You're starting a new project. What animation tools should you use?

I used Toon Boom Harmoney to create my animations. It's great to use for 2D Rigged Puppets as well. OpenToonz and Powtoon are some free options. I love using Adobe After Effects for composting and some lighting afterwards.

Toon Boom Harmony is by far my preferred 2D software for both traditional and rig based animation. With that said, I am inspired by what I’m seeing out of Blender & aspire to learn and master that program this year.

Your brain! That may seem like an "a-hole" answer. But there are SO many ways to create amazing animation that you are only limited by what you can imagine. I highly encourage not sticking to one tool, but combining many in unique ways to create styles that are unconventional or help tell a story in an interesting way. But remember, low quality animation can be elevated by an amazing story, but even great animation falls flat with a sub par story.

First things firstly lets do some layout with photoshop and krita (free option) Then adjust your timing with after effects and add a timecode…. You can do this with sync-sketch(free option) as well Finally maya or blender for your 3d animation. Bottom line it isn’t the software that makes you good but your skills. A farmer is as good as his skills not tools😅 but this day and age tools matter too.

Whatever program you use, focus on learning animation first. Learn how use a timing sheet, get into the value graph, or even make a good bouncing ball. Once you're okay at animation, then you can get more picky. Anyone can be taught After Effects or Blender, but if you know what you're doing, you can use any tool.

As someone who transitioned from drawing on paper to drawing on a tablet, I would say that quality is key. The responsive of your pencil to paper is something that is still very hard to replicate. The iPad Pro is incredible in that regard with the Apple pencils responsiveness. But it’s still a small screen to work on, especially when doing frame by frame hand drawn animation with lots of UI elements - I’m very happy with my 24 inch 4K Wacom Cintiq. A good quality tablet is key. I’m looking for something that replicates the paper experience. Find whatever suits your workflow

When it comes to starting animation, tools are important but not the main focus. The tools you need depend on your animation style, like a drawing tablet for hand-drawn 2D or for 3D software like Cinema 4D or Blender. Instead of just tools, focus on finding inspiration from various sources like Pinterest, Vimeo, studios, and artists on Instagram. Creating mood boards and having reference videos before starting a project are crucial. Observing everyday objects and life is key to becoming a good motion designer.

To kickstart any animation, whether it's on paper or an iPad, I find drawing to be paramount. Over the past year, I've utilized the iPad, leveraging tools like Procreate for frame-by-frame animation. I start by allowing my imagination to run wild, scribbling freely before refining and shortening the process.

Having pioneered a number of commercial solutions for digitisation, I would suggest that the starting point for an animation has to be on paper. Talking through your animation and letting your hands do the rest on paper provides a natural way of relaying the animation from thought to visibility. The tablet comes next... ones which can scan the outlines of the animation and which offer features to adjust and fine tune. The paper version, storyboard, then becomes a point of reference between the digitised version and the original analogue.

Frame by frame animation, Professional vector illustrations and sculupting in 3D need a drawing tablet for sure, On the other side keyframing, effects and adujstments dont need any.

For animators seeking reference, a valuable resource lies in observing real-life motion. By studying the movements of people, animals, and objects in various situations, animators can capture the nuances of motion, weight, and balance. Additionally, referencing existing animated works can provide insights into different animation styles and techniques. Constantly expanding the reference pool ensures a broad understanding of motion dynamics, enabling animators to infuse their work with authenticity and creativity.

Always have some kind of reference before you start. Great animators also use animations reference to give fine details in the animation. Study timing in animation reference helps lot

It's essential to look deeply into the specifics of animation instead of simply observing real-life movements. Studying movements frame by frame helps us understand its dynamic and natural aspects, leading to more creative forms of animation.

I cant stop Emphasising this enough but Look at tons of References!!, i always pin / save any animation that is similar to what i'm working on and bring my own take from it.

My advice? Start with the basics like the bouncing red ball exercise to nail down key principles like timing and squash and stretch. Also, keep an eye on other artists and studios out there. There are so many ones that I draw inspiration from over the years. Pro tip: If you’re getting into character animation, try filming yourself in action. It’s a game-changer when you try to learn correct character movements. It can make your animations feel way more real and engaging.

This is usually for characters , But u must know that u wont need all ur bones rigged , you can understand which parts you need at the first place when you draw the storyboard. So you can save your time with just rigging some of the parts and bones.

