Cartoon drawing program for beginners. "MultiRemote" program for Windows

Many people would probably be interested in using software such as a program for creating cartoons. For some, this can even become a full-fledged way to earn money.

In any case, programs for creating cartoons are something unusual and interesting, and therefore it would be useful for each of us to use one of them at least once.

We have collected 10 of the best programs for creating cartoons today. They are the easiest to use and have very wide functionality. It will be interesting!

1.

Toon Boom Harmony is rightfully considered by many experts to be the best program for creating cartoons.

Here you can create your own masterpieces in both 2D and 3D formats. The range of tools here is more than impressive, in particular there are many built-in special effects.

In addition, it is worth highlighting your own library, in which you can find a great variety of characters, as well as pictures, backgrounds and objects. In general, there is room to expand!

Here are some more features of Toon Boom Harmony:

• the ability to import 2D cartoons into 3D;
• very high quality of the final animation in cartoons;
• flash video support;
• Ample opportunities for importing, exporting and converting files.

The most important thing is that with the help of Toon Boom Harmony, in fact, you can implement absolutely all the ideas that come to your mind. You just need to understand the functionality.

Rice. No. 1. Toon Boom Harmony

The program is paid, but there is a trial period.

2.

This program is more suitable for creating 2D cartoons. Professionals do not recommend using Anime Studio Pro to work in 3D.

True, it can be upgraded on your own and combined with Unity 3D (this feature was built into the program initially), but not everyone can do this.

But its functionality is even wider than that of Toon Boom Harmony. The process of editing the background and individual details of the overall picture stands out especially.

You can change even the smallest elements that are present in the cartoon. Opportunities for import and export are also quite wide.

Other features of Anime Studio Pro are as follows:

• There are also a lot of special effects here;
• wide range of filters;
• built-in ability to make videos for Adobe Flash Player (special operating mode);
• there are blanks from which you can simply make something of your own;
• ability to work with images in PSD format.

Rice. No. 2. Anime Studio Pro

The trial period in this case is 30 days.

3.

In this case, you are, in fact, not creating a full-fledged cartoon, but only an animation, that is, a quick slide show of several almost identical pictures. But that doesn't stop animation developers from all over the world from using Easy GIF Animator to create their masterpieces.

You can apply a variety of effects, transitions, and the like to animations. All this allows you to create really high-quality cartoons!

What is important is that Easy GIF Animator is very undemanding of computer resources. It is also worth noting that the user can save cartoons in AVI format and then upload them to various resources online.

A few more features of Easy GIF Animator:

• You can take AVI video, ready-made GIF and Flash animations as sources;
• ample opportunities for editing transitions between images or source files;
• the ability to generate HTML code from a cartoon (!);
• the result can be viewed through a browser.

Rice. No. 3. Easy GIF Animator

Easy GIF Animator can be run 20 times for free. After that you will have to buy it.

This program has an analogue on Android (here is the link). Although the mobile version is very far from perfect.

If we talk about operating systems for smartphones and tablets, then it is better to look for another program.

4.

This is the only completely free program in our TOP today. True, its functionality is not as rich as that of the top three, but given the absence of fees for use, everything is very good.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to download Express Animate for free in Russian either. Its interface will still be presented in English.

Here are the main features of this editor:

• You can edit a cartoon literally frame by frame;
• simple GIFs can be made very quickly and easily using Express Animate;
• the finished cartoon can be converted into a variety of formats;
• In addition to the image, you can also add background sounds - the range of functions for this is also very wide.

5.

iClone Pro is a professional package designed for editing and creating cartoons, films and other similar content.

The set of tools here is larger than in previous programs, but it will be difficult for a beginner to understand all this. That is why we placed iClone Pro in fifth place in our ranking.

But if you still manage to understand the interface of this program, more than a wide range of tools for working with relief and textures will appear before your clear eyes. You can make the background the way you want - from your head straight into a cartoon!

In addition, there is a large library of characters and other objects. You can take everything ready-made and make something of your own and unique out of it.

Here's what else you can note about iClone Pro:

• the ability to capture human movements and convert them into a cartoon, that is, assigning the actor’s movements to a cartoon character (Kinect technology and, accordingly, the iClone Pro program were used to create many of the cartoons you know);
• for 3D this program is simply ideal;
• there is convenient integration with 2D editors;
• The character's appearance can be taken from a photograph of a real person.

