Anime Studio 5 Pro (Win/Mac)

It's a shame that the word 'Anime' is in the title for this fantastic piece of software. It CAN be used for anime style animation, but it is capable of vastly more than that. In essence, it is best suited to a cut-out style of animation using characters and objects that you can either draw within the program, or prepare (or find) elsewhere and then import. In truth, it ought to be called 'Animation Studio' because that is what it is.Unlike almost all other animation software until you reach the stratospheric heights and costs of full professional programs, it offers a system of character animation that is based upon a build-it-yourself skeleton. This is called 'rigging' and uses the principles of adjustable and movable 'bones'. This principle is easy to understand but can be tricky to implement - which is where the excellent help files and tutorials come in handy.Layers, lip-sync, rendering, soundtracks and tweening are just some of the essential functions which are all built into the program. You can export your movies in a variety of formats. (NOTE: this is where it is worth checking the differences between the basic 'Studio' version and the 'Pro' version).This software is very much an example of an animation program that can used by the beginner who knows little and yet who wants to learn a lot, as well as the experienced amataeur who has the skills and understanding to be able to produce finished animations of a professional standard.A good tip is to search the internet for examples of tests, demos, tutorials and finished movies which have been posted by users. That way you will see animations from all categories of user.One other thing I would definitely advise if you're serious about developing your animation skills - and especially if you are using this 'Pro' version rather than the entry level 'Studio' version - is to consider buying the book 'Anime Studio: The eFrontier Official Guide' by Kelly Murdock. It really will help you. I have submitted a separate review for that, so I'll leave it to you to check it out.

I got this on the premise it was going to be a doddle to use.If you buy Anime studio you are stuck with some useless picture ratios. To unlock these you need this upgrade.It is not easy to use.Should have come with a manual.

Anime Studio pro (formerly MOHO) is a great piece of software. Look at the the examples on the e-frontier website to get an idea of the power of this product in the right hands.Some have criticised the vector drawing tools but, personally, I find them excellent and have had no problems recreating my initial sketched designs in AS.Once you've worked through the comprehensive tutorials you will be creating animations in no time. The bone rigging system is incredibly easy to set up and the results amazing. No need for repetitive and laborious redrawing as once you've drawn and rigged your character you can concentrate on the animation - the fun part :0)Studio's are now getting wind of this bit of kit and more are using it as an integral part of their production pipeline. I'm not surprised. What a bargain!!

I am an artist but am by no means a computer artist. However, this program is easy to use as I become acclamated to my new medium. Despite its ease of use, it is not mastered easily. You have to take it in small steps, learning the skills so you can use them effectively. I did the online tutorials which gave me a tremendous look into the program. However, I am continuously going back to review the tutorials and the  Anime Studio: The Official Guide  in order to refresh my memory. The guide is definitely worth purchasing.The tools are very intricate and can't just be "figured out" like a handheld video game. You have to work with everything and just expect that you will mess up. If you have a full length cartoon in mind and you've never worked with a program like this, you'll want to forego that for a while and start off small. Practice makes perfect. Also, after my first attempt, I learned that you will definitely want to storyboard. Have the cartoon 95% done on paper (movements, angles, sounds, and all) before you ever draw the first thing on your screen. Don't just jump into it because while you're fixing one thing, you don't know it, but you may be messing something else up. There's just too much to keep track of and this not happen.I did my first cartoon for my school. I have plans for more in the future. You can visit my youtube channel to see the rough version of it (linked from my website). I added more sound affects and other details. It looks much better now. If you are interested in purchasing it for your school, go to my website and visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Anime Studio: The Official Guide

If you at times feel like a cartoon character, now, this may become a reality thanks to the hardwork of the folks at e--frontier.With capabilities to import any image and add rigging to it,your dreams become a digital reality. Maybe I should've gave it a higher rating,but it did take some doings to get things to work (still a lil buggy?)An improvement is needed in the color pallette (to eliminate all the import/export for quality) and I'm still waiting for my rebate/discount as well as the promised extra content( I'm an artist so the extra wasn't that important,would like it tho).Look for my new cartoon coming someday to a web nearest you(google,veoh).

This is a basic 2-d animation program only. You will first have to draw your image then import it. The drawing toolbar is extremely limited.