Freedom251 › Cartoon Maker Software
Cartoon Animator
What Cartoon Animator is
Cartoon Animator is Windows software for turning images, photos, paintings, layered Photoshop PSD files, and vector graphics into animatable 2D characters. Its 2D Bone Editor builds rigs and uses pins to constrain areas. Animation tools include puppets, motion paths, spring dynamics, free-form deformation, body and facial animation, and 2D talking heads. The program can project 3D motion onto 2D characters, while Motion Link connects it with iClone for real-time preview and editing. PSD and SVG workflows are supported, along with an After Effects script and named editors including Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDraw, Affinity Designer, Inkscape, and Krita. Exports include MOV, WMV, AVI, MP4, MPG, MPEG, popVideo, JPG, PNG, BMP, TGA, GIF, SWF, and ProRes 4444. It includes over 30 scenes and backgrounds; custom scenes can hold up to 500 props. Pricing starts at $149, with a 30-day trial.
Who it suits
Cartoon Animator suits Windows users creating 2D character animation from artwork or layered files. It is relevant to creators needing rigging, motion tools, compositing exports, and connected creative-app workflows.
What it does well
- Builds rigs with bones and pins
- Includes puppet, facial, and body animation
- Projects 3D motion onto 2D characters
- Supports many video and image export formats
- Includes over 30 scenes and backgrounds
What to know first
- Available only on Windows
- Trial allows five project saves
- Trial adds a watermark
- Trial does not include commercial use
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Trial | 30 days · 5 project saves | On request |
| Full | billed annually · Commercial use · No usage-time limitation · No watermark | $149 a month |
| Cartoon Animator 5 Full | One-time purchase; billing interval not stated · Commercial use · no usage-time limit listed · 1700+ embedded content | $149, paid once |
As reallusion.com lists them, read 21 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Cartoon Animator combines character rigging, varied 2D motion tools, 3D-to-2D motion, creative-app workflows, and broad export support. The trial is limited, and the listed full options are paid, starting at $149.
Facts from Cartoon Animator's own pages
- 3D motion
- Cartoon Animator can project 3D motion onto 2D characters, and Motion Link connects it to iClone for real-time motion preview and editing. · reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Animation
- Listed features include puppet animation, motion paths, spring dynamics, free-form deformation, body and facial animation, and 2D talking heads. · reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Assets
- The product page describes over 30 included scenes and image backgrounds and custom scenes with up to 500 embedded props. · reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Character rigging
- Yes · reallusion.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Content management
- Smart Content Manager downloads free or purchased assets inside Cartoon Animator and supports searching, tagging, and organizing assets across drives. · reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Creative apps
- The product supports PSD and SVG workflows and lists an After Effects script; its page names Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDraw, Affinity Designer, Inkscape, and Krita among supported editors. · reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Export
- It supports transparent MOV video and PNG image-sequence export, including export of selected items for compositing. · reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- MOV,WMV,AVI,MP4,MPG,MPEG,popVideo,JPG,PNG,BMP,TGA,GIF,SWF,ProRes 4444 · reallusion.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 1993 · reallusion.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- No · reallusion.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Silicon Valley, United States · reallusion.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Supported platforms
- windows · reallusion.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Privacy
- Reallusion's privacy policy says it collects information provided by users and information gathered through its website, including anonymous site statistics, domain names, and IP addresses. · reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Cartoon Animator creates animatable 2D characters from images, photos, paintings, layered Photoshop PSD files, and vector graphics. · reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Rigging
- Its 2D Bone Editor lets users build bone rigs and constrain areas with pins. · reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The online manual directs users to product FAQs and further assistance, and the FAQ page says users can submit a Reallusion support ticket under the Cartoon Animator 5 category. · manual.reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- System requirements
- The download page lists Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 SP1 and requires a 64-bit operating system. · reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Trial limits
- The 30-day trial has a 30-day usage limit, permits five project saves, adds a watermark, and does not include commercial use according to the comparison table. · reallusion.com, 7 Oct 2026
- 2D animation tools
- Yes · reallusion.com, 21 Sept 2026
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