List of Top 5 Animation Software for Windows and MacOS

Toy Story, Isle of Dogs, Spirited Away, Kubo and the Two Strings, The Lego Movie are some of the 3D animation masterpieces in the world of movies. Animation technologies have a big role to play in their box office success.

People remember these movies for their real-like animation and high-quality visual effects. However, today, the best animation software is not confined only to movies or TV series. They are deployed to enhance banner ads, website designs, social media graphics and more.

Here are some of the best animation software that will help you create breath-taking animated work.

List of Top 5 Animation Software for Windows and Mac

• Autodesk Maya
• Autodesk 3DS Max
• Adobe Animate CC for Teams
• Lightwave
• Cinema 4D

Choose these best animation software best suited for both Windows and MAC systems.

• Autodesk Maya

Autodesk Maya, also known as Maya, is a 3D animation, modeling and simulation software. It is used to create 3D assets used in video games, films, TV series. This animation software uses the natural law of physics to manage the behaviour of virtual objects and add full-motion effects.

Key Features:

1. Produces life-like videos
2. Imports SVG files easily
3. Simulates and renders photorealistic liquids
4. Creates atmospheric effect such as smoke and mist
5. Comes with animation tool required for procedural, and scripted animation

Supported Platforms:

1. Windows 7, 8, 10
2. Mac OS X
3. Linux

Price: Get quote on request. 

• Autodesk 3DS Max

Created by Autodesk Media and Entertainment, Autodesk 3DS Max is a 3D animation software, 3D modeling and rendering software. It helps in developing video games and creating appealing scenes.

Key Features:

1. Flexible interoperability
2. Creates realistic liquid behaviour
3. Creates particle effects such as water, fire, and snow
4. Simulation data can be created in CFD, CSV, or Open VDB formats
5. Comes with rigging
6. tools enabling keyframe and procedural animation

Supported Platforms:

1. Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8

Price: Get quote on request.

• Adobe Animate (Flash Pro) CC for teams

Adobe Animate (Flash Pro) CC for teams is an animation software that will not only bring characters and ads to life but also make infographics interesting. Flash and 2D animation software provides you with cutting-edge animation tools required to create content such as games and web applications.

Key Features:

1. Create real-like characters
2. Add filters, tints and other effects to layers
3. Import animations into After Effects quickly and accurately
4. Use animation tools to create interesting web-based content for games and ads
5. Export your animation to multiple platforms such as WebGL, Flash/Adobe AIR
6. Its machine learning platform facilitates auto lip-sync

Supported Platforms:

1. Windows 7, 8.1, 10
2. Mac OS X

Price: Get quote on request.

• Lightwave

NewTek developed LightWave is a 3D computer graphics software. It has been used for innumerable purposes such as video games development, animated filmmaking, motion graphics, virtual reality, product designing, pre-visualizations and advertising.

Key Features:

1. Uses node editor to create a render buffer
2. Gives the look of Global Illumination with environment light
3. Impressive real-time visual feedback with OpenGL
4. Specifies physically based properties for clouds and fog using the new volumetric engine

Supported Platforms:

1. Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8
2. Mac OS X

Price: Get quote on request.

• Cinema 4D

Developed by MAXON Computer, Cinema 4D is a professional 3D modelling, animation and rendering software. It comes with all the standard 3D modeling software features facilitating procedural and polygonal/ subdivision modelling, animation, lighting, texturing and rendering. This software for 2D animation along with 3D and 4D is one of the fastest and easy-to-use animation software for all 3D artists trying to create amazing graphics in a hassle-free manner.

Key Features:

1. Easily generate a distortion profile using Lens Distortion
2. Manipulating points, lines, tangents and arcs with new spine tool
3. Automatically create morph target for sculpt layer using Sculpt to Pose Morph feature
4. Enjoy flexible scene management with ‘take system.’

Supported Platforms:

1. Windows  7
2. Mac OS X
3. Amiga OS

Price: Get quote on request.

With this professional animation software, you will have the best time doing 2D and 3D animation. However, ensure that you choose one of the best animation software consisting of all the functions required.