Rice. No. 5. iClone Pro

The trial period is valid for exactly 30 days.

6.

This tool was originally designed to work with three-dimensional figures, that is, in 3D. Accordingly, ready-made objects can be assigned some characteristics and made to move. This is how a cartoon is created.

If you need a 2D movie, ZBrush will be absolutely useless. But for working with 3D it is simply amazing!

There are a lot of different brushes, palettes and other editing elements.

Among other things, plugins are supported, which means that the already wide range of functions can be increased.

The main advantage of ZBrush over other programs is the ability to accurately draw individual, even the smallest, details.

Also worth noting in ZBrush is the following:

• the entire process of creating a character involves virtual modeling from plasticine;
• ZBrush is used as an auxiliary tool for drawing details or creating characters, but movement can also be imparted to them;
• large set of effects.

Rice. No. 6. ZBrush

ZBrush is free to use for 45 days.

7.

And again we have a completely professional set of a wide variety of tools for creating any characters and plots with them in 3D format.

Unfortunately, Autodesk Maya is not suitable for hand-drawn cartoons. But it is quite possible to create a unique character, again, from your head using this program.

Many of the world's leading animation studios use Autodesk Maya to create their new creations. This once again confirms the idea that we are talking about one of the most feature-rich editors. But, again, it will be very difficult for a beginner.

Here are some of the features of Autodesk Maya:

• as many as four modes of result visualization;
• the ability to use the same plugins to expand the already large functionality of the program;
• this set of tools is also more suitable for rendering characters and textures, so it works well with other programs;
• the program is very demanding on the computing power of the computer - it will not work everywhere.

Interesting: Autodesk Maya was used to develop several versions of the most popular football simulator FIFA. It was also used in the creation of a large number of famous games and films.

Rice. No. 7. Autodesk Maya

The trial period is exactly 20 days.

8.

Finally, we see a program that supports the Russian language at the official level.

In many of the past programs, it was possible to add plugins or patches that made the interface Russian. But Adobe Premiere can work in Russian even without any add-ons.

And this program has very rich functionality. If it were not for the advantages of many of the programs described above, Adobe Premiere could well claim first place in our TOP.

In this case, it is worth highlighting a very large set of built-in special effects, as well as tools for processing individual frames.

In addition to images, you can use videos as source material. If you combine all this, it will be possible to create a video in which cartoon characters will be present in ordinary life.

Other positive aspects of working with Adobe Premiere are:

• You can take almost any files as sources;
• a wide range of options for overlaying titles and plain text;
• ability to control sound and image color (you can change shades).

Rice. No. 8. Adobe Premiere

Adobe Premiere is free to use for 30 days - standard.

9.Modo

Again, you can create beautiful 3D effects as well as characters in Modo.

Here everything happens in the so-called elastic drawing mode. That is, you can stretch objects as much as you like, change their shape, and so on.

In addition, it is worth highlighting that with Modo you can draw both on a plane and in perspective. Rendering mode is also available. But the best thing here is the transformation of objects.

Other features of this product are:

• ample opportunities for modeling various surfaces;
• tools for UV processing;
• a large selection of built-in special effects, as well as the ability to create your own.

Rice. No. 9. Modo

You can try using Modo - there is a 30-day trial period. True, the activation procedure here is quite complicated and even incomprehensible.

In addition, the price of the full version is quite high. Some even decide not to use Modo because of these shortcomings. But you can and even should try.

10.

TVPaint Animation is great for 2D animation. This program simply does not imply the ability to work in volumetric space.

It seems that the developers decided to compensate for this shortcoming with a very large set of tools for creating 2D cartoons. There are a lot of brushes and paints, as well as all kinds of other tools.

Frame-by-frame and layer-by-layer processing is also supported. All this is also done very high quality.

TVPaint Animation features are:

• the background can be edited as you wish, including zooming out and zooming in;
• excellent engine for processing individual details of the overall image;
• The collection of effects is also very large.

Rice. No. 10. TVPaint Animation

Interestingly, this program is also free and does not have any trial period.

