What does “2D Animation” stand for?
Best 2D animation software, often known as two-dimensional animation, is a technique that may be used to produce a movement or image in a place that only has two dimensions. In conventional animation and computer vector graphics, a lifelike motion illusion is created by rapidly sequencing two separate pictures on a two-dimensional surface. Best 2D animation software entails the creation of characters, creatures, backgrounds, and other effects, among other things. You may build characters, backdrops, and storyboards, as well as apply effects, with the help of 2D Animation Tools. Best 2D animation software, often known as two-dimensional animation, is a form of computer animation in which the characters and backdrops of the project are constructed in a space that is only two dimensions deep. These tools can create and edit animated images using vector and bitmap graphics.
Here is a selection of the best 2D animation programs and resources, with descriptions of their most appealing qualities and online access to their official websites. Open-source (also known as free) and commercial (sometimes known as paid) vector-best 2D animation software are included on this list.
Table of Contents
1. Animate Cc
Animate CC is a program that will assist you in the creation of interactive bitmap and vector animations for use in applications, games, and websites. Infographics and tutorials can both benefit from the addition of action.
Features
- It has the ability to produce new poses for vector pictures or figures.
- You will be able to organize your layers in a parent-child hierarchy with the help of this feature.
- It performs automatic synchronization of mouth positions with voice inflections.
- You may export 360 VR animations.
- This tool lets you use Animate to make ads right away.
- By skipping the picture optimization step and using the export options, you can ensure that your exported photographs have the appropriate resolution.
2. Sketchbook
You may quickly animate your thoughts and concepts with the SketchBook application, a two-dimensional animation program. It comes with over 140 brushes you may use to design your artwork. Using this tool, you can add an unlimited number of layers, each of which can be blended.
Among its features is the capacity to draw fundamental shapes such as circles, rectangles, triangles, etc.
- You are free to make any changes to the rules that you see fit.
- Gives you the ability to color in areas of your artwork.
- It allows you to import or export the layer in PSD format (Photoshop Document).
3. Doratoon
Doratoon considers itself to be the cognitive best 2D animation software tool that offers a user interface that is both simple and professional. As a web-based, free animation software, it enables users to create animated figures and videos and apply effects to make their creations appear more professional. It also provides several iconic alternatives. It is one of the top choices available on the market for businesspeople in the fields of HR, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

Features:
- Retouching photographs that have been inserted within the animation video is one of the features.
- When you want to turn the text, you input it into audio using either the AI Synthesis Tool or the AI Dubbing Tool.
- Use the AI Intelligent Drawing tool to quickly produce drawings automatically.
- Use various animation effects to improve the overall appearance of the video.
- Add subtitles to your video with the help of the automatic speech recognition feature, which will translate your voice into text.
- Discover the most extraordinary templates that are available across the platform so that you may create new content.
- Simply click once to publish and then share your material with the rest of the world.
4. Synfig: Best 2D Animation Software
The 2D vector graphics and animation tool known as Synfig is available for free online. This software is compatible with three operating system platforms: Windows, OS X, and Linux.
Features:
- It allows you to change into another image any picture with a vector shape in it.
- Using mathematical equations, you can link the parameters of different layers.
- This free software for creating Best 2D Animation Software offers more than 50 layers to choose from when animating.
- The use of bitmap graphics allows for creating a cutout animation effect.
5. Animaker
Animaker is a web-based application for creating tools, and it offers a wide variety of animated characters, icons, properties, background graphics (BGs), maps, and charts. It is one of the best 2D Animation Software available for creating 2D animation. Using it, you can make a perfect film for your business, presentations, freelance work, and projects.
- You can make animated films in six distinct video styles, including 2D, handmade, whiteboard, infographics, 2.5 D, and typography. Features:
- Making videos, which can be used as animation or animated presentations, is something even beginners can do.
- This best 2D animation software features 200 different sound effects and is among the best of its kind.
- This tool offers a total of one hundred different tracks of background music.
- You will be able to record direct voice recordings with its help.
- The crew can work together thanks to Animaker.
- You can export video in full HD resolution.
6. Cartoon Animator
You can convert photographs into control characters and animated characters with the help of a tool called Cartoon Animator, the best 2D animation Software program. With the help of this piece of software, creating lip-sync animation from audio is quick and simple.
Features:
- Among its many features is the capacity to record facial motion.
- It’s possible to turn Photoshop layers into 2D characters with the program.
- It allows for the editing of both motion paths and timelines.
- You can create interactive compound animations.
- It is compatible with high-definition monitors of up to 4K resolution.
- You can quickly transform existing content into 360-degree animated heads with the help of Cartoon Animator.
7. Krita
Krita is a straightforward program for the best 2D animation Software that gives you the ability to personalize your work process. This free best 2D Animation Software comes with more than one hundred brushes created by professionals.
Features:
- This animation maker software’s features include the ability to add a stabilizer to a brush to smooth it down.
- You can personalize the brush with one of nine different brush motors.
- You can make comic panels using the built-in vector drawing tools.
- You may generate seamless textures and patterns by using an image as a reference along the x- and y-axes.
- It allows you to import brush and texture packs created by other artists.
- When you want to organize your artwork, you can merge, flatten, or order layers.
- You have the option to highlight the portion of the drawing.
