Blender 3d Animation Software Average ratng: 4,1/5 3906 votes

Blender is the open-source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback. It is available for all major operating systems under the GNU General. Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License. It can be used to model, shade, animate, render and composite and create interactive 3d models. Both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Blender are included and the proper one automatically used on each machine for maximum performance.

Animation has come a long way since the days of 'Steamboat Willie,' developing into a precise and scientific art.

Just look at how Pixar has changed the animation game: With 1998’s “Toy Story,” the studio introduced the world to the first-ever computer-animated feature-length film. At the time, it was revolutionary. Beforeanimation software, cartoons were created by hand, drawing or inking thousands of cells against various backgrounds in rapid sequence. Computer animation is cheaper, faster and allows animators for more flexibility.

What are the best free animation software in 2019?

  1. KeyShot
  2. K-3D
  3. PowToon
  4. Pencil2D
  5. Blender
  6. Animaker
  7. Synfig Studio
  8. Plastic Animation Paper
  9. OpenToonz

However, watching “Toy Story” back more than 20 years later, its animation style looks rudimentary. Today, computer animation has become the norm and has vastly improved since the release of “Toy Story.” The improvement is thanks to animation software. Each hair on a character’s head is painstakingly animated. The correct shadowing is meticulously added in each scene to make it as realistic as possible. Animators study movement to ensure their characters are anatomically correct.

What’s more, with the advancement of animation software, those outside the entertainment industry can utilize the technology as well. Marketing teams, product teams and more leverage animation solutions to enhance their websites and content. An animated video is a great supplement for a blog or advertisement; the inclusion of animated content can bring a company’s brand to a whole new level. Take Samsung, who used animation to promote their initiative for an increased use of their technology in schools. Or Johnson & Johnson, who used animation to demonstrate how to use their bubble baby bath and wash in an engaging format.

Whether you are an expert animator or looking for animation software for beginners, there are plenty of solutions available. Best of all is that you don’t necessarily have to pay to hone your animation skills. These free animation tools will help you improve your craft.

The list we’ve outlined here includes any animation solution with an available free offering. It should be noted that this does not include products that are only free on a temporary basis, such as limited trial versions for new users. They may only support one user or one project, but they’re truly free offerings. Scaling, however, will often require full investments.

These products alone have well over 246 validated user reviews on G2 Crowd as of June 13, 2019, and only represent a small portion of the 45-plus animation software offerings listed on our platform. Whenever possible, products are ranked byuser satisfaction score.

1. KeyShot


Image courtesy of KeyShot

KeyShot is a fast and user-friendly 3D rendering software with animation capabilities. This tool allows users to go from a simple model to a stunning visual in minutes. KeyShot is a completely free animation software.

KeyShot has a number of features to support animation and 3D rendering, including but not limited to:

  • 2D animation and 3D animation
  • HDRI lighting that allows you to light and adjust your scene as needed
  • Camera control that enables users to simulate real-world camera behavior
  • Dynamic texture mapping to simulate the real-world appearance of a landscape
  • Focused caustics to ensure objects are properly lighted

What users like
“It's fast and most of the results come [out] pretty good. And today they can do animation and VR in KeyShot, [which] makes the software even more powerful than ever.”
— Keyshot review
by a user in higher education

What users dislike
“The animation configuration could be easier and also give more options of possible movements.”
— Keyshot review
by Julia C.

Recommendations to others considering the product
“Try it, it is very easy. I do like the animation tool, which you can [use to] make an animation rendering very easy and quick.”
— Keyshot review
by Chen W.

2. K-3D


Image courtesy of K-3D

K-3D is an animation and 3D modeling software. It combines plugins with a visualization pipeline architecture to make it a powerful and flexible tool for artists. This free animation software allows users to create unique combinations in their work.

K-3D offers a number of features to make an artist’s work as easy as possible:

  • An advanced undo/redo function
  • Properties that can be adjusted interactively
  • A node-based visualization pipeline

What users like
“This is the tool with the features, speed and stability for you.”
— K-3D review
by a user in graphic design

What users dislike
The same K-3D reviewer said, “Great program all around, only complaint, just wish it had some sort of quick getting started guide, considering that's my only complaint, always have this installed on my comp.”

3. PowToon


Image courtesy of PowToon

This free animation software is intended for making short videos and presentations. Users can upload their own content or choose from PowToon’s library of royalty-free content. Animators can customize the existing templates to ensure they fit their needs.

