per your project level. Brycee is a prize-winning, feature loaded and fun modeling programs in the category. It allows you to enable the new users to create and provide amazing 3D surrounding in minutes.
Features of Brycee
1) Blended with extraordinary capacity with an inventive interface.
2) Exceptionally user-friendly.
3) You can add special effects such as people, wildlife characters, sceneries and more.
4) You can add the effects of the landscape, rocks, water, clouds, fog, vegetation etc.
Animation Software for Mac Beginners
8. Aurora 3D Animation Maker
Aurora 3D is one of the widely-used animation suites around the world. It offers a large number of features to develop ceaseless animated effects in your animation. You can insert some cool special effects into your drawn images and films using its user-friendly interface.
You can add your own logos or watermark to your images and videos with special effects. Not only has this you can convert your text to a super 3D animation that accentuates your stuff while creating web pages or editing a video. As you finish your animation creation you need to place it on your website.
Features of Aurora 3D Animation Maker
Free Cartoon Making Software
1) Create 3D videos titles.
2) Super 3D logo animation
3) You will get the choice to transport it to Flash
4) Provides GIF or videos formats.
9. DAZ Studio
Daz studio is an excellent and 3D animation creator suite it is packed with a lot of rich features and functionalities. It is best for you whether you are an animator or animation is your hobby. You can create a free account once you sign up. The design engine of Daz is as fast as light travels and boasts of a massive library that has pre-developed component matter helping you to develop animations in a jiffy.
You can get Daz studio with a wide range of features including NVIDIA Iray which has a fresh photoreal render tool with analogous items to help create lifelike renders. Although this program requires a steep learning curve but is extremely helpful for the professional projects. You can download DAZ Studio for Mac and Windows without paying anything.
Features of DAZ Studio
1) A single shade tool blends three different shades.
2) Surface color, reflection, emission of light.
3) Volume diffusion.
4) Light Category Support.
Free Mac Software Download Sites
10. Clara.Io
This is fully functional cloud-based software which helps you with 3D animation and modeling for free. Since it’s a web-based tool so it doesn’t need any plugin for your browser to function. Apart from its features, it contains a great arrangement of polygonal modeling and skeletal animation.
Clara is available with a large library of photorealistic material that offers simple and advances material with the adjustable light setup at super-fast speed. It’s a cross-platform tool which works with a majority of the browsers and operating system that includes Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Mac OS X, Android, Linux, iOS and Windows.
Features of Clara.Io
Best Free Software For Mac
1) Sub-object editing
2) A wide range of mesh instruments.
3) Subdivision surfaces and operators.
4) It allows the editing by multiple users at the single point of time.