But instead, the developers decided to come up with something different. The fact is that when working with TVPaint Animation it is impossible to save. Yes, it simply does not have a save function.

In addition, depending on the set of tools, you will have to pay a certain amount (only the standard set is free). The minimum price for the paid version of TVPaint Animation is 500 euros. Very unusual.

Below you can see video instructions for using the best program in our TOP, Toon Boom Harmony.

Dedicated to his work, namely GSM technologies, new products and industry news, the author.

Cartoons, animation and videos are a favorite direction for many viewers, for which they should be grateful programs for creating animation. It is quite difficult to evaluate and compare applications, but it is possible based on functionality, material processing speed, convenience and efficiency of tools. Taking into account the research of professional animators and user reviews, we were able to identify a number of the most interesting applications in this direction.

Blender

Programs for drawing animation are used everywhere and many fans prefer Blender because of its wide functionality and capabilities.

It has everything you need to work:

• professional animators;
• artists;
• VFX specialists;
• game developers;
• students, etc.

Blender offers free access and an easy-to-understand interface with code for creating 3D models. The program has many functions for image processing, creating models, forming textures, various lighting, etc. Thanks to its compatibility with all platforms, the application is used all over the world.

CrazyTalk

CrazyTalk is included in 3D animation programs with a specific direction. It does not have functions for shaping the terrain, there are no built-in powerful movement algorithms, etc. The main advantage is the accuracy of detailing of facial features; moreover, the application can generate emotions and allows you to create an initial mood. Without much difficulty, the developer can change the mood of the character and adjust the behavior of the algorithm to suit his needs.

Among the functions:

• transferring a character from a photograph to electronic form;
• has many possibilities for adding accessories, hats and hairstyles;
• allows you to create unique audio recordings and add them to the project being developed. The application compares sounds, facial expressions and lip movements;
• Based on the points, you can make any adjustments to the animation.

To make it easier to master the program, a short training course is built in, which covers the intricacies of the work.

Modo

Modo provides 2D and 3D animation programs with an emphasis on more advanced 3D modeling algorithms. Inside, there are ample opportunities for creating a model, for drawing picturesque landscapes and sculpting. A distinctive feature is the unique design and the presence of only the necessary tools.

Designers and artists will benefit the most. After using Modo, the difference between a real photo and graphics is practically eliminated.

ZBrush

The utility has found a target audience mainly in the professional environment due to the high cost of the license, but due to the flexibility and simplicity of the interface it can be used with a small number of skills. The logical construction of tools and proper processing are the main advantages of ZBrush.

The program contains all the necessary tools for working out all the drawings down to the smallest elements. The popularity of the solution was increased after the release of the well-known film “Pirates of the Caribbean”. ZBrush allowed me to create a face for the dead captain.

The positive aspects are not limited to the quality of detail:

• a huge set of paints and brushes;
• special modeling principle;
• 3D simulation;
• a number of auxiliary modules for specific requirements;
• moderate PC performance requirements.

The main disadvantage is the difficulty of mastering due to the huge number of options, but the undemanding nature of the software allows it to be used on 32-bit Windows.

Express Animate

This is a worthy representative of a small group of free programs for creating animation and working with slide shows. Among the program's functions you can find all the basic and most important tools, as well as ample opportunities for editing the selected area. Using the utility, you can easily convert various pictures and animations into videos. Photographers love creating collages.

Features of the application include:

• editor function with division by frame;
• easy and trouble-free implementation of simple movements and projects;
• large selection of special effects;
• conversion to various formats;
• support for background sounds;
• function of processing data in large volumes.

Anime Studio Pro

Good for 2D animation. The application has developed a library with unified characters and elements. With its help, you can easily create short and long films. It stands out clearly among other functions and programs, as there are many tools for forming the background and working out the details. Thanks to the modern and logical interface, it will not be difficult to understand the program.

Anime Studio is often used due to its support for many formats and high-quality work with animation created in other development environments. The disadvantage can be considered a lack of capabilities for working with 3D, but this can be corrected due to compatibility with the Unity 3D platform.

Basic characteristics:

• built-in container with a number of special effects and various filters;
• you can export files in high resolution – HD;
• functions for vector animation;
• availability of blanks;
• innovative mechanism for working with personnel;
• import PSD from Photoshop;
• regular and high-quality updates.

