White Elephant Alternatives: Discover Your Next Animation Tool
White Elephant, a unique C++ and Qt-based animation line testing software, was developed out of a specific need for artists: to test animations drawn in external image editors like MyPaint and Gimp, without the limitations of their layer-as-frame systems. While White Elephant fills a niche for simple animation testing, many users seek more robust, feature-rich, or versatile tools for their animation workflows. If you're looking for a powerful White Elephant alternative that offers broader capabilities, deeper control, or a different approach to 2D animation, you've come to the right place.
Top White Elephant Alternatives
Whether you're a professional animator, a student, or a hobbyist, finding the right software can significantly enhance your creative process. Here are some of the best alternatives to White Elephant, ranging from free and open-source options to industry-standard commercial tools, all designed to bring your animations to life.
OpenToonz
OpenToonz is an excellent White Elephant alternative, especially if you're looking for a free and open-source animation program with professional-grade features. This software, used by Studio Ghibli, is available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It boasts a comprehensive set of features including 3D camera support, color correction, complex hierarchies, cutout animation tools, a powerful nodal effects system, and options for frame-by-frame animation and vector drawing, offering far more than simple line testing.
Synfig Studio
Synfig Studio is a powerful, industrial-strength vector-based 2D animation software, making it a robust White Elephant alternative. It's free and open-source, available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Designed for producing feature-film quality animation, Synfig offers features like bones and layers, cutout animation tools, and a timeline-based workflow, providing advanced capabilities beyond basic frame-by-frame testing.
Animation Desk
Animation Desk serves as a versatile White Elephant alternative, suitable for animating, storyboarding, and sketching. It's available on a wide range of platforms including Freemium Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone, and iPad. Key features include onion skinning, frame-by-frame animation, live screen recording, painting tools, and support for layers, making it a comprehensive solution for both professional and amateur animators who need more than just line testing.
Pencil2D
Pencil2D is a free and open-source animation and drawing software, ideal as a White Elephant alternative for those who prefer traditional hand-drawn animation. Available on Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux, it focuses on frame-by-frame animation and drawing, providing a straightforward interface for creating cartoons with both bitmap and vector elements.
TupiTube
TupiTube (formerly Tupi) is a design and authoring tool for 2D animation, and a great White Elephant alternative for digital artists. As a free and open-source fork of the KToon project, it offers a beginner-friendly interface on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and BSD. Key features include support for layers and rotoscoping, making it more comprehensive for animation creation than just simple line testing.
Pencil
Pencil is another free and open-source animation and drawing software that serves as a basic yet effective White Elephant alternative. Available for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux, it allows users to create traditional hand-drawn animations using both bitmap and vector graphics, making it suitable for simple cartoon creation.
Moho (Anime Studio)
Moho (formerly Anime Studio) is a commercial White Elephant alternative for professional animations. Available for Mac and Windows, it's known for its ability to produce high-quality animations, having been used in Oscar-nominated films. It offers advanced 2D drawing capabilities and features like Android Sync and Google Chrome Extensions, catering to serious animators.
Toon Boom Harmony
Toon Boom Harmony is an industry-standard commercial White Elephant alternative for professional animation studios worldwide. Available for Mac and Windows, it offers a robust brush engine for creative drawing, 3D animation capabilities, frame-by-frame and keyframe animation, and vector strokes, making it a comprehensive and powerful tool for any animation project.
TVPaint Animation
TVPaint Animation is a leading commercial White Elephant alternative, excelling in paperless drawing and animation. Available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android, it can imitate various traditional techniques like pen brush, gouache, and watercolor. Its focus on drawing and frame-by-frame animation makes it an ideal choice for artists seeking a natural, traditional feel in their digital workflow.
Animation Paper
Animation Paper is a powerful Freemium White Elephant alternative for 2D animation, designed to provide traditional animators with the advantages of computers. Available on Windows, it supports layers, vector drawing, and Wacom Tablets, enabling a seamless transition from traditional to digital animation techniques while offering significant time-saving features.
With a wide array of excellent White Elephant alternatives available, you're sure to find software that perfectly aligns with your animation style, budget, and platform preferences. Explore these options, try out their features, and discover the best fit to elevate your animation projects.