PowToon offers paid options, but its free plan offers the following features:

  • Standard video resolution
  • Access to some of PowToon’s video content library
  • The ability to create videos up to three minutes long
  • Export to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and more
  • The choice of aspect ratios and sizes

What users like
“I think that what I mostly like is that creating an animation with PowToon is ridiculously easy. First, I get to pick out one from many templates. After a template is selected, I like that it’s even easier to add moving characters to every slide I have for the animation.”
— PowToon review
by Esmeralda D.

What users dislike
“I don’t really like that PowToon characters are really simplistic; if they were a bit more complex, this would also be a great tool for making quality animations.”
— PowToon review
by Alicia Sarah V.

Recommendations to others considering the product
“This tool provides a lots of attractive templates, which helps users to design their slides and making their presentation better. So, this tool helps me a lot and I recommend this tool for people who usually deal with presentations.”
— PowToon review by Raj M.

4. Pencil2D

Blender 3d animation download


Image courtesy of Pencil2D

This 2D animation software allows users to create more traditional, hand-drawn scenes. This is accomplished using bitmap and vector graphics. Not only is Pencil2D free, but it is an open-source animation software.

Pencil2D offers a number of features to make animation easy, including but not limited to:

  • A lightweight and easy design interface
  • The ability to seamlessly switch between raster and vector files
  • Cross-platform functionality to facilitate operation on Mac, Windows and Linux

What users like
“I enjoy how easy it is to understand this right off the bat. I was able to start animating immediately! Another extreme plus is the ability to use layers.”
— Pencil2D reviewby Sara C.

What users dislike
“You'll have to redo your setting preferences because the program resets to default whenever you open it up. This is especially true for if you want to use the pen tool, or if you want to use different colors to connote different parts of your animation.”
— Pencil2D review by Sabrina B.

Recommendations to others considering the product
“Recommended 100 percent for the general public and people who want an efficient app.”
Pencil2D review
by Grey P.

5. Blender


Image courtesy of Blender

Blender 3d Animation Download

Blender 3d Animation Software

Blender is a free and open-source animation software that also has capabilities for 3D modeling, game creation, motion tracking and more. This tool enables artists to turn stills into 3D animation. Blender also offers a fast rigging tool that allows users to turn 3D models into animated characters.

The following animation features are included in Blender:

  • Automated walk-cycles along paths
  • An editor for character animation poses
  • Non-linear animation for independent character movements
  • Mirror functionality

What users like
“Blender is a free animation software, but do not let that deter you from trying it. It is a really powerful software that I use to make 3D designs. Another thing that I like about Blender is that you can easily import outside objects like textures and animations. The lighting and shadow functions also look really professional.”
— Blender review by Beth A.

What users dislike
“Image-based animation becomes difficult to perform. For me personally, I tried to get an image hand created and perform animation. It kept getting difficult to animate the image.”
— Blender review by Ankit A.

Recommendations to others considering the product
Blender is so powerful and has so many features it's overwhelming. Approach with discipline. Decide what aspect you want to tackle first (modelling, animation, lighting, compositing, etc.), then work through a lot of Youtube tutorials.”
Blender reviewby Michael M.

6. Animaker

Image courtesy of Animaker

Animaker is a drag and drop, online animation and video making platform. This platform is free to register for, and is less technical than many other animation solutions. Animaker is targeted towards a content marketer persona, and includes templates for making different types of animations including infographics, motion typography, whiteboards, and 2D cartoons.

Cd dvd eraser free download. Some of the major benefits of Animaker are:

  • Large library of animated pre-created templates and characters
  • Drag and drop editing style with 6 types of animation video styles
  • Whiteboard video creation
  • Simple infographic creator
  • More advanced features for technical creations

What users like
“I really like the drag and drop interface, it really helps building animations on the go and within no time. A very helpful tool when you are in hurry but need a effective and productive presentation. It takes presentations to another level by giving more visual effect.”
— Animaker reviewby Harsh P.

What users dislike
“There is free pack, but it won't allow you to create long presentations and also limits the number of such presentations you can create.”
— Animaker review by Purav A.

Recommendations to others considering the product
“Using the templates provided by Animaker would reduce most of your work. Only make some minor changes as per your requirement an you are all set.”
Animaker review
by Rayan V.

