OpenToonz

100% Free

#10 in Motion Graphics Last verified: June 16, 2026

OpenToonz is a professional-grade, open-source 2D animation software based on Toonz, which was developed by Digital Video S.p.A. and used by Studio Ghibli for films like "Spirited Away" and "Howl's Moving Castle." It offers a complete 2D animation pipeline including scanning, cleanup, coloring, compositing, and output. OpenToonz supports traditional frame-by-frame animation, paperless animation with vector tools, effects, particle systems, and skeleton-based animation. It includes the GTS scanning tools for digitizing hand-drawn frames and the Effects system for post-processing.

Best for: Traditional 2D animators and studios who need professional-grade frame-by-frame animation

Visit OpenToonz More Motion Graphics Ask ChatGPT Ask Perplexity

How to use OpenToonz

Download OpenToonz

Visit opentoonz.github.io and download the latest version for your operating system.

Set up your project

Create a new project and configure resolution, frame rate, and project folder structure.

Create your animation

Use the drawing tools to create frames. The X-sheet (exposure sheet) helps you manage timing and layers.

Color your frames

Use the palette manager to apply colors and manage palettes. The auto-paint feature fills enclosed areas.

Render the final output

Set your render settings and export as a video file or image sequence.

Visit OpenToonz now

Features

Frame-by-frame animation
Vector drawing tools
Paperless animation
GTS scanning tools
Skeleton animation
Particle systems
Effects and compositing
Palette management
X-sheet timeline
Studio-level output

Pricing

100% Free

This tool is completely free to use with no hidden costs.

Platform & Requirements

🖥️ Software (Desktop/GPU)

System Requirements:

Windows 7+ (64-bit); Mac and Linux support is experimental; 4GB RAM; dedicated GPU recommended

How to Use for Free

OpenToonz is 100% free and open-source. All features including professional tools are available without payment or restrictions.

App Downloads

🖥️ Download Desktop App

Pros

Professional-grade tools used by Studio Ghibli
Completely free and open-source
Powerful scanning and cleanup tools
X-sheet for traditional animation workflow
Extensive effects system

Cons

Very steep learning curve
Outdated user interface
Limited documentation in English
Windows-focused development

Quick link

opentoonz.github.io/e

Verified & Reviewed

Last checked

June 16, 2026

Alternatives to OpenToonz

Synfig Studio

#9 in Motion Graphics

Free, open-source 2D vector animation software for creating high-quality animations.

Completely free and open-source Automatic vector tweening saves time

Blender

#8 in Motion Graphics

Free and open-source 3D creation suite with powerful motion graphics and animation tools.

Completely free with no limitations Industry-standard 3D capabilities

Pencil2D

#11 in Motion Graphics

Free, open-source 2D animation software for traditional hand-drawn animation and simple motion graphics.

Extremely easy to learn Lightweight and fast

More Motion Graphics

View all →

LottieFiles

#1 in Motion Graphics

Platform for creating, editing, and integrating Lottie animations with a vast library of free animations.

Jitter

#2 in Motion Graphics

Browser-based motion design tool for creating UI animations, prototypes, and social media content.

Rive

#3 in Motion Graphics

Real-time interactive animation tool for creating animated interfaces, icons, and game assets.

SVGator

#4 in Motion Graphics

Dedicated SVG animation tool for creating complex vector animations without coding.

LottieLab

#5 in Motion Graphics

Collaborative Lottie animation editor for designing and exporting vector animations.

Motionity

#6 in Motion Graphics

Free, open-source motion graphics editor for creating animations in the browser.