Can anyone recommend me some decent animation software?

Firstly, I sincerely apologise if this is in the wrong area.

I am currently looking for some decent software that will allow me to create .swf file movies, and animation, but I only really have about £50 (About $90) spare to buy it! I would be highly appreciative of any help regarding the matter.

I have been making (very) amateur animation and movies for a few years on "Windows Movie Maker" but anyone unfortunate enough to suffer through the process, only to find the save file limitations unbearable, will know how I feel, and my great need for change!

Thank you.

(Please don't flame me if this thread is illegal. >_<)

 

Isn't .swf a Macromedia Flash format?

 

Hehe, you know what? I have no idea. I just know it's pretty much the only acceptable file type to a lot of sites.

 

Yeah, .swf is Flash. I can't think of any freeware that can make it. Are you trying to make Flash animations?

 

Pretty much, yes.

Is there software out there that will allow me to not only make flash animation, but to import actual video as well? I guess that's pretty much standard right?

 

Sorry then. The lastest version of Basic Flash on the Macromedia site is $399 USD. You may be able to search for it on discounted sites, or try to get a limited "student" copy for cheeper. You also may be able to find older versions people are willing to let go of for cheep. Other than that, I can't offer any help.

 

Flash is very much not the standard for video. Ewww.

 

$399 !!!!?

Are there no other programs that can create .swf?

 

Do you just need the final format to be .swf or do you actually want to draw Flash animations too?

 

I'm not sure what you mean by "draw flash animations."

 

Do you want to work with Flash animations, like those at, say, Homestarrunner.com or Newgrounds.com, or do you want to work with actual video? If the latter, then why the heck would you want to work with .swf?

 

Well, my main priority would be animation.

 

There are lots of programs that can export a SWF. But all of them except for Flash itself lack even the most basic components that make SWFs fun to begin with.

To put it another way... All of those programs exists to make certain effects, like flowing text and stuff, automated so you don't have to go through the trouble of doing it in Flash.

Flash MX (the real workspace) is absolutely worth the money. You may even be able to get a student discount, or an older verion off of Ebay for even cheaper.

But, you can do SOOOO Much with it. Not only does it have great vector based art tools for creating your drawings, it includes a great interface for setting up and nesting all your animations. And it includes a very functional object oriented programming language.

If you're a real nerd like me, you can use such features to do things like randomize lightning or character blink cycles so your cartoon looks slightly different everytime you watch it.

I cite my Atom Films entry from this year as an example.

 

There's also Swish and the like.

 

That sounds exactly like what I was wanting! I'll have a look around ebay for it! Thanks for everyone being so nice and baring with me! (And nice movie, there! But a big "wt*??" for the ending! )

 

The original ending had much more nudity, cursing, and gratuitous violence.

I had to tone it down a bit.

 

Language, Sex, and Violence. The Holy Trinity of quality entertainment.

 

Could give this a shot:
http://www.download.com/LiveSwif-Lite/3000-6676_4-10276528.html?tag=lst-0-1

 

Also if you have it, AfterEffects can be used for animation, although it's not as specific for animation. if you have the money, you should probably buy Flash.

_Max

 

After Effects is really not meant to be used for 2D animation. It lacks even the basic functionality to produce what Flash can.

Not to say that there is anything worng with After Effects, of course. But it's just not practical to use for a cartoon. Right tool for the right job, you know?


After Effects is intended to be used for video, not cartoon. You'd find yourself pulling your hair out in no time.

 

The Williams Street folks use Adobe software almost exclusively for their cartoons. If you know what you're doing, it works well.

 

Wait a minute.

You want to make animated cartoons in .swf format, and you want to spend about fifty quid, right?

Check out Moho.

 

I think it's clear I have no idea what I'm doing...


I'm just gonna have to save up and buy Flash it seems.

 

I think it's clear I have no idea what I'm doing... dancing

I suggest you spend some time researching and figuring out exactly what you want to do before you drop the money on something.

 

This looks promising.