The downside is that for beginners, there aren't so many online tutorials teaching how to use the software.

Animation is easily done by simply pressing record and manipulating your object.

Several drawing tools, plus the ability to do your artwork elsewhere and import it into Synfig.

Bone system for creating cut-out animations.

Various types of layers (geometric, fractals, gradients, etc) so you can create both simple and complex animations.

It speeds up animation creation by use of digital tweening and sprites in place of traditional tweening. Synfig Studio is ideal for use by a solo artist or a small team of artists. Advanced users can switch to the development version for a taste of newly added features. The stable version comes with fine-tuned features making it safe for use by amateur animators. One is a development version and the other a stable version.

There are two versions of Synfig Studio software.

It is both a back-end and front-end application meaning that you can create your animation and render it in the back-end later. Synfig Studio is a free cross-platform software. Rick and Morty was animated using Toon Boom 2D animation software 2. However, if you're planning on getting into animation professionally, Toon Boom is definitely worth pursuing! The learning curve is steep so it can take a little more time to learn animation with this tool.

3D stage for setting up multi-plane environments.

Powerful compositing tools so you don't have to export your work somewhere else to add visual effects.

Advanced rigging and deformer tools to animate puppets.

Tools for scanning and cleaning up traditional paper drawings.

Bitmap drawing, vector drawing and painting tools.

As it's the tool of choice of many studios, it's what we teach in our 2D animation course. The software takes time to master, but once you learn it, you can take advantage of advanced features to create really neat animations. Toon Boom is paid professional software used for shows like The Simpsons, Rick and Morty, Futurama, Bob's Burgers, and Klaus to name just a few. If you want to create narrated animations for films, web or TV, then Toon Boom Harmony is a must-have animation tool. If you're keen to get into animation, here's a look at 7 of the best 2D animation software programs, both free and paid. From film and games to ads and educational resources, animation is used pretty much everywhere! 2D animation specifically, has been with us throughout the century, though these days it's getting increasingly more sophisticated with animators inventing new styles and blurring the lines between 2D and 3D.

Easy 2d animation software