Toon Boom Harmony

This is a program for creating animation in Russian, which is actively used by leading animation developers - Disney and Warner Bros. The main advantage is the network development method, so many people can work on one project at once, this makes communication easier and speeds up the process.

Additionally, the utility works well with layers, providing convenient and smooth transitions in scenes. It is developed in English, but has a localization; most developers will not find it useful due to its simple interface.

There is one significant drawback - a heavy load on the computer, you need to have advanced equipment, otherwise the hardware will not withstand the load or will overheat.

Features include:

• functionality for network work;
• a variety of tools for high-quality animation;
• many special effects;
• 2D to 3D conversion;
• you can create any ideas;
• supports import and export.

iClone Pro

High-quality implementation of even bold ideas becomes possible thanks to the iClone Pro application. The complex for professional developers consists of a wide range of functions and has a range of tools for working with characters, terrain, landscape shells, etc.

The key advantage is the realistic movements; the program can imitate the behavior of a real person. For this purpose, Kinect technology is built into the complex; Microsoft Corporation was involved in its development.

Basic characteristics:

• high power for 3D animation;
• built-in database with templates;
• a unique system for recognizing and predicting movements;
• compatibility with 2D editors;
• high quality of drawing;
• detailed appearance of the character, which is difficult to distinguish from the real one.

All of the options listed will allow you to create any animation, regardless of complexity, but professionals often use about 2-3 programs. It is recommended to select several programs and intensively delve into working with them.

If you have any questions on the topic “Review of the 8 best programs for creating animation,” you can ask them in the comments

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02/03/15 12.5K

Ever since cavemen learned to make cave paintings, humanity has been improving methods of visually displaying the surrounding reality. At different periods of history, artists were equipped with new paints and tools for painting, sculptors mastered various materials and techniques, and the theater amazed with the realistic scenery.

With the advent of computers, many new ways of constructing images have emerged. Of course, technology has significantly expanded the previously available capabilities, including in the field of creating pictures with a motion effect:

To “stir up” a static image, you must have a program for creating animation installed on your computer; its selection will be discussed in this article.

A little about animation

In order for an image to be animated, the following conditions must be met:

• A few pictures. It is impossible to achieve the effect of movement with just one image. Animation is a change of frames, and these frames must be different from each other;
• Similar pictures. If you successively change a cat for a dog, an elephant and a giraffe, you will get something indigestible. Images must have common elements to make a good animation;
• Frame change rate. If the picture changes once a second, then no movement effect will be achieved. In order to get the desired result, it is necessary to change frames more than 16 times per second.

To achieve the desired result, there are various programs for 2D animation, as well as for working with 3D images. Let's start by considering the 3D format.

3D animation software

Let's look at some popular programs for creating 3D animation.

• 3D Studio Max. This program is popular among those for whom creating animation is not their main activity. Also great for modeling 3D objects in computer games:

There are a huge number of constantly updated plugins and rendering capabilities, but not everyone can afford everything (legally) due to financial reasons.

• Realsoft 3D. A distinctive feature of this 3D animation program is the highest image quality:

This feature is actively used by the creators of commercials and music videos. Another nice feature is that it is cross-platform.

• Maya. A program for creating high-quality 3D animation, which is widely used in film production:

• Poser 4. This system is most suitable for modeling human behavior, therefore it is used both in the development of computer games and in the creation of cartoons:

Programs for Flash animation

To be placed on website pages, animated images must have little weight (otherwise the resource loading speed will be dismal). Flash technology allows you to “spice up” boring pictures on the World Wide Web.

Today, the absolute leader in this area is Adobe, offering a wide range of opportunities for developers:

However, not everyone can afford such a program for flash animation, not to mention the necessary plugins ( in total the entire package will cost more than $1000). Therefore, we will consider options with cheaper components.

• SWiSHpowerFX. This system greatly simplifies the creation of animated text. The main advantages are ease of use by users and speed of image creation;
• Swiff Chart. Program for creating diagrams. The user only needs to enter the data and select the chart type, and the system will do the rest.

Animation of photos

Let's look at some software solutions that will help you turn a static photo into an animated image.

• Adobe Photoshop. The king of image editing, which provides the widest range of possibilities:

Adding various animated effects will help make any photo truly come to life.

