Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenToonz VS Live2D Cubism

Compare OpenToonz VS Live2D Cubism and see what are their differences

OpenToonz logo OpenToonz

OpenToonz is an animation program that is a free software version of Toonz, the animation software...

Live2D Cubism logo Live2D Cubism

Live2D is the world's first drawing technology to enable 3D rendering of 2D images.
  • OpenToonz Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18
  • Live2D Cubism Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-19

OpenToonz features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    OpenToonz is completely free and open source, which makes it accessible to anyone without any cost. The open source nature also means that the community can contribute to and improve the software.
  • Professional Quality
    It offers tools and features that are comparable to professional animation software, allowing users to create high-quality animations suitable for professional use.
  • Customizable
    Developers can modify the software to meet specific needs, thanks to its open-source nature. This includes adding new features or improving existing ones.
  • Wide Range of Features
    OpenToonz includes a variety of features such as drawing tools, animation capabilities, and effects that support a comprehensive animation workflow.
  • Active Community and Support
    There is an active community of users and developers who contribute tutorials, plugins, and support, making it easier to learn and troubleshoot.

Possible disadvantages of OpenToonz

  • Complex Interface
    The user interface can be quite complex and intimidating for beginners, which may require a steep learning curve to become proficient.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there is community support, the official documentation can be sparse or incomplete, which might make it difficult for new users to find answers to their questions.
  • Occasional Bugs
    As with many open-source projects, users may encounter bugs or stability issues that are not as prevalent in commercial software.
  • System Requirements
    OpenToonz may require a relatively powerful computer to run smoothly, particularly for more complex projects, which can be a barrier for users with older or less powerful machines.
  • No Official Customer Support
    Unlike commercial software, OpenToonz does not offer official customer support. Users must rely on community forums and resources for troubleshooting and assistance.

Live2D Cubism features and specs

  • Realistic Animation
    Live2D Cubism allows for creating smooth and lifelike animations by manipulating 2D art assets, which can closely mimic 3D movement without requiring 3D modeling.
  • Cost-Effective
    For artists and developers who specialize in 2D art, Live2D can be more cost-effective than developing full 3D models, as it utilizes existing 2D assets to create engaging animations.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software offers an intuitive interface that is accessible to both beginners and experienced animators, making it easier to learn and use effectively.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Live2D Cubism supports multiple platforms and can be integrated into various environments, including games and applications on PCs and mobile devices.
  • Creativity with Layers
    Artists can use layered artwork to add depth and complexity to their animations, allowing for a greater range of expressive capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of Live2D Cubism

  • Steep Learning Curve for Complex Animations
    While the basic interface is user-friendly, creating complex animations can require significant time and skill to master, which may be daunting for new users.
  • Limited 3D Capabilities
    As a 2D-focused tool, Live2D Cubism does not offer the same level of versatility for creating 3D animations, which may be a limitation for projects that require true 3D interactions.
  • Resource-Intensive
    High-quality Live2D animations can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting performance, especially on lower-end hardware, if not optimized properly.
  • License Costs
    While there is a free version of the software, the more advanced features and capabilities require a paid license, which can be a barrier for individuals or small teams with limited budgets.
  • Dependency on Additional Software
    For full integration into games and other applications, developers may need to use additional software and platforms to implement Live2D animations effectively, which can increase the complexity of the development pipeline.

OpenToonz videos

Opentoonz Review - Is it Worth it?

More videos:

  • Review - Opentoonz News: New Version of OpenToonz, V1.4 is now out
  • Review - Learn to Animate in Opentoonz 1.3 [FULL GUIDE WITH TIMESTAMPS]

Live2D Cubism videos

Live2d tutorial by Shamalful

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenToonz and Live2D Cubism)
Animation
70 70%
30% 30
Art Tools
69 69%
31% 31
2D Animation
70 70%
30% 30
Photo & Video
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenToonz and Live2D Cubism

OpenToonz Reviews

10 Best 2D Animation Software in 2022 [Free/Paid]
Based on the Toonz software, Opentoonz is the best free alternative that will help you create 2D animated content. Anyone can use the software, free of charge, and download it.
The 10 best free animation software in 2021
For any animators, beginners or veterans alike, OpenToonz is the perfect 2D software for anyone looking to improve on their skills. A fun fact about OpenToonz is that it has a high level of customization and is often used by Studio Ghibli, the Japanese anime film studio responsible for movies like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Top 5 Open Source Animation Software In 2021
Opentoonz is one of the best free animation software for beginners. It helps coming animators to create beautiful 2D animations and sketches. It also provides many other plugins for to apply different effects such as SDK that allow animators to completely alter animations, tweak color, distortion and more. It is open source and free to download used for both small projects...
14 BEST 2D Animation Software in 2020 [Free/Paid]
Opentoonz is an open-source animation production application. It is compatible with 4 types of scanning. It allows you to save settings of scanning.
Source: www.guru99.com
10 Adobe Animate Alternatives in 2020
Verdict: OpenToonz is a free version of the popular professional program for creating animations – Toonz. It is an open-source Adobe Animate alternative, which means that you can develop the program, adding new features and improving the graphical interface.
Source: fixthephoto.com

Live2D Cubism Reviews

Top 10 Best VTuber Maker Software (2023)
The term rigging is mentioned quite frequently with reference to avatars. For those who are new to the world of VTubers, rigging is the process of defining the movements the avatar can make in relation to the person using it. For instance, blinking or winking must be rigged so that trackers can display this as the person opens and closes their eyes. VTuber rigging requires...
Source: vtuberart.com
9 Best vTuber Software for Seamless Live Streaming
If you are using a 2D avatar for vTubing, then you can use Live2D Cubism to add living expressions to your avatars. The tool lets you import a 2D illustration like a cartoon character. Then with a few clicks, you can turn the illustration into a 2D animation with near-3D experiences.
Source: geekflare.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenToonz seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 26 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenToonz mentions (26)

  • Synfig Studio – Open-Source 2D Animation Software
    I've used this in the past and worked like a charm: https://opentoonz.github.io/e/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Need advice on a good computer for animation
    I know a coworker that uses clip studio. Also if you're adventurous, Blender with grease pencil might be a great option. See also: Https://animationpaper.com/ Https://opentoonz.github.io/e/ neat! yt. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Csp good for long Animations?
    OpenToonz is a free open source program that branched off the premium version in 2016, and has a few well-known movies and TV shows made with it (including a number of Ghibli films, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Steven Universe). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • I make educational videos but I want to animate my content like The Infographics Show or Kurzgesagt for better visuals
    For 2D animations you could have a look at OpenToonz. As the name suggests, it is a free OpenSource software. It obviously has a bit of a learning curve, but I had fun with it. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • The mistake that killed Japan’s software industry
    Another example is OpenToonz[0], which is one of the animation tools used by Studio Ghibli and developed in collaboration with Studio Ghibli, another Japanese company called Dwango, and an Italian company called Digital Video. Although, Digital Video does have a premium, paid version called Toonz[1]. 0: https://opentoonz.github.io/e/ 1: https://www.toonzpremium.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
View more

Live2D Cubism mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Live2D Cubism yet. Tracking of Live2D Cubism recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenToonz and Live2D Cubism, you can also consider the following products

Synfig Studio - Just another WordPress site

Spine - Spine is 2D animation software designed specifically for software and game development.

Adobe Animate - Adobe Animate is a Flash, vector animation software.

Pencil2D - Pencil2D is an opensource animation/drawing software for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux, based on old...

DragonBones - DragonBones is an open source project for 2D skeletal animation.

Toon Boom Harmony - Production-ready animation software for every artist, in any style.