OpenToonz Animation Maker, create 2D animations from Ubuntu

about OpenToonz

In the next article we are going to take a look at OpenToonz Animation Maker. This is a free animation software that will allow users to create 2D animations for our audiovisual projects. OpenToonz is 2D animation software published by Dwango.

OpenToonz is presented as an ideal program for making cartoons. It can be used by anyone at no cost. It does not matter whether the purpose of commercial use or not. Is free and open source for any budding entertainer. We can find the program for Windows, Mac and Gnu / Linux systems. We just have to download and use it.

Due to its open source code, you can modify the source code and each develop your own tools as you see fit. You can also download the Dwango effects plug-in and GTS scan tool, all this for free also from their website.

Open Toonz is based on the «Toonz» software. This was developed by Digital Video SpA in Italy, customized by Studio Ghibli, and has been used for the creation of their works for many years. In March 2016 its source code was published under the terms of the BSD license. The open source version is called OpenToonz.

Keep in mind that the use of professional tools will not turn us into an incredible animator overnight. However, if you are an experienced animator, or just interested in learning, OpenToonz is a pretty sweet program, even though the learning curve is high.

OpenToonz Features

This application we are going to meet powerful digital drawing tools. The vector and bitmap drawing tools with full support for graphics tablets will allow us to create illustrations of any complexity.

The sequence of drawings that we create can be quickly painted with automatic tools. The colors in the palette can be edited at any time, automatically updating all the planes.

A show like this also thinks about effects and composition. We will be able to add animated special effects and composite scenes No problem. Blurs, lighting, keys, masks, warps and more than 100 effects available.

OpenToonz main screen

We will also have the possibility of using scripts to control our work. With this program we can automate routine tasks using a scripting engine.

At the same time the application will also allow us to track the movement. What has been synchronize our animation with video sequences automatically and quite effectively.

Scan and vectorize automatically created drawings on paper by cartoonists. At the same time, it will allow us to clean and paint in a digital environment that is comfortable to use.

In the themes of the frame-by-frame animation, we will have at our disposal a complete set of tools for traditional animation. It will also allow us to automatically create intermediate frames for vector shapes.

Complex movements can be defined. Either linking objects or using movement paths. Everything can be animated in a 3D environment, with an automatic multiplane effect. We will can animate our characters using bones, with IK support and mesh deformations.

I do not want to fail to mention the possibility that we will also have to create a particle effect which supports multiple layers for particle animation. You can check more features and more in detail at the website of the application.

Install OpenToonz on Ubuntu

The latest version of OpenToonz is already available through the getdeb package, so you no longer need to go through all the steps of compiling it from scratch. But since I like the terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T), I am going to open one to write the following in it.

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu $(lsb_release -sc)-getdeb apps" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/getdeb.list'

wget -q -O- http://archive.getdeb.net/getdeb-archive.key | sudo apt-key add -

sudo apt update && sudo apt install opentoonz

Uninstall OpenToonz from Ubuntu

When we are no longer interested in keeping the program in our system. We will only have to open the terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and write something like the following.

sudo apt remove opentoonz && sudo apt autoremove

4 comments, leave yours

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  1.   Daniel said

    Hello, I could not add the repository, is the information correct?

    1.    Damian Amoedo said

      Hello. The information is correct. I wrote this article using Ubuntu 16.04 and it worked perfectly. I just retested using Ubuntu 17.04 and it still works fine. Check that you have copied everything correctly. Salu2.

  2.   Moypher Nightkrelin said

    Hi I have a question, will it work fine in future versions of Ubuntu, and Ubuntu Studio?
    I'm in a dilemma, since I don't know how to use it, and this will be trial and error.

  3.   wild nylons said

    Hello! It happens to me that I install opentoonz from the ubuntu software, and it works, except ... that it doesn't offer me any video option to render ... I can only export sequences of still images in formats such as jpg, tif, etc ... do you know why can be? Thanks!!!