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OpenToonz
What it is
OpenToonz is software for making 2D animation, with tools for scanning, painting, compositing, and working with raster and vector images. It is free for commercial and non-commercial projects, and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its GTS tool supports four scanning types, saves scanning settings, and works with TWAIN standards; GTS is available only for Windows. Painting supports anti-aliased lines and keeps painting data separate from palette data. For compositing, users can work in xsheet or timeline interfaces and combine effects in a node tree. OpenToonz can convert between colored binarized TGA sequences and its own format, and an effects SDK supports adding image-processing plug-ins. Export options include formats such as 3GP, AVI, GIF, MP4, PNG, Spritesheet, and WebM. The software is based on Toonz, which Studio Ghibli customized and used in its work for many years. Its source code is available under the New BSD License. The official site directs users to community forums for troubleshooting and development topics.
For and against
For
- Free for commercial and non-commercial projects
- Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Offers xsheet and timeline compositing interfaces
- Exports to formats including MP4 and WebM
Against
- GTS scanning is available only on Windows
- No 3D modeling support
The verdict
OpenToonz combines 2D animation, scanning, painting, and compositing tools in free software for three desktop platforms. Its Windows-only GTS tool is a constraint for users who need that scanning workflow on another system.
Who it suits
OpenToonz suits professional and amateur animators, as well as school education. It is also relevant for users who want a free 2D animation tool on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Plans and prices
Free
Free for commercial and non-commercial projects · open source
Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
On the record
- Audience
- The official site describes uses including professional production, amateur production, and school education.opentoonz.github.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Character rigging
- Yesopentoonz.github.io · read 21 Sep 2026
- Compositing
- Filming provides xsheet and timeline interfaces and supports synthesizing effects with a node tree.opentoonz.github.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Export formats
- 3GP,AVI,BMP,GIF,JPG,MOV,MP4,PNG,RGB,SGI,Spritesheet,TGA,TIF,TIFF,WebMopentoonz.github.io · read 21 Sep 2026
- Extensions
- An effects SDK lets users add image-processing effects as plug-ins.opentoonz.github.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Image formats
- OpenToonz supports raster and vector images and conversion between colored binarized TGA sequence images and OpenToonz format.opentoonz.github.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- GTS is compatible with TWAIN scanners and is available for Windows only.opentoonz.github.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- License
- The source code is available under the New BSD License.opentoonz.github.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Painting
- Digital painting supports anti-aliased lines and keeps painting data independent from palette data.opentoonz.github.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- OpenToonz is software for producing 2D animation.opentoonz.github.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Scanning
- Its GTS scanning tool supports four scanning types, saves scanning settings, and is compatible with TWAIN standards.opentoonz.github.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Studio Ghibli background
- The software is based on Toonz, was customized by Studio Ghibli, and was used in the creation of its works for many years.opentoonz.github.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Support
- The official site directs users to a Google Group for troubleshooting, improvement requests, and bug reports, and to a GitHub forum for development topics.opentoonz.github.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- 3D modeling
- Noopentoonz.github.io · read 21 Sep 2026
- 2D animation tools
- Yesopentoonz.github.io · read 21 Sep 2026