- Krita makes it easier to incorporate it into the color management pipeline you already use. Krita is Best 2D Animation Software in 2022-23.
8. Pencil2d
The animation program Pencil2d is a hand-drawn, 2D application. It is lightweight and has a simple operation. You can sketch, ink, and paint on the go with this best 2D animation software that doesn’t require a lot of setups.
Features:
- Pencil2D is a tool that can run on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its features include the following:
- It is permissible to use it in any manner desired for business purposes.
- Flipping between pages or rolling over paper allows for a more efficient work examination.
- This open-source, two-dimensional animation program supports the TIFF file format (Tagged Image File Format).
- You can import images to be used as new layers on specific frames.
9. Opentoonz
Opentoonz is a production application for animation that is open source. There are four distinct types of scans that are compatible with it. It gives you the ability to preserve the settings for the scanning.
TWAIN is an acronym for “Technology Without an Interesting Name,” This product is compatible with those standards.
Features:
- It gives you the ability to employ lines with anti-aliasing.
- Using this tool makes painting with temporary colors straightforward.
- Using the Graphical User Interface, often known as the GUI, you can create effects using the node tree.
- Images can be managed with the scale resolution that is currently in use.
- This best 2D animation software is compatible with both raster and vector pictures. You can use it to create animations.
- Plug-ins allow for a greater variety of effects to be utilized.
10. Stop Motion Studio
Stop Motion Studio is a powerful piece of the best 2D animation software editing tool that can be used on the macOS, the iPad, and the iPhone. It is compatible with cameras produced by some well-known camera manufacturers, such as Canon, Nikon, and Sony.
Features:
- Among its features is a view that takes you through each photograph in the sequence they were captured in, frame by frame.
- You can set in and out points within Stop Motion Studio, which identifies a particular section of your video that may be played back and looped.
- It has a multitude of music snippets and sound effects in its package.
- It provides various painting tools that allow users to paint like they would on a traditional canvas.
- This tool features an eraser that may be used to remove undesired elements from the video.
- It assists in the creation of title and credit screens.
- It offers an extensive range of different effects that can be used to alter the appearance of your movie.
11. CelAction2D
CelAction 2D is a professional tool for animating 2D images that may be used in movies, television shows, and advertising. Using this tool, you’ll have an easier time managing complicated projects with many layers .celAction best 2D Animation Software in 2022.
Features:
- You have the option of using bitmaps, vectors, or both at the same time.
- It has dockable and floating panels and a workspace that the user may define.
- The user can define their shortcut keys with the help of this tool.
- When creating a palette, you have access to more than 16 million different colors.
- It is compatible with Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 8 in addition to Windows 10.
- It is possible to transform vector shapes into objects that can be deformed and morphed.
12. Harmony
When it comes to animation, Harmony is a one-stop shop for everything you need, from drawing to the finished project. It permits the creation of artwork and animation and the incorporation of sounds and other effects into animations.
Features:
- A stabilizer for clean lines is one of the features.
- It allows you to create curved perspective guides with 3, 4, and 5 points.
- You can build cutout animation with the help of this application.
- It is possible to integrate it with software that is already present in the production pipeline.
- It is possible to integrate into either 2D or 3D.
- Harmony makes the best 2D Animation Software in two dimensions for the game easier.
- It is possible to import multilayer versions of PSB and PSD files, Illustrator, PDF, bitmaps, and media files.
13. Blender
Blender is a piece of computer graphics software that may be utilized for various purposes, including creating visual effects, animated films, video games, and more. You can import or export videos using MPEG, QuickTime, or AVI file formats with the assistance of this program.
Features:
- This tool offers a Python application programming interface (API) for scripting and customization purposes.
- You can personalize shortcuts.
- It offers a route tracer so that realistic rendering can be done.
- You can sculpt, edit, create, and alter your models.
- It captures the tracked footage and the 3D scene in real-time.
- You can take characters that are static and turn them into impressive animations.
14. Flipbook
To convert pdf files into HTML flipping books, you can use FlipBook, the best 2D Animation Software program. It is compatible with Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems.
Features:
- Among its many features is the ability to personalize the toolbar.
- You can reduce the amount of time by inserting and deleting frames.
- You may easily capture your pencil test drawing with the assistance of FlipBook by just clicking on the button that looks like a camera.
- This software allows you to import four different graphics, including movies, cels, overlays, and backdrops.
- You have the option of adding up to three different soundtracks.
- It shortens the amount of time required to paint the scene.
- You can determine the total number of frames that you want to paint by using the number keys on your keyboard.
15. Moho Pro
The Moho Pro tool is a two-dimensional animation solution that integrates professional tools and animation technologies. It allows you to give the characters their one-of-a-kind textures and effects. In 2022 moho pro-Best 2D Animation Software.
Features:
- Among its features is a custom bitmap brush that allows users to make customized bitmap brushes.
- This utility now provides incredible support for 3D objects.
- You can adjust the material qualities of 3D objects and see improved object previews while manipulating the camera.
- You can conduct your search by using Boolean operations, keywords, and sub-words.
- By combining the Bitmap Tools with the frame-by-frame layers, you will have the ability to build the best 2D Animation Software in Moho that is classic.
Conclusion
When you have access to the appropriate software, developing a video containing two-dimensional animation is much less complicated. You probably already have a storyline and a storyboard in your head, but now you can bring your vision to life in intricate and original ways.