As more skeletal animation software is becoming common and popular with people in the visual world, are you wondering what skeletal animation is and which software should you choose if you want to create your own unique and dynamic character? Well, this blog aims to explain the concept of skeletal animation to you and give you an overview of a list of the top skeletal animation software.
What is Skeletal Animation？
Skeletal animation or rigging is a technique in computer animation in which a character is represented in two parts: a surface representation used to draw the character, also called the mesh or skin, and a hierarchical set of interconnected parts, also called bones, a virtual armature used to animate the mesh. In plain words, skeletal animation is making our characters able to move.
TOP 10 Skeletal Animation Software
There is a list of excellent skeletal animation software you should know what you prepare to make a dynamic cartoon character.
Top 1: Mango Animate 2D Skeletal Animation Software
Mango Animate 2D Skeletal Animation Software is awesome software that transforms a static image into a vivid and energetic cartoon character. This skeletal animation software is very to use and customizable. It provides a huge library of characters’ outfits, hair, skin and facial expressions. Besides, there are varieties of bone and motion templates for users to choose. But if users are still not satisfied with its accessory library, they can upload their own materials.
Top 2: Poser
Poser is a 3D skeletal animation program optimized for 3D modeling of human figures. It is known for enabling digital artists to easily produce 3D animations and digital images, as well as the extensive availability of third-party digital content.
Top3: MoHo
Moho is professional 2D skeletal animation software tailored to the needs of game developers and artists. It uses a bone rig similar to 3D animation software to create necessary keyframes. The bone rig system is optimized to reduce an often recurring nuisance, distortion around the joints of characters.
Top4: Animate CC
Animate CC is wonderful 2D skeletal animation software that creates HTML5 animations. The program allows users to rotate the canvas into any angle to help you draw more easily. Being an Adobe product, this 2D animation software is, of course, connected to the Creative Cloud’s libraries, which allows artists to sync their assets as well as their brushes and color swatches with collaborators on the fly.
TOP5:2D Animation
2D Animation is great skeletal animation software that create smooth skeletal animation with rigging, tessellation and bone creation. It uses the PSD Importer to import character parts directly from multilayered artwork and animate the characters with key frames or curves in the animation timeline.
TOP6: Mixamo
Mixamo is 3D skeletal animation software that can give life to all animated video characters. Sliders built-in within the software help with slowing down or speeding-up of animations for giving a closed or open appearance to animated objects.
TOP7 Maya
Maya is 3D skeletal animation software that is powerful and flexible. Maya can handle modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, and rendering plus much more. And it does those tasks better than most other 3D animation software.
TOP 8:Iclone
Iclone is real-time skeletal animation software that helps users easily produce professional animations for films, previz, animation, video games, content development, education and art.
TOP9: Synfig Studio
Synfig Studio is 2D skeletal animation software that you have advanced control on the characters by using a bong system and complex deformations. It also enables advanced controls for creating character puppets and other dynamic structures.
TOP10:Cheetah3D
Cheetah3D is brilliant 3D skeletal animation software that is convenient for users to learn 3D animation package complete with modeling, rendering, and other animation tools.
In conclusion
Well, now you must know what skeletal animation is and what available software for you to choose. Whichever software you choose, you must bear in mind that it is necessary to choose the most suitable one that can help you create awesome characters.