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OpenToonz

Free, open-source 2D animation production software derived from the Toonz used at Studio Ghibli.

Open source2D animation software
Visit OpenToonzSee 6 alternatives
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About OpenToonz

OpenToonz is a full 2D animation production suite released as open source by Dwango, based on the Toonz software from Digital Video that Studio Ghibli customised and used for years. It covers the whole pipeline: scanning hand-drawn paper animation with the GTS tool, cleaning up and painting with separate palettes, then timing shots on an xsheet or timeline and compositing them with a node-based effects tree. It handles both raster and vector drawings, and a plugin SDK lets developers add effects, including some built from Dwango's machine-learning research. It is free for commercial and non-commercial work, with source under the BSD licence. The flip side of all that power is a dense, studio-style interface that takes time to learn, and documentation is patchy, with some manuals only in Japanese. It runs on Windows and macOS, and can be built on Linux. It suits serious hobbyists, schools and small studios.

Best for: Studios, schools and serious hobbyists who want a free professional 2D animation pipeline.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Studio-proven pipeline with xsheet, timeline and node-based compositing
  • Free for commercial use, with BSD-licensed source
  • Scanning tool for traditional paper animation

Why people leave

  • Steep learning curve and a crowded interface
  • Some manuals are only available in Japanese
  • GTS scanning tool is Windows only

Top OpenToonz alternatives

See all 6
  1. 1Synfig Studio logo
    Synfig Studio

    Free vector animator that tweens between keyframes and rigs with bones, cutting down on frame-by-frame work.

    66.5
  2. 2Blender logo
    Blender

    Its Grease Pencil tools allow 2D animation inside a 3D scene, free and with a large community.

    65.0
  3. 3Pencil2D logo
    Pencil2D

    Much simpler free app for quick hand-drawn animation if OpenToonz feels too heavy.

    62.6
  4. 4Toon Boom Harmony logo
    Toon Boom Harmony

    The paid industry standard for TV series, with deeper rigging, support and a polished pipeline.

    54.5
  5. 5Krita logo
    Krita

    Free painting app with an animation timeline, better for painterly frames than full production.

    52.6

Why people left OpenToonz

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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OpenToonz: common questions

Is OpenToonz free?

Yes. OpenToonz is free, open-source software.

Is OpenToonz open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at opentoonz/opentoonz.

What platforms does OpenToonz run on?

OpenToonz is available for Windows and macOS.

What are the best alternatives to OpenToonz?

The highest-ranked OpenToonz alternatives right now are Synfig Studio, Blender and Pencil2D. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 OpenToonz alternatives