Best Animation Software for Linux of 2025

Blender is an open-source 3D creation suite available for free, encompassing the entire 3D production process—covering modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, motion tracking, video editing, and even 2D animation. Its integrated Cycles engine is a powerful unbiased path-tracer that delivers breathtakingly realistic renders. The extensive modeling capabilities of Blender simplify the creation, transformation, and modification of models efficiently. VFX experts proclaim it to be “probably the best tracker in the market.” Additionally, Blender features robust camera and object tracking functionalities that allow users to import raw video, track it, create masks, and visualize camera movements in real time within the 3D environment, thus removing the need for frequent software switching. With its exceptional rigging and animation tools, Blender has gained popularity among filmmakers, leading to its use in various short films, commercials, television series, and feature-length movies. This versatility has made it an essential tool for artists and creators striving to bring their visions to life.

Moovly allows you to create animated videos, presentations, and other multimedia content online. You can create your company videos, animated tutorials and content marketing videos with a simple drag-and-drop interface. You can combine Moovly library objects and your own uploaded media (pictures sounds videos). You can animatedly time all objects using a user-friendly timeline. Export your content to any video format for projection or television, smartphone, tablet, or tablet.

Designed to be lightweight and user-friendly, it allows you to concentrate on the art of animation without the hassle of navigating complex controls. You can effortlessly alternate between raster and vector styles, making it easy to sketch, ink, and paint wherever you are. Pencil2D is entirely open source and available for free, even for commercial projects! We are excited to announce the latest version of Pencil2D, where our main focus was addressing critical issues that disrupted the animation workflow and enhancing previously existing features. In this update, over 330 individual commits have been made since the last version, aimed at stabilizing and enhancing the software for ongoing use and enjoyment. This commitment to improvement ensures that users can rely on Pencil2D for their animation needs, fostering creativity without any barriers.

Animation Paper is a fantastic tool for professional animators, students, filmmakers, and game developers who appreciate a seamless and efficient workflow on Windows, Mac, and Linux. The software allows users to quickly experiment with concepts and enhance their skills in an enjoyable manner. You can start with rough sketches and refine them with ease, making the app not only powerful but also a fun experience. It plays a vital role in your animation production process, boasting a super responsive interface that facilitates a prompt and real-time workflow, helping you quickly immerse yourself in your creative zone. Designed to be non-intrusive and intelligently crafted, it embodies the essence of how 'traditional' animation should be executed today. Its uncluttered and intuitive design caters perfectly to the needs of professionals. You can enjoy rapid responsiveness whether you’re drawing, flipping, or performing any other tasks. The application ensures high-quality lines without any degradation, regardless of transformations or resolution changes, accommodating frames from small to large formats. Additionally, it offers real-time smooth rotation and zooming, along with a light table feature that includes advanced and customizable onion skinning. Timing is easy yet powerful, and you can also utilize scribbled notes and sound wave displays to enhance your projects. Overall, this tool is ideal for those looking to streamline their animation process while maintaining a high level of creativity.

Synfig Studio is a free and open-source software for 2D animation, crafted to serve as a robust solution for producing film-quality animations through vector and bitmap graphics. By eliminating the necessity for frame-by-frame animation, it enables the creation of superior 2D animations with fewer resources and personnel. You have the ability to morph any vector shape into another seamlessly! Synfig equips you with advanced tools that provide comprehensive control over your vector images. Simply define the key positions, and the software will automatically generate the in-between frames. With over 50 different layers available, Synfig allows for the creation of illustrations and animations with varying levels of complexity. You can select from an array of layer types, including geometry, gradients, filters, distortions, transformations, and fractals, among others. Additionally, its fully-featured bone system facilitates the creation of cutout animations using bitmap images while also allowing for the manipulation of vector artwork, making it an invaluable tool for animators of all skill levels.

Harmony 20 stands at the forefront of 2D animation software, offering unprecedented sensitivity in digital drawing that allows artists to convey every nuance, style, and texture they envision for their audience. With an array of rulers, guides, color controls, and cutting-edge deformers, the software seamlessly merges reality with imagination, enhancing the animation experience to an extraordinary degree. Each artist infuses their work with unique markings, reflecting their individual creativity and flair. The right tools not only capture the core essence of an image but also reveal insights into the artistic spirit behind it. This powerful all-in-one animation platform enables creators to infuse art and emotion into their projects across various styles. Whether your passion lies in paperless animation or cutout techniques, Harmony 20 is revolutionizing the industry and paving the way for award-winning animations that captivate audiences worldwide. Moreover, the latest advancements in lighting, shading, and special effects breathe new life into characters and narratives, elevating animated storytelling to breathtaking heights.

AnimeEffects is a versatile 2D keyframe animation software that allows users to manipulate polygon meshes for deformation. It offers a user-friendly interface, enabling you to swiftly bring your ideas to life and easily make alterations whenever needed. The tool is compatible with various image formats, including JPEG, PNG, GIF, and PSD, making it flexible for animation resources. For PSD files, it accommodates layer clipping and an array of blending modes, enhancing creative possibilities. Notably, this format is widely used in applications like Adobe Photoshop and supported by other painting software such as Easy Paint Tool SAI and Clip Studio Paint. Additionally, AnimeEffects facilitates operation with graphics tablets and features canvas rotation, both of which are hallmark traits of drawing tools, thereby allowing for seamless and intuitive deformation of images. This combination of features makes it an ideal choice for animators seeking to create dynamic 2D animations with ease.