7. Synfig

Image courtesy of Synfig

Synfig Studio is a free and open-source 2D animation software for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. While it offers many technical and advanced features, the open-source community has created a large library of documentation and video courses in multiple languages to help novice animators become professionals. The platform is also always improving, and users have a choice between downloading the stable version or a new development version.

Synfig offers many technical animation features, including:

  • Vector tweening
  • Layers and filtering
  • Bone system for complex editing of bitmap images
  • Many advanced technical features for expert animators

What users like
“I like it a lot because it is an open source software. It is accessible to all audiences. It is not necessary to be a mirror or have a step by step to perform all the activities that can be done with it. Your presentations in 2D are made using few resources and tools - since it has so many useful tools that with only one you can do many things. Your presentations are made in a way for metric. And the best thing is that if there is a change in resolution, this does not affect your results”
— Synfig Studio reviewby Genesis M

What users dislike
“I dislike a little the idea that has some imperfections the program, in question of the interface. Since it tends to close itself and tends to get a little slow to use it. In the same way it has a problem when installing it since it does not accept being installed in some 32-bit programs, as it was my case. I had many problems to install it.”
— Synfig Studio review by Victor M.

Recommendations to others considering the product
“I recommend this software to all those people who have small companies and are in charge of the design area - since even though it is not more innovative, it fulfills all the necessary functions to make a good animation and its tools give you the opportunity to do a lot and in a short time.”
Synfig Studio review by
Victor M.

8. Plastic Animation Paper

Image courtesy of Plastic Animation Paper

Plastic Animation is the free and original version of Animation Paper. This option is a great animation software for beginners, as the product offers tutorials on how to use the software. The tutorials in this free 2D animation tool allow users to work at their own speed.

Plastic Animation Paper offers tutorials on many of its features, including but not limited to:

  • Basic drawing tools
  • The ability to organize a workflow with a setup and marking menus
  • Layering
  • How to do a walk cycle, which includes timing with clones, a light table and working in passes
  • Zooming and rotating a sheet

Be the first to leave a Plastic Animation Paper review!

9. OpenToonz

Image courtesy of OpenToonz

This free (and open-source) animation software enables users to produce 2D animation. Thanks to its open-source nature, developers can modify this free animation software to fit their needs.

Robbins basic pathology 10th pdf. Using OpenToonz, users have the ability to:

  • Produce affected incident light
  • Change picture styles
  • Create wavy distortion
  • Scan four different types of images within the product — black and white, colored or with or without binarization

Next steps for selecting the best free animation software

Decide which features are important to you in a product. For example, it is important to decide whether you need open-source animation software or animation software for beginners. The features in the product you pick should allow you to effectively reach your end goal, such as educating your audience or promoting your brand in an exciting new way. Once you have chosen, read through some more verified user reviews to allow you to make the best decision for your business.

Are you ready to for your animations to go viral? Learn how to make a YouTube channel to host your best creations. If you're curious about these companies, learn more about American Software Companies.

* Please note: Reviews may have been edited for spelling and grammar.

Differences Between Maya vs Blender

Maya is a 3D computer graphics application, developed by Alias Systems Corporation and currently owned by an Auto desk, Inc. It runs efficiently on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Maya is used for creating 3D applications which include a wide range of product, like video games, animation movies, TV series, visual effects etc.

Blender is an open source and 3D computer graphics software toolset developed by Blender Foundation. It is used for creating animated movies, visual effects, 3D models and video games. It is available on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.

3D animation, modelling, simulation, game development & others

Maya provides a comprehensive suite of tools of 3D creation work ranging between modeling, animation etc. Developers can edit and create 3D models in various formats and then animate those models using animation tools provided by Maya’s suite. Photorealistic imagery and animated visual effects based upon animated 3D scenes can be rendered efficiently with tools offered by Maya.

Blender foundation is a non-profit group which actually keeps Blender going and organize this open source project. It has a wide variety of tools which are suitable for almost any kind of media projects. Animated feature films, games, interactive application including kiosks and scientific research can be efficiently created by using Blender.

Maya is provided to the user in an integrated software application which is designed to enhance productivity and ease of use. Its software interface is customizable, thus skilled developers can take their productivity to a greater level. It allows developers to extend their functionality with Maya by providing access to (MEL) Maya Embedded language. With MEL, developers can customize the interface, by writing down scripts and macros.

Blender is a cross-platform application, capable of running on Linux, Mac OS, and Windows system. It has a small memory and hard drive requirements compare to other 3D creation tools. OpenGL is being used by Blender’s interface to provide a consistent experience across all supported hardware and platform.