• FotoMorph. A program whose action is based on morphing technology ( transition from one image to another):

• PhotoSHOW PRO. An analogue of Photoshop, which is certainly inferior to its eminent competitor in everything, including price, and for some this is already a powerful argument not in favor of the product from Adobe:

The Drawing Cartoons Ltd studio has created an amazing application that allows you to create real animation masterpieces with a few easy movements. By downloading Draw Cartoons 2 to your computer, you can easily and quickly create colorful cartoons with an interesting plot.

Application Description

Draw Cartoons 2 is a convenient application created specifically for drawing short cartoon videos. The developers tried to make the application as clear as possible, which allows you to draw cartoons without any special skills.

It won't be difficult to understand the interface. To avoid problems with training, the creators have provided Draw Cartoons 2 on PC with a short training video that opens upon first launch. The video will show you the main stages of the work and explain how to use the tools.

To start a new project, select the green “Start” button. If you want to download previously created cartoons for working with videos, use the “Download” button.

The game is easy to draw. Each character or detail will consist of several points or bones that must be assembled into a solid figure. After the figure comes to life, you can attach other parts to it by drawing them yourself.

Another bonus from the creators is an extensive collection of ready-made templates. If you don’t want to draw each fragment yourself, you can always pick it up from a collection of blanks and various background designs.

You can add sound to the created video or insert a background. With sound, your animation will become more fun and dynamic, and if you want to leave your “mark” in the drawn cartoon, you can always insert your photo into it by downloading it from the gallery.

The operating principle of the game Draw Cartoons 2 for the computer is to combine drawn frames into a common feed. This mechanism is reminiscent of the old trick with notebook sheets, when figures were drawn on the sheets, which, when quickly flipped through, turned into something like a video. The essence of the game is approximately the same - you draw a character on each slide, gradually adding new elements to it. Moreover, its “development” and actions will be limited only by your imagination.

There are four buttons in the main window:

• Start. Using this key you will launch the entire video and you will be able to see the result of your efforts.
• Add. A key that is used to add objects to slides. When you click on it, a catalog of all objects available for insertion will open in front of you, where the elements will be divided into appropriate categories: people, animals, nature, etc. Also in the catalogs there is a separate folder with all kinds of special effects, which can also be inserted into the video.
• Edit item. This button will open a set of tools for editing the selected item: changing its size, changing color, etc.
• Edit frame. The key used to launch the slide editor. Here you can add a caption, change the background, increase or decrease the frame size, etc.

Frames are moved using the slider located on the right side of the main window.

To create a cartoon from scratch you only need a few steps:

• Create (draw or select from a library) characters and their surroundings.
• Come up with actions that will take place in the frame.
• Add voice acting using ready-made soundtracks or recording your own voice.
• Play the cartoon and enjoy the result.

Functional

• Lots of tools for editing objects in the frame: rotating, copying, cropping, changing size and color, etc.
• Saving finished videos in mp4 format or as GIF animation.
• Possibility to upload the result to YouTube.
• Overlaying sound from both ready-made melodies and from your own library.
• Combining ready-made slides into smooth animation.
• A huge collection of additional elements and all kinds of tools.

How to run Draw Cartoons 2 on PC

To create animated videos on your computer, you will need to use the BlueStacks emulator. Installing the game will take several steps:

• You download and install on your computer. To do this, just download the installation file and start the installation process.
• Then, using the emulator, you open the application store. Please note that to enter the store, the program will ask you to enter your Google profile information.
• Find the game you need in the store. You can do this by entering its name in the search bar.
• Launch the game installation.

Game controls

All actions will be performed with the mouse, the keyboard will not be used.

• Animator: Make Your Cartoons. An application with a “speaking” name. It has one function - to create a variety of cartoons. But there are a lot of tools and possibilities: detailed work with each object, the ability to record GIF animation, add elements and music from your own library and a lot of other possibilities.
• — Cartoon animation. A program for frame-by-frame drawing of animated videos. Allows you not only to work through each slide, but also to use layering in your work, and also set the playback time of each frame. Intuitive tools allow users of any age to get comfortable with FlipaClip.

System requirements

• Availability of BlueStacks. Without it, the game simply will not launch on PC.
• 60 MB of free space.
• If you want to record your own soundtrack track, you'll need a microphone.

