Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DragonBones VS Pivot Animator

Compare DragonBones VS Pivot Animator and see what are their differences

DragonBones logo DragonBones

DragonBones is an open source project for 2D skeletal animation.

Pivot Animator logo Pivot Animator

Pivot Stickfigure Animator is a unique software, that allows you to create stick figure animations...
  • DragonBones Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-15
  • Pivot Animator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-13

DragonBones features and specs

  • Open Source
    DragonBones is open source software, meaning it's freely available for use and can be modified and distributed by anyone, fostering community contributions and shared development.
  • Cross-Platform
    DragonBones supports multiple platforms, including mobile and desktop, allowing developers to create animations that can be deployed across various operating systems.
  • Efficiency in Animation
    It offers a streamlined workflow for creating 2D skeletal animations, which can be more efficient and flexible than frame-by-frame animation techniques.
  • Integration
    DragonBones is compatible with several popular game engines, such as Cocos2d-x, Unity, and LayaAir, facilitating easy integration into existing projects.
  • Resource Management
    It provides features for managing animation resources effectively, which can help in optimizing the performance of games and applications using those animations.

Possible disadvantages of DragonBones

  • Learning Curve
    New users might experience a steep learning curve due to its feature-rich interface and the necessity of understanding skeletal animation principles.
  • Limited 3D Support
    DragonBones is primarily focused on 2D animations, which may not be suitable for projects that require comprehensive 3D animation support.
  • Community and Support
    Although it is open-source, the community and official documentation might not be as extensive or active as some other animation software, potentially leading to challenges in finding solutions or resources.
  • Dependence on External Tools
    Creating assets for DragonBones often requires using external design tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, which might not be ideal for all users.
  • Performance Overhead
    In some cases, skeletal animations can lead to a performance overhead compared to sprite sheet animations, depending on the complexity of the animation and the platform used.

Pivot Animator features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Pivot Animator features a simple and intuitive interface that makes it accessible for beginners and young users to create stick figure animations without requiring advanced technical skills.
  • Free to Use
    Pivot Animator is free software, which allows users to create animations without any cost, making it an ideal choice for hobbyists and those with budget constraints.
  • Lightweight Software
    The application is lightweight and does not require high-performance hardware, allowing it to run smoothly on older or less powerful computers.
  • Educational Tool
    Pivot Animator is often used in educational settings to teach basic animation principles, offering a hands-on approach to learning through creating simple animations.
  • Export Options
    Users can export animations in various formats, including GIF, making it easy to share and publish creations across different platforms.

Possible disadvantages of Pivot Animator

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Pivot Animator lacks some advanced features found in professional animation software, which might be limiting for users looking to create complex animations.
  • Basic Graphics
    The software primarily focuses on stick figure animation, which means it lacks the capability to produce high-end graphics or detailed artwork.
  • No Audio Support
    Pivot Animator does not support audio, which can be a disadvantage for users looking to create animations with soundtracks or voiceovers.
  • Windows Only
    The software is only available for Windows, which means that users with other operating systems cannot use it without additional software like emulators.
  • Learning Curve for Complex Animations
    While basic animations are easy to create, users may find a steep learning curve when attempting to make more complex animations due to the limited tools available.

DragonBones videos

DragonBones Pro 5.6: Full Review

More videos:

  • Review - DragonBones -- 2D Animation Software for Game Developers

Pivot Animator videos

Pivot Animator 4.1.9 review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DragonBones and Pivot Animator)
2D Animation
59 59%
41% 41
Animation
49 49%
51% 51
Art Tools
61 61%
39% 39
3D Rendering
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare DragonBones and Pivot Animator

DragonBones Reviews

We have no reviews of DragonBones yet.
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Pivot Animator Reviews

  1. I think pivot animation best than pencil 2d
    🏁 Competitors: Killer MJ

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pivot Animator seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

DragonBones mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DragonBones yet. Tracking of DragonBones recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Pivot Animator mentions (7)

  • Ask HN: Making 2d Simple Animations?
    I hope I'll catch onto someone's childhood memories but I used to mess around with Pivot animator. IIRC I'd make a fight scene, export it as a gif and import it into Windows Movie Maker. Last update it had was in January 2023. For simple animations it should work out. https://pivotanimator.net/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Is there a place I can make pixel art cutscenes at?
    Check this out: https://pivotanimator.net/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Anyone remember desktop destroyer spent a lot of time playing with this as a kid
    This, Pivot and Powder were what we used to play in high school back in 2010-2015 along with the usual cool math games, adrenaline games, etc. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Animation software for a beginner?
    If you're still looking for the simplest possible software, check out Pivot Animator. It's old, but you can find some pretty impressive stuff made with it. Source: over 2 years ago
  • HOW JAMESSTONKED LEARNED TO ANIMATE
    Phase2: after watching pivot animations for a while I went to pivotanimator.net and downloaded pivot animator 5 then I messed around with it I learned as I did I did experiments the tutorials I watched didnt help a lot so I just clicked random buttons and do random stuff in pivot animator till I know what they do it wasnt hard either it was easy then I learned video editor so I can add more life to my animations... Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing DragonBones and Pivot Animator, you can also consider the following products

Live2D Cubism - Live2D is the world's first drawing technology to enable 3D rendering of 2D images.

Stick Nodes - Stick Nodes is an app that allows you to easily create your own stickfigure-based animations

Spine - Spine is 2D animation software designed specifically for software and game development.

StickyPy - Stick figure animation program written in Python and PyGame

Synfig Studio - Just another WordPress site

Stickman Builder - Free parametric graphic Stickman Builder, creates fascinating stick figures on the fly.