The first animated film ever made is called Phantasmagoria and it was created in 1908 by Émile Cohl (by manually drawing each frame, and then filming all 700 drawings). From then until now, things have evolved. Now anyone can make animation as long as there is passion and perseverance. Technology is no longer an impediment. If you want to learn to make a career in animation then you have to start somewhere. The great news is that there are many tools that are based on artificial intelligence, which can facilitate the process of creating animation. In this article, we will show you the top 10 AI animation software. These tools can be used as a starting point in the world of animation or you can use them to create your own whiteboard animation videos and more.
Best 10 AI Animation Software
1. Monstermash.zone
Price: Free
This free animation software allows you to draw a character, turn it into 3D and animate it. 3D manipulation is not required and you must know that this AI animation software is used for evaluation and research purposes. You can create a model in Monster Mash from a computer and control it with a mouse or from a tablet (the best experience). This is the best animation software you can experiment with before turning your idea into something more complex.
Pros:
- web-based open-source project and free
- AI algorithms can predict the final product if you are” stuck”
- Dedicated forum for tips and tricks
Cons:
- Not optimized for phone small screens
- Only supports the gITF format
- You depend on the internet connection
2. Cascadeur
Price: Free for small projects or $15/ month for professionals
Cascadeur is an animation software suitable for both professionals and beginners. Through this AI 3D animation software, you can create realistic models and actions scenes. The rigging is simple and the interface is as user-friendly as possible. Thanks to the AI features, you can focus more on creativity and let the AI work for you by adjusting the timings and trajectories of characters.
Pros:
- Advanced AI features
- A lot of tutorials
- Can create realistic scenes
Cons:
- Not compatible with Mac
- Only supports .FBX and .DAE files
- Needs time to learn how to use it
3. Getrad.co
Price: $24/ month
This is an interesting animation software, accessible to anyone, that can transform any video into 3D. Record a person on any camera (including the phone camera), regardless of lighting conditions or objects, upload the video and the AI algorithms will transform a moving person into a moving 3D model. The bonus is that this AI animation generator ignores non-human objects and focuses only on the human subject. So you don't have to rent an entire studio for that.
Pros:
- A good cloud infrastructure where you upload the videos
- Easy to use
- Precise transformation of a human model and its movements into a 3D model
Cons:
- Time for generating the final results depends on the cloud traffic
- Export only.FBX files
- Everything is automatic
4. Squiglit
Price: $16/ month
Very useful animation software for those who want to create an interactive presentation, an educational project, or why not, an online ad. You can create rich video content for different audiences. Upload a PowerPoint file or start from scratch. Then you can record your script or choose an existing AI voice-over. The AI animation generator will pair your words with relevant images from an extended library and then you can add some interactive features manually. Long story short, it converts any text to a whiteboard animation video in a couple of minutes.
Pros:
- Very useful features
- You don’t need to be an expert to make a professional animated video
- You can modify what is done automatically (e.g., you can change AI-chosen images based on keywords in the script)
Cons:
- 2-week trial phase
- Not character-driven
- It relies on your internet connection
5. Synthetik
Price: $199/ life
Truly amazing animation software is this piece of art called Synthetik. With this AI animation software, you can turn photos and videos into moving art. You can choose from automatic, assisted, or manual painting. This AI 2D animation software allows you to experiment with the world of art from scratch or from presets. It works for both Windows and Mac users.
Pros:
- Very creative
- Works offline
- Good customer service
Cons:
- Endless trial but images and videos are watermarked
- Paid upgrades
- Needs time to learn how to use it
6. Deepmotion
Price: $25/ month
With this animation software, you can transform your video into 3D animation very easily. Unlike similar programs, it also supports .MP4 format besides. FBX, .GLB or .BVH. You can create a full-body motion in a few minutes for use in games or augmented reality. Also, you can transform your model into a custom character.
Pros:
- It supports many export formats
- Works online
- Quick cloud access
Cons:
- Very limited trial
- A lot of time will be needed to experiment and fix problems
- Few minutes are allocated to animation and too expensive to buy extra minutes
7. Audio2face
Price: Free
Audio2face from Nvidia is a dedicated AI animation software for those who work in the animation industry, gaming industry, and so on. This animation software makes the work of a 3D animator easier; quickly generating expressive facial animation from an audio source. In this manner, you will obtain the perfect lip-synch for a humanoid 3D character. Also, you can use the human’s facial movements for an animal or object.
Pros:
- Currently available for free
- Enhance specific workflows
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Not compatible with Mac
- It doesn't make actual animations
- Its usefulness applies only to specialized fields
8. Elize.ai
Price: Unknown
This animation software is supposed to animate your 3D characters and behavior but in order to find the price and how this AI animator works you need to send an email to [email protected] There is not much information on the site, therefore we cannot fully recommend this animation software. It seems quite cryptic, but maybe the site is a work in progress.
Pros:
- Fully automatic
- Works in real-time
- No motion capture is needed
Cons:
- Information gap
- There are no reviews about this animation software
- Not recommended for now
9. Rawshorts
Price: $49/ month
This site offers great animation software. You can make a whiteboard animation video in a couple of minutes. The AI technology will scan the script to find the main concept. Then the main ideas and words will match with the suitable media assets from over 1 million videos, photos, icons, animations libraries. You can then add the final touch to the generated rough cut. This AI 2D animation software is perfect for creating business explainer videos, promo videos, and so on for social media. Of course, you can add a voice-over or choose one from the library.
Pros:
- An impressive variety of animation effects and more
- The best cost/value ratio
- Easy to use
Cons:
- You cannot control over time in transitions
- Internet connectivity is mandatory
- Fewer features in the trial version
10. Pixcap
Price: $20/ month
With Pixcap you can animate a character body up to 5x faster than any existing software and using it isn’t too difficult either. This animation software has an AI image algorithm that captures human poses from any image source, which saves time for animators. This AI 3D animation software is available exclusively online and offers real-time collaboration with clients, colleagues, and a vast market of animations. Perfect for game animations and animating action sequences without motion capture.
Pros:
- Dedicated to character animation
- Enhance specific workflows
- Works online
Cons:
- Currently, you cannot do 3D modeling on this AI animator site
- The 3D character needs to be rigged in order to import it into this animation software
- Requires an internet connection to run and is not recommended for beginners
Conclusion
We suggest you try the free or trial versions of these services to see which animation software suits you best. As you noticed in the list above, there are several sites that have something specific to offer. Some are inclined towards pure animation, some are for professionals, and others can be used by anyone to create animated videos, presentations, explainers, or artsy videos.
Naturally, those who are already in the 3D industry use big name software such as Maya or Houdini. But many of the ones on our list are good alternatives. Not to mention much cheaper ones. In my opinion, Rawshorts is one of the best animation software that can help you create an animation video based on a script. Meanwhile, Cascadeur is an animation software suitable for beginners in order to create realistic 3D models. Also read: Top 10 AI Image Generators Review
FAQs
Can AI make animations?
There is still no animation software to create a 3D character or animation from A to Z. Many uses AI technology algorithms for specific tasks. But an animation software that can help you to transform a script into an animated video is possible.
What is the best AI animation software?
There are plenty. Many say that Autodesk Maya, Houdini, Blender and so on are the best animation software, others say that Rawshorts. It all depends on the level of difficulty and what you are looking for.
Will AI replace human animators?
Maybe, but for now and for a few good years to come, this transformative process of AI technology is leading to more and new jobs for animators.
Is AI animation software better than traditional software?
Not yet. We are currently talking at a micro-level. But a traditional animation software is based on features that are based on artificial intelligence and vice versa.