Animation is mostly created using complex computer programs like After Effects or Maya. They produce the highest quality videos, but they require a lot of practice and knowledge to work with.
But what if you need to create something simple? Fortunately, there are many smartphone apps that will allow you to draw quite decent 2D and 3D videos without resorting to complex software. I am not a great animator, frankly speaking - I draw badly, but I tested all the apps, creating a simple animation in each and arranged them in descending order of ease of use. That is, the higher the app, the more I liked working with it.
PicsArt Animator
PicsArt Animator makes it easy to create simple animations. Funny doodles, moving stickers, and gifs are made in a couple of seconds – no special knowledge is required. And the ability to duplicate frames, support for multiple layers, and speed control allow you to create more complex animations. The finished video can be saved as a GIF or video.
FlipaClip
FlipaClip has everything you need to create sketches, storyboards and animations. You can animate multiple layers, there is a timeline, frame preview mode, grid and many tools - brushes, lasso and ready-made shapes. You can also rotoscope videos and add up to six audio tracks.
If you want to make your own cartoon, FlipaClip will definitely help you. Draw the required number of images and the application will automatically create a cartoon from them.
Animation Desk
Animation Desk lets you add animation to images, videos, PSD layers, or draw everything frame by frame from scratch. It has all the basic tools, including a set of 46 brushes and fonts, a storyboard guide, and beautiful stamps, as well as several pencils with adjustable line thickness and opacity.
There are many other features – animated fragments can be displayed as a storyboard, tag or comment each frame, import/export Photoshop layers and save your work in different formats. Up to nine layers are available for work, between which you can merge. Tap with two fingers to undo the last action, tap with three fingers to redo the action.
Draw Cartoons
In Draw Cartoons you can easily create a cartoon, controlling every stroke. You can start with characters and objects from the application collection, or you can draw your own cartoon from scratch. Any number of layers are available for work, there is a voice-over option. The finished project can be saved in MP4 format.
Available only for Android.
Stick Fighter
Stick Fighter is a simple application for creating simple animations. With simple tools you can create fights with sticks, guns, axes and knives. The result is almost like a flipbook.
Available for Android.
Stick Nodes
Stick Nodes lets you instantly create cartoons from sketches and save them as GIFs or MP4s. The app automatically builds up intermediate frames, making the animation smoother. The virtual camera moves and zooms in to add a cinematic feel, and there's a wide selection of shapes and color tones.
Plus, the site has thousands of models available for free that you can edit to your liking. Perfect for beginners. At the same time, the app is powerful enough for advanced users to show off their talent.