animation sofware - recommendations
We're looking for software to do 2d & 3d animation, cartoon type stuff etc. with high school kids.
Can someone please recommend something.
I've drawn up a shortlist but please suggest something else if you think it would be better.
Strata 3d Pro
Artlantis 4.5
Vue 4
Cinema 4D
Maya
3ds Max (I know this only runs on Windows but don't hold that against it)
Toon Boom studio
Poser 5
Much appreicated.
Can someone please recommend something.
I've drawn up a shortlist but please suggest something else if you think it would be better.
Strata 3d Pro
Artlantis 4.5
Vue 4
Cinema 4D
Maya
3ds Max (I know this only runs on Windows but don't hold that against it)
Toon Boom studio
Poser 5
Much appreicated.
Comments
For the stuff you are going to do you really don't need Maya, 3D Max, or XSI.
They are way overkill
Toon Boon is only for 2D cell animation stuff by the way
Powerful, cheap ($299), but a steep learning curve for beginners.
so i'm thinking you need to get the toon boom class bundle, plus one of the 3d apps.
i don't think strata offers inverse kinematics, which is, well, utterly insane if you ask me. it's a shame because they've always had good boolean, timeline, and metaball features (and one of the best renderers for the price).
lightwave is a great app, but huge and pricey. there's also electric image universe, though i don't know much about it.
http://www.lostmarble.com
Originally posted by ericg
You should give Moho a try (for 2D animations)
http://www.lostmarble.com
What happend to Flash for 2d animation?
Anyways I'd recommend the following:
Beginner to -intermediate:
Eovia Carrara (NOT "Basics")
Electric Image's Amorphium 3 (Includes subdivision modeling)
Intermediate to advanced:
Maya (A bit steep)
Cinema 4D, great package, very expandable
Originally posted by Placebo
What happend to Flash for 2d animation?
Still using it but Moho has bones
It's all a bit overwhelming!
Flash is also a cheap tool with a relatively easy learning curve. It is also being used professionally for TV shows like Kid Notorious, Gary the Rat, and Mucha Lucha. So, I would recommend it for people wanting to learn 2D only computer animation.
For the record, I have used ElectricImage (old version), Cinema4D, Lightwave and messed around a bit with Maya (PLE) and Blender.
Lightwave. A great all-in-one package at a good price. Newtek regularly have sales and deals on it. Version 8 is imminent. Has one of the best 'cel shaders' in the business as standard.
Sounds to me...that you don't want to blow a huge amount of dough right now.
So? Get the demos of Cinema, Lightwave, Maya etc and play with them and make up your own mind. (I like Lightwave, Leonis likes Cinema, some swear by Maya...)
Maya, well, as a beginner, you may want to learn what many consider to be the 'best'. The personal learning addition is free. And Leonis says you can get a learning DVD with it for only $20. Sounds like a bargain.
Poser. Great if you want to create character animation. Very easy to do so!
Animation Master. VERY CHEAP. But some of the work on the website is impressive. For only a couple of hundred squid.
Strict 2D?
Flash. Very capable package...(but creaks with larger graphics and a lowly iBook...keep those graphics optimised) Download the demo and go through the tutorials.
Some comic artists think flash is the 2nd coming... I can see how they think that.
Go to www.scottmccloud.com (to see some great links to comic work created from flash...)
Sounds to me like you need Maya learning edition to get started in 3d. And the flash demo from macromedia's site to get started in 2d.
Lemon Bon Bon