Professional 2D animation software, used in production by Studio Ghibli.
Why we recommend it
This is the rare free tool with genuine studio pedigree — Ghibli's in-house customisations were contributed back, and the scanning and inbetweening pipeline reflects real production needs.
Strengths
- Proven in professional animation production
- Strong traditional cel-animation workflow
- Scriptable effects and custom plugin support
Drawbacks
- Interface is confusing and poorly documented
- Steep curve even for experienced animators
- Stability issues on large scenes
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