Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenToonz VS Pivot Animator

Compare OpenToonz VS Pivot Animator and see what are their differences

OpenToonz logo OpenToonz

OpenToonz is an animation program that is a free software version of Toonz, the animation software...

Pivot Animator logo Pivot Animator

Pivot Stickfigure Animator is a unique software, that allows you to create stick figure animations...
  • OpenToonz Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18
  • Pivot Animator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-13

OpenToonz features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    OpenToonz is completely free and open source, which makes it accessible to anyone without any cost. The open source nature also means that the community can contribute to and improve the software.
  • Professional Quality
    It offers tools and features that are comparable to professional animation software, allowing users to create high-quality animations suitable for professional use.
  • Customizable
    Developers can modify the software to meet specific needs, thanks to its open-source nature. This includes adding new features or improving existing ones.
  • Wide Range of Features
    OpenToonz includes a variety of features such as drawing tools, animation capabilities, and effects that support a comprehensive animation workflow.
  • Active Community and Support
    There is an active community of users and developers who contribute tutorials, plugins, and support, making it easier to learn and troubleshoot.

Possible disadvantages of OpenToonz

  • Complex Interface
    The user interface can be quite complex and intimidating for beginners, which may require a steep learning curve to become proficient.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there is community support, the official documentation can be sparse or incomplete, which might make it difficult for new users to find answers to their questions.
  • Occasional Bugs
    As with many open-source projects, users may encounter bugs or stability issues that are not as prevalent in commercial software.
  • System Requirements
    OpenToonz may require a relatively powerful computer to run smoothly, particularly for more complex projects, which can be a barrier for users with older or less powerful machines.
  • No Official Customer Support
    Unlike commercial software, OpenToonz does not offer official customer support. Users must rely on community forums and resources for troubleshooting and assistance.

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.

OpenToonz videos

Opentoonz Review - Is it Worth it?

More videos:

  • Review - Opentoonz News: New Version of OpenToonz, V1.4 is now out
  • Review - Learn to Animate in Opentoonz 1.3 [FULL GUIDE WITH TIMESTAMPS]

Pivot Animator videos

Pivot Animator 4.1.9 review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenToonz and Pivot Animator)
Animation
81 81%
19% 19
2D Animation
85 85%
15% 15
Art Tools
86 86%
14% 14
Concept Art
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 OpenToonz and Pivot Animator

OpenToonz Reviews

10 Best 2D Animation Software in 2022 [Free/Paid]
Based on the Toonz software, Opentoonz is the best free alternative that will help you create 2D animated content. Anyone can use the software, free of charge, and download it.
The 10 best free animation software in 2021
For any animators, beginners or veterans alike, OpenToonz is the perfect 2D software for anyone looking to improve on their skills. A fun fact about OpenToonz is that it has a high level of customization and is often used by Studio Ghibli, the Japanese anime film studio responsible for movies like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Top 5 Open Source Animation Software In 2021
Opentoonz is one of the best free animation software for beginners. It helps coming animators to create beautiful 2D animations and sketches. It also provides many other plugins for to apply different effects such as SDK that allow animators to completely alter animations, tweak color, distortion and more. It is open source and free to download used for both small projects...
14 BEST 2D Animation Software in 2020 [Free/Paid]
Opentoonz is an open-source animation production application. It is compatible with 4 types of scanning. It allows you to save settings of scanning.
Source: www.guru99.com
10 Adobe Animate Alternatives in 2020
Verdict: OpenToonz is a free version of the popular professional program for creating animations – Toonz. It is an open-source Adobe Animate alternative, which means that you can develop the program, adding new features and improving the graphical interface.
Source: fixthephoto.com

Pivot Animator Reviews

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenToonz should be more popular than Pivot Animator. It has been mentiond 26 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.

OpenToonz mentions (26)

  • Synfig Studio – Open-Source 2D Animation Software
    I've used this in the past and worked like a charm: https://opentoonz.github.io/e/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Need advice on a good computer for animation
    I know a coworker that uses clip studio. Also if you're adventurous, Blender with grease pencil might be a great option. See also: Https://animationpaper.com/ Https://opentoonz.github.io/e/ neat! yt. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Csp good for long Animations?
    OpenToonz is a free open source program that branched off the premium version in 2016, and has a few well-known movies and TV shows made with it (including a number of Ghibli films, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Steven Universe). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • I make educational videos but I want to animate my content like The Infographics Show or Kurzgesagt for better visuals
    For 2D animations you could have a look at OpenToonz. As the name suggests, it is a free OpenSource software. It obviously has a bit of a learning curve, but I had fun with it. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • The mistake that killed Japan’s software industry
    Another example is OpenToonz[0], which is one of the animation tools used by Studio Ghibli and developed in collaboration with Studio Ghibli, another Japanese company called Dwango, and an Italian company called Digital Video. Although, Digital Video does have a premium, paid version called Toonz[1]. 0: https://opentoonz.github.io/e/ 1: https://www.toonzpremium.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
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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 OpenToonz and Pivot Animator, you can also consider the following products

Synfig Studio - Just another WordPress site

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

Adobe Animate - Adobe Animate is a Flash, vector animation software.

StickyPy - Stick figure animation program written in Python and PyGame

Pencil2D - Pencil2D is an opensource animation/drawing software for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux, based on old...

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