Efficient character animation requires a well-designed rig. Tools like Duik Bassel in After Effects or Rigify in Blender simplify the rigging process. A solid rig provides a foundation for smoother animations, allowing you to focus on bringing characters to life without wrestling with technical complexities.

El rig es solo una forma de animar, no es vital ni necesario para comenzar a entender el movimiento, pero al pasar a animacion 3D siempre sera necesario un rig por la naturaleza del medio, peor en 2D el lapiz te da libertad de crear lo que quieras sin los limites de un esqueleto.

If we are talking about character animation I would try to use a procedural rig, like Rigify for Blender. Sometimes a procedural rig wont work, due to extreme character proportions or basically if its not a humanoid or quadruped, for those cases then I build the rig from scratch

En mi experiencia es en Adobe After Effects donde los plug-ins brillan por darle funcionalidades extra al programa, existe un enorme ecosistema del cual puedo destacar Duik Angela, Limber, Motion Tools, o Ukramedia Smart Tools entre algunos, que nos dan un sistema robusto de herramientas para facilitar tiempo al animador y mejorar los resultados del proyecto final.

"A tidy house is a happy house". Having a well-thought-out naming system and a carefully structured file library can make all the difference in projects that require reusing assets and animations. Consider organizing your library by the type of assets your project contains, and name the files accordingly, along with a description of their contents. These small steps can save your team a lot of time in the future.

For web animations, I would use Figma + SVG elements to animate elements via JS using GSAP or another framework. Works like a charm.

Staying organised is key to the efficiency and ease of your project. Animation libraries can help expedite the project using commonly borrowed elements in new ways.

I always use animation libraries such as Mixamo for all sorts of crowd animations as well some generic movement needed in characters. It’s a great way to save time in your project and these libraries just keep getting more diverse as people keep contributing.

Build a library of pre-built assets and animations to speed up your workflow. Platforms like Mixamo provide a variety of motion capture data and characters. Leveraging an animation library saves time, adds versatility to your projects, and allows you to focus on the creative aspects of animation.

Paper and scribing instruments of different sorts. It is very important to write everything down, and clear on paper. stop watches.

This is not easy to find and it is very important. Finding someone you trust, for multiple reasons. One is that he/she/they can be truly honest with you, honest in a way that isn't dismissive nor patronizing. Another is that you have learned that you trust their judgment. Also, don't underestimate the importance of being able to trust them as a confidant with your ideas. Find someone who will give you their time to discuss the feedback in a meaningful and helpful way.

Passionate about animation? Giving constructive feedback on animation projects, helping creators refine their vision and elevate their work. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of storytelling, I offer tailored suggestions to enhance motion, timing, and character performance. Let's collaborate to bring your animations to life! #AnimationFeedback #CreativeCollaboration

Foster a feedback loop by sharing your work on platforms like ArtStation or joining animation communities. Constructive feedback from peers or mentors is invaluable for growth. Engaging in discussions, critiques, and learning from others' experiences enhances your skills and refines your approach to animation.

It is crucial to present your animation to a layperson and solicit their feedback, as their perspective will be based purely on their visual and emotional experience, devoid of technical considerations. This critique is invaluable, as they represent your ultimate audience. It is beneficial to seek professional feedback during the blocking and in-between stages, and to obtain input from a non-animator during the spline stage. This approach ensures a comprehensive evaluation of your work from multiple perspectives.

Tailor your tool selection to the project's specific requirements. Assess whether your project demands 2D or 3D animation, frame-by-frame or rig-based techniques. Stay updated on industry trends, explore new tools, and attend workshops or webinars to continually evolve your skill set and stay ahead in the dynamic field of animation.

There are no magic tools. Honestly, you just need a stack of paper, a bucket of pencils, a half decent lightbox and the will to finish what you start. *Higher pound paper has less inconsistent pulp clusters, so it feels more balanced in texture, making it much better for drawing on. Especially when using a lightbox.

I'm an animator, try using real pens and paper. Pens are those long skinny things you hold in your hand. Paper is measured in Grams per Square Inch. Try white paper, if your identity politics allow...

pencil, paper, light table , go back to basics, technology these days are taking away the value of a good basic foundation, learn the skills as it was back in the day before using new tech

Regardless of the medium in which you work, grab some large paper and a pen (not a pencil, that makes it too easy, you might be tempted to erase!) and doodle, scribble or sketch. Dealers choice on that one. You'll be surprised at how the tactile nature of these two simple items will engage your creativity.