Animation Software

[roxanne1]

I'm looking for animation software that is really simple to use. Since I can't draw, I'm looking for a program where you can animate existing characters. Does anyone know of a program like this?

Thanks!

 

[Doctor Q]

If you want to play with 3D characters, and start with some ready-made ones, you could look at Cosmic Blobs. It's designed for kids (and older) so it's easy to use, but the animation part isn't very sophisticated.

 

[tsd]

Do you have any experience with the Adobe software, specifically Photoshop? The new Photoshop Extended has some basic, easy-to-use animation tools, but the program itself could be major overkill unless you'll use it for other tasks.

 

[roxanne1]

Adobe would be overkill. Basically, I'm just looking for a really basic, kids animation program where you can use characters that already exist in the program and animate them. It's for a presentation. 2D is preferable.

 

[digitalnicotine]

I'll list a few programs for you to check out.

Flipbook 2D

Animatricks

ToonBoom Studio Express 3.5 (Only works with Tiger, but Studio 4 works with Leopard)

The Tab Lite

Pencil

Gif Builder Carbon

I hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[Leolizm]

Gimp etc

Gimp

Art of illusion

Sweet Home 3d

 

[chrono1081]

Since I can't draw,

Myth!!!!

You just haven't found a technique that works for you.

I remember getting frustrated at not being able to draw and I was always taught that "some people are born with it, some aren't". Well, I realized this was false when I saw all of my European friends who were all able to draw excellently. Turns out they actually have art in their schools unlike the States

Anyway I decided I wanted to be able to draw good too so I busted out my wacom and corel painter and started making everything in blocks using small, fast strokes, then I would refine those blocks over and over until they were the exact shape of what I was trying to draw. I used techniques such as drawing your subject upside down and other things that force you to really look at the form. Literally in a few weeks I did a complete 180 transformation.

Seriously give it a try and stick with it for a bit. I bet you will be pleasantly surprised

WELL, enough of THAT tangent!

 

[PeterQVenkman]

Daz 3d allows you to download premade assets and animate with them:

http://www.daz3d.com/



Also look at Poser.



Some neat links in this thread, guys. Great work!