10 Tools for Animating Content

Back in the old days, web developers and graphic artists had to create their own images and animations. In order to be able to create their content, they also had to pay the price for expensive graphics suites such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel PaintShop Pro. Web and graphics technology have come a long way since those days. Those two powerhouse programs are still available and still expensive. Most of us don’t need that kind of horsepower to accomplish our imaging and animation goals. Thankfully, there are lots of good free or relatively inexpensive animation tools available today that will help you create imaginative web pages, graphics, videos, and presentations without needing a full-blown graphics suite. Let’s take a look at 10 of the most popular tools for animating content.

Spine

If you have already created your artwork and would like to automate it in 2D, then Spine might be the tool for you. You can import your images in frames and set the timing of the animation. There is also a deformation tool you can use to slightly change the images to simulate movement.

Piskel

Piskel will allow you to build your images in frames by creating each pixel in the design studio and then setting different animation controls on the frames. This an excellent little tool for creating pixel art sprites and animated gifs. It’s also free, which is a plus.

Pencil2D

This app is cross-platform and is great for bringing your hand-drawn images to life. It will import and export multiple formats and has a very light, easy to use interface. It also allows you to switch between raster and vector graphics seamlessly.

Visme

If you’re at the beginning stages of creating animations for your presentations and websites, Visme is the tool for you. They have tons of templates, and the interface will guide you through the process of creating images and animations from a blank slide.

MakeWebVideo

The name of this application explains its purpose perfectly. It allows you to quickly create videos and animations designed to be viewed online. It’s also entirely web-based, so there’s no download involved, and it’s free.

Vyond – Previously GoAnimate

This tool is geared towards students, teachers, and corporate professionals who want to create animations to be used for presentations quickly. It is simple to use and has lots of different templates and images to choose from. Vyond also includes an online presentation tool. No more corrupted USB drives to deal with. All you need is an Internet connection.

Prezi

Prezi is another online presentation tool with an extensive library of images and animation effects. It has both online and download components and also paid and free options. However, the free choice probably has more functionality than you will need. It also has the unique capability of being able to share to the most popular social media platforms instantly.

Creaza

Created for school children. Creaza is still unique. It allows you to create images and animations that can be used for storytelling. It has an extensive library of themes and animations and also includes an editor that can be used to further customize your story.

Animaker

This paid online service will allow you to create various types of animations and videos. You can use their sets, props, and objects or import your own. You can also use it to create animated typography, infographics, and whiteboards.

Moovly

Moovly is an online video editor that helps you to quickly create online videos such as explainer videos, tutorials, training videos, conference graphics, and promos. They have a large library of existing video clips, graphics, sound files, and other content objects so that you can put together presentation graphics quickly without the need for creating your content.

All of these tools will help you create animated content. Some of them are easier to use or get started. Some are entirely online, or downloadable or have components of both. Some others are for mobile content only, and some are cross-platform or web-based.

No matter what option you choose, we know your data delivery and presentation will be taken to the next level in 2019. Start exploring and contact ONLC for courses and certifications in animation!