Video review

Results and comments

You can become a cartoonist in 10 minutes. By downloading Draw Cartoons 2 to your computer, you will quickly learn how to create colorful and original videos with which you can surprise your friends and subscribers. Now you don’t need to spend long hours studying complex programs - this game will help you create an unusual and interesting video in a short time.

Creativity is an important element when working on animated images, but in practice it all comes down to timing. And it’s worth downloading a program for creating cartoons just to save money, to be able to instruct the computer to do routine work instead of the animator himself.

Jasc Animation Shop

An application for editing GIF files, developing simple animated images. Standard graphics editor options are available; each frame can be processed manually, adding effects, captions, filters, etc. Additional functionality – creating banners for websites. Supports work with a decent number of graphic and video formats.

Pencil

A relatively simple program that allows you to work with two-dimensional animation. Everything is tied to a time scale filled with individual fields - each can be manipulated in a wide range. This is more convenient than gluing together pre-drawn frames, especially since the tools for processing the images themselves are prudently placed on a separate panel.

Toon Boom Studio

Professional solution for for creating cartoons high level, reminiscent of the creations of art studios. There are options for overlaying animated scenes on real video, a mechanism for exporting individual fragments from photographs, and a well-thought-out effects system. Integration with Photoshop, data export, publishing to iTunes and YouTube.

TVpaint Animation

An interesting and well-thought-out solution for working with 2D animation and cartoons, in addition to the standard set of tools, it features several special modes. Multiplane Camera - processing an unlimited number of layers, Scan Cleaner - automatic background removal, ToonShading - shadow placement, plus there is a special mechanism for processing particle behavior.

Artrage

The special feature of the application is that it simulates working with paper canvas and real paints or felt-tip pens. “Soft” strokes, varying pressure on the brush, wrinkled paper - all for the sake of realism. It can be a very useful tool for those who intend to create animation in the “classic” style, with manual drawing of details, but the degree of automation leaves much to be desired.

MyPaint

More of a tool for an enthusiastic artist than a professional program for creating cartoons. A distinctive feature is an “endless” canvas for drawing; there is no need to open new windows; the application itself will save only the fragment used. The editing functionality is greatly reduced, which is compensated by a large number of brushes and data export to formats that allow you to continue processing the image in other applications.

UnFREEz

A very simple, lightweight program for creating cartoons, designed for gluing together individual fragments of GIF files. No editing, only correction of the playback process - duration of intervals, pauses, etc. The number of files to be merged is not limited, nor is the duration of the animation. Minimum requirement for system resources.

Plastic Animation Paper

A two-stage system for creating animation - first comes a rough "pencil" sketch, then fine editing and finishing to perfection. Very convenient for demonstrating the principles of creating animation, for developing rough projects, and training beginners. Adapted, including for tablets, is free, and you can find a lot of lessons on the Internet.

Synfig Studio

Open source software designed for professional work with two-dimensional vector graphics. It uses complex animation mechanisms, such as morphing and shift animation, which greatly simplifies the solution of a number of problems. High degree of automation, the ability to create professional cartoons of excellent quality.

Creatoon

From “creativ” and “toon” - “creativity” and “cartoon”, simple program for creating cartoons with not very rich functionality. Among the interesting options, it is worth noting the work with perspective - by bringing objects closer and farther away, you can create the effect of depth in the scene. Since it is free, it does not have solid capabilities, but as a basic tool it is quite good.

Scratch

An educational application for introducing students to the principles of operation of automatic systems and the basics of programming. The animation function was added solely to visualize the process; creating a full-fledged cartoon is problematic if we are not talking about another tutorial. The application belongs to the free-ware category.

iClone

3D animation editor with a focus on modeling human bodies. The program contains a lot of ready-made character templates and interior elements, and a library of gestures and movements is provided. There is an option to capture images from real photographs and simulate “clones” of real people. The level of detail work is low and has nothing to do with professional animation.

There are a lot of technologies for animating static images and, accordingly, a proportional amount of software for their implementation. There are no universal solutions, but it is quite possible to find the optimal one for a specific situation. And then all that remains is to download a program for creating cartoons for free, fortunately, there is plenty to choose from.