Animation breathes life into video games, and we believe that exceptional 2D animation is achieved through a combination of advanced software and an effective workflow. Spine specializes in 2D skeletal animation, ensuring a seamless process for crafting stunning animations and incorporating them into your games effortlessly. Our live demonstrations allow you to experience firsthand the capabilities of Spine directly in your browser, where you can play animations in layers, manipulate skeletons in real-time, and explore a multitude of features. At Spine Academy, you will find comprehensive resources to kickstart your journey with Spine, whether you prefer self-paced learning or engaging in interactive workshops and classes. Be sure to check our changelog and roadmap to stay updated on the latest changes between Spine versions and the features currently in development, and join our community forum to connect with fellow animators. Animation is an iterative journey, and Spine equips you with a variety of tools to craft and enhance your 2D animations, ensuring you can achieve your creative vision. With our robust support and resources, you are never alone on this animation adventure.

The strength of Realsoft 3D lies in its open design and extensive feature set, enabling it to compete effectively with other leading software while maintaining a favorable price/performance ratio. In specific domains like SDS modeling and ray tracing, it stands out as one of the top products available. Additionally, its smart, context-sensitive user interface caters to both beginners and seasoned professionals, allowing the software to evolve alongside the user's proficiency. This flexibility makes it appealing for a variety of users, including artists in advertising, architects, product designers, educational institutions, game developers, and hobbyists alike. With a reasonable price tag of $700, Realsoft 3D attracts a diverse audience, making it an excellent choice for anyone in need of high-quality photorealistic images. The demand for such images is substantial, further solidifying the software's relevance in today's digital landscape.

You can now effortlessly produce captivating explainer videos, promotional ads, and engaging social media content all from a single, user-friendly platform. No need for technical expertise or design knowledge! Craft the ideal sales presentation or character explainer that will elevate your brand and establish your business as an authority in your field. Enhance your audience interaction by selecting the optimal video dimensions tailored for your social media platforms. Easily incorporate stunning 3D effects with a simple drag-and-drop functionality, and customize settings specifically for Facebook and Instagram. The platform comes equipped with ad-compliant presets for seamless compliance. You can animate every component using personalized animations and easing techniques, or opt for our convenient one-click presets for quick animations. Include more than 30 eye-catching visual effects in your social media updates to capture attention and drive traffic to your website and offers. Personalize your character by adding any face, creating entertaining and engaging bobblehead videos that are perfect for various seasons. With just one click, you can animate any layer by utilizing our motion presets, making video creation even more streamlined and enjoyable. This all-in-one solution is designed to transform your video marketing strategy effortlessly!

Utilize MotionBuilder®, a powerful 3D character animation program, to capture, edit, and playback intricate animations. This software offers an interactive workspace designed to enhance your productivity and efficiency while maintaining your creative vision. Generate exceptional 3D character animations by leveraging its library of prebuilt movements. Achieve lifelike character motions using one of the fastest animation tools available in the industry. Enhance your character animations with robust, production-tested tools that manipulate motion capture data effectively. The included software development kit and FBX data exchange facilitate seamless interoperability with other 3D applications. MotionBuilder is exclusively available through a subscription model, as perpetual licenses are no longer offered. Subscribing to MotionBuilder not only allows installation and usage of the three most recent versions but also permits installation on up to three computers or devices, providing flexibility for your animation projects. Embrace the full potential of MotionBuilder to elevate your animation experience and streamline your creative process.

EQUINOX-3D is the premier 3D modeling software equipped with the quickest fully integrated ray-tracer available, proving that "rasterization is so 20th century™." This versatile tool offers a broad spectrum of capabilities, including 3D modeling, animation, photorealistic rendering, VR content creation, CAD/CAM functionalities, and even support for 3D printing and laser-cutting. What sets EQUINOX-3D apart? As one of our artists aptly put it: "all engineers should be forced to use the software they write," but personally, I find myself immersed in EQX for hours on end without any compulsion! Its ultra-fast photorealistic renderer is groundbreaking, being the first interactive ray-tracer seamlessly integrated into a modeling application, allowing for complete editing and modeling within ray-traced windows. Moreover, it boasts powerful subdivision surface modeling, comprehensive CAD/CAM features, and robust support for both 3D printing and laser-cutting. The software includes a universal rendering API, enabling full modeling on any renderer, along with a fully integrated Cg renderer that delivers quality comparable to the ray-tracer. Additionally, it supports HDR textures and offers HDR rendering output, alongside incredibly fast importance-sampled HDR environment light capabilities, ensuring that your projects achieve stunning visual fidelity. The combination of these features makes EQUINOX-3D an indispensable tool for professionals in various creative fields.

TVPaint Animation is a software program designed for animation and drawing, utilizing a raster-based approach to facilitate creative expression. This tool is particularly favored by artists for its versatility and range of features tailored to the animation process.