Full set of APIs (Application Programming Interface) is available to expedite the power and functionality of Maya. It also provides a Python-based API for those users wishing to use it.

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A broad range of essential tools are being shipped with Blender like modeling, rendering, animation, video editing, VFX, texturing, rigging, simulations and games creation. There are adding complexity and jargon associated with Blender. There are multiple terms like UV maps, materials, meshes, shaders etc., which are the mediums of artists, understanding these terms will assist developers to use Blender to its best.

Maya dynamics can help developers create convincing visual simulations. There are n Dynamics tools also available. To simulate and render viscous fluids, atmospheric, pyrotechnic, ocean effects, Maya fluid effects can be utilized. For clothing and fabric, n Cloth effect is available, while nParticles can be used for effects including liquids, cloud, smoke, spray, and dust.

Head to Head Comparison Between Maya vs Blender

Below Is The Top 8 Comparison Between Maya vs Blender

Key Differences Between Maya vs Blender

The Difference between Maya vs Blender are explained in the below-mentioned points:

  1. Maya provides customization via MEL (Maya Embedded Language), interfaces can be extended with it whereas Blender embeds Python3 which can be used to write addons, rig characters etc.
  2. Maya has been the industry standard for 3D modeling and animation for years whereas Blender 3D painting and sculpting tools are not at par with a standard like Maya.
  3. Maya is better fit large studio productions whereas Blender is the ideal choice for small start-ups.
  4. Maya has extensive support from Autodesk and users around the world whereas Blender is an open source software is extensively documented on its website, with rest of support provided via community tutorials.
  5. Maya exposes a node graph architecture with every node having its own attribute and customization whereas Blender has node based compositor which provide comprehensive video sequencing and post-processing features.
  6. With Maya, rendering out an animation for the first time can be quite a challenge whereas Blender is able to make the rendering process just a little bit easier for rendering out an animation or a series of frames.
  7. Maya is an industry standard for 3D animation is used by professionals all around the world whereas Blender lives under the shadow of Maya, and quite useful for freelancer and small start-up projects.
  8. Maya is more powerful but this power comes along with a price of a lot of complication whereas Blender can resolve some of the complicated issues which are with Maya like rendering engine.
  9. Maya being a licensed product comes with lesser bugs whereas Blender tends to be bug-prone, resulting infixes with each version.
  10. Maya has a moderate learning curve with its set of tools are more expressive whereas, with Blender, it may seem daunting when first trying to grasp the subjects.

Maya vs Blender Comparison Table

Blender 3d Animation Tutorial

Following is the Comparison Table Between Maya vs Blender

The basis of comparison Between Maya vs BlenderMayaBlender
AvailabilityLicensed productFreely available
UsageLarge studio productionBetter fit for small startups
ArrivalInitially released in February 1998Released in January 1998
LicenseTrialwareBased on GNU General Public License
IntegrationMany studios have Maya integrated into their pipelineBlender is a free and open source, anyone can edit it accordingly
LearningThe learning curve for Maya is moderateThe learning curve is steep as compared to Maya
StandardAn industry standard for 3D modeling and animation3D sculpting and painting are not at par with Maya
LanguageMEL enables customizationBlender embeds python3 to write add-ons

Conclusion – Maya vs Blender

There is no doubt that Maya is the industry standard for 3D applications and there are good reasons to support it as well. It is a very powerful program which allows a user to model, texture, render, run simulations and animate. Blender on the other side is always living under the shadow of Maya and considered an underdog in the 3D industry. But that does not mean, Blender is a worse tool than Maya.

Blender is more intuitive in some areas than Maya. One can create the exact same animation, asset or render in Maya or Blender. It’s up to the developer or artist skill and efficiency which dominate the creation of a product.

Blender is not better than Maya and vice versa. Maya vs Blender can do things better than the other. There are many unique functionalities in Blender that help to speed up the workflow or simply a task easier. Maya provides certain components which are way superior to Blender. At the end of the day, it boils down to cost, requirement, and skill of the artist which does matter. Project timeline and cost needs to be highly considered before choosing either Maya or Blender.

Recommended Article

Blender 3d Animation Software

This has a been a guide to the top differences between Maya vs Blender. Here we also discuss the Maya vs Blender key differences with infographics, and comparison table. You may also have a look at the following articles –