3D animation software – the top 5 (2 are free programs)

However, both professionals and ambitious amateurs need a special 3D animation program to breathe life into objects. Numerous software solutions are now available, so interested parties are spoiled for choice.

We would like to briefly introduce what we consider to be the best 3D animation programs and outline their specific strengths.
We will focus on the areas of 3D animation, keyframe animation, motion capture and 3D visualization.

The good news for creatives on a tight budget: some 3D animation software is even available free of charge.

As we believe that there is no such thing as the best 3D animation program – because user requirements and application profiles vary – we have compiled the following overview in alphabetical order.

3ds Max is used in numerous industries from architectural modeling to video game design. Thanks to the integrated “Character studio” and “CAT” tools, the animation of both two-legged and multi-legged figures – which can also be easily multiplied using the “Populate” feature for spectacular crowd scenes – is a particular strength of 3ds Max. The 3D animation program is also able to simulate appealing and absolutely realistic lighting effects. The program’s own programming language MAXScript opens up numerous possibilities for users.
Unfortunately, such a wide range of functions and support for dozens of file formats also comes at a price. For a license of the 3D animation software running under Windows, users currently have to pay around 1,952 euros – per year.

However, the multitude of options offered by the free software may initially be a little overwhelming for newcomers.
In addition to classic animations,powerful tools for modeling, rendering, rigging, sculpting, skinning, texturing or video editing are part of this amazingly small software.

No wonder that the 3D animation program is not only used for creating visual effects and for the three-dimensional representation of architecture.
Video game developers in particular like to use the 3D animation program because of the integrated game engine, especially as it is not only suitable for Windows, but also for the Linux and macOS operating systems.

The software’s particular strengths are the harmonious combination of computer-generated sequences with filmed real scenes and the convincing animation of facial expressions using facial markers. If you are looking for sophisticated special solutions for a specific animation problem, you can also use various plug-ins, although these are usually subject to a charge.

The 3D animation software, which runs under Windows, macOS and Linux, is available free of charge and is therefore ideal for anyone who wants to get a taste of the world of 3D animation.

A major advantage is the easy and largely intuitive operation of the program. Thanks to this, not only newcomers to 3D animation will quickly find their way around. Professionals can also work more productively – for example, by being able to transfer created movement patterns to other body parts with a single click or simply convert mouse movements into position or animation data. A further advantage of Cinema 4D is the real-time preview, which allows users to immediately assess the results of modifications. However, the animation program, which is available for both Windows and macOS, comes at a price of up to EUR 3,570.00.

Although only the basic version is available free of charge, it leaves hardly anything to be desired.
Even with the entry-level version, highly complex 3D models can be created in detail using nodes, animated in an appealing way, people created can be duplicated, combined into sets and much more.

A powerful auto-rig tool is available for the simple animation of living creatures, with which impressive animations can be created in conjunction with the muscle modeling feature.
The program, which is available for Linux, macOS and Windows, even offers its own generator for animating liquids and particles.

The free version is ideal for students and those who want to learn, while the paid version is ideal for professional use.

For resolutions higher than 1280×720 and renderings without watermarks, Houdini is also available for commercial purposes in the paid version.

It’s no wonder that the 3D animation software – which has even won an Oscar – is used in numerous visually stunning productions such as Game of Thrones, Transformers and several video game titles. The reason for this is not only the user interface, which can be adapted to suit individual requirements, but also the ability to animate characters precisely and practically limitlessly with just a few mouse clicks.

Maya even masters the animation of traditionally difficult surfaces and structures – such as hair, liquids or various particles – impressively.
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The 3D animation program also has its own CG compositing software, an award-winning fluids effects system and makes it easy for animators to seamlessly integrate 3D models into live-action films.Maya runs on Linux, macOs and Windows systems and costs 1317 euros per year.

Whatever your plans are in the field of 3D animation. There is a variety of very good software, ideal for beginners to professionals.