- Intuitively mimics traditional methods of 2D animation in computerized form
- Allows importing directly from scanner to animation software
- Makes transformations from bitmap to vector simple and easy
- Detailed color and effects possible with remarkable ease
- Can import files from Flash, for those switching programs
- Tools and toolboxes can be daunting and enigmatic at first glance
- Not ideal for animation novices; requires knowledge of concepts
- Timeline and playback controls take some adjusting to
- Output settings don't have many options beyond filetype and a few minor tweaks
- Toon Boom Studio 2.5 is one of many animation tools produced by Toon Boom.
- The software is used by studios and individuals worldwide to create superior cel-style animations.
- The latest release includes support for French language use and documentation.
Toon Boom Studio 2.5 has definitely bewitched me, although it’s not for the beginner. It did take a while to get used to the interface, as very little beyond the drawing stage is easily recognizable; I had to investigate and play "what's this do?" with many of the panels, but each time I was pleasantly surprised. Really, a quick glance at the tutorials is all that you need to get oriented; the instructions are clear and concise, and once you get settled in it's amazing what you can do in a fraction of the time of traditional methods, but still using the same principles.
With Toon Boom Studio and a graphics tablet, you can even go so far as to go completely paperless, doing all of your scene planning, rough sketching, final linework, and color in a purely digital environment. Even intermediate-level animators can produce professional results, and save them as templates for effortless reuse. In addition, the camera effects add an extra depth to the animations.
The best part about Toon Boom Studio 2.5 is that you can move from paper to the PC without re-learning the art of traditional animation; in this respect, I think that it does a better job than Flash of adapting from one medium to another. The principles have to be reapplied using different tools, yes, but for the most part very little changes, bringing a comfortable familiarity to the process. In the end, it's just like applying pencil and paint to paper and cels: the same tools, with significant upgrades.
