Stop motion is the way of creating animation movies by way of physically manipulating the objects to appear it as it is moving. In this technique, the object is moved small increments between individually photographed frames, generating the illusion of movement when these separate series of frames are played in a continuous format. Most of the stop motion movies involve the figures or model, but it is not necessary as now the stop motion films can include using humans and other products as well. Stop motion us much similar to the object animation. If you are interested in creating stop motion movies or clips, then arrange a PC, digital computer, and a stop motion software, and you are on your way. The software listed below will make you able to do anything in your stop motion animation subject to your animation. Some of these have limited features and functions while some are capable in delivering an advanced level of functionalities. These will deliver you many ways to quickly go about shooting, editing and finalizing a stop motion short. Some of the programs listed below will make you able to go for even 3D animation and used them as a previsualization tool in the film production as well. Scroll down for the list of stop motion animation platform for the professional and advanced level of clay animation, stop motion animation, pixelation and cut out animation.

13 Best Stop Motion Software

#1 iKITMovie

Paid
2

iKITMovie is a high-tech stop motion software by using which you can easily create the Claymation and LEGO stop motion movies for the Windows system. The best about it is that it is best for both professionals and beginners. If you want to create animation movies but are not familiar with this process, this is a platform. For beginners, there is a proper guideline to stop motion.

It is ideal for making brickfilms, Claymation, or any other type of cartoon animation or stops motions. It has a unique custom-built sound engine that you will not find in other animation programs with thousands of sound effects and background music tracks to go for creating high-quality animations. The latest version of iKITMovie now includes the green screen system and a new level of creativity, making you able to replace your backgrounds with still or moving images. The great selection of overlay features will allow you to add muzzle flashes, explosions, fire, smoke, snow, and much more.

ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW

#2 StopMojo

Free
2

StopMojo is a cross-platform stop-animation tool designed to assist filmmakers in creating stop motion animations. This software can capture programs supporting the capture of image files from various cameras and video capture devices. The onion skinning system will let you get the overlay of previous frames. After completing the project, you can export the final movie into QuickTime and AVI video formats. Its ultimate function is to make you able to create stop motion movies in the best way. It is based on capturing individual frames and create/edit exposure sheets for audio synchronization.

The readers’ information doesn’t support the general video editing packing like Adobe Premiere and other related programs. It only provides the platform to capture stop motion scenes that you can then import into a video editing program to compile it into a movie. The features available in the recent version are cross-platform and available for all leading platforms, supports the standard video capture devices/webcams/video capture cards/DV Firewire cameras, live view previous frame overlay with adjustable alpha, grid overlay, a quick preview of captured frames, and much more. Some advanced editing features, the creation of x-sheets, analysis of recorded audio/lip, and rotoscoping are missing in the StopMojo.

#3 AnimatorHD

Paid
-7

AnimatorHD is an ultra-modern and high-tech 3D stop animation platform for Windows operating systems only. In addition to 3D stop-motion animation, this program can also be used as a previsualization tool in film production. With its simple interface to easy navigation and best support for all projects, AnimatorHD is a high-quality stop-motion platform. You can take the advantages of frame grabbing and time-lapse animation on a single platform as well. It makes its developers and filmmakers able to create stereoscopic 3D movies by way of the motion control system of this program.

For the better execution of the work, the system supported by this tool are digital still cameras (Canon, Nikon Live View), 35 mm and 16 mm cameras, all HD cams, Betacam SP/SDI, HDMI, DV, USB capture devices, webcams, VIVO graphics cards and all other types of analog sources. This tool features 3D stereo live preview/playback, full support for Canon/Nikon Live View, advanced frames, AVI movie export, variants, multi-exposure, and automatic bracketing for digital still cameras, multi-exposure for video feed, open project window, enhanced audio scope, etc.

ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW

#4 Linux Stopmotion

Free
-10

Linux Stopmotion is a dedicated stop motion platform for the Linux operating system for creating both stop motion animation and Claymation animation movies. Being an open-source stop motion animation platform, Linux Stopmotion makes its users able to change the code of origin to create the stop motion animations in their way.

It will assist you in capturing and editing the frames from your animation and export them as a single file. Capture, editing, and export are the three technical features of the Linux Stopmotion that further cascades into dozens of other features and functions. The exceptional about Linux Stopmotion is that it is said as the most flexible frame grabbers for the Linux system, so it easily supports the different export and capture tools.

For the same reason, Linux Stopmotion is being used to experiment with advanced grabbing. There are some limitations on using Linux Stopmotion. You are advised not to use Unity as a desktop environment to start with Linux Stopmotion.

Some of the functions and features of the Linux Stopmotion are capture animation from any webcam, capture from both MiniDV & DSLR cameras, onion skinning system, import images from disk, time-lapse photography system, best editing systems, support for multiple scenes, frame editing, primary soundtrack, integration for GIMP for image processing, and export file to Cinelerra frame list.

#5 FrameByFrame

Free
-10

FrameByFrame is a stop motion movie production software for the Mac OS X operating systems that will let you create movies from pictures you have already taken from the webcam and cameras connected to your Mac device. There is an integrated iSight camera system in the tool.

Its easy-to-use and user-friendly interface has made stop motion movie production made easy. It will let you create a stop animation in few seconds using any camera or webcam that is already connected to your PC. After creating the movie, you can export it into QuickTime formats only. Its recent version contains more improved features that will let you produce proper movies for images of any resolution. That means you are no longer restricted to using 72 dpi images.

ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW

#6 Stop Motion Animator

Free
-11

Stop Motion Animator is an easy-to-use animation program that can bring any animated characters to life with a minimal amount of work. This program is particularly designed for creating stop motion animation. It is intended to work with any video for Windows PC compatible capture devices. Like web cameras, analog video cameras, and digital video cameras, they can be connected to a computer with a dedicated capture card or a USB port.

This program allows the users to build stop-motion animations easily by recordings or grab a single video frame from a video capture device. To give the user better control over animations, the user can play through all of the previously recorded frames before grabbing the next. The user can also jump sound between different frames to compare them before grabbing the next.

#7 Frames

Paid
-14

Frames is a multi-platform software that works as both stop-motion animation and digital storytelling software. It is designed for both professionals and beginners to create stop motion animation, claymation, and digital storytelling in a very easy-to-use style. Its best use is in the education sector to reshape the designing and creative skills of the students. It will make you able to create the original cartoons. It allows you to create yours memorable as it combines illustration and stop motion tools into an easy-to-use animation package.

As it supports almost all leading cameras, so it will be easy for you to capture images from webcams or any HD camera. You can even import the entire image folders from digital cameras or your PC as well. This tool features onion skin, time-lapse, and Chrome key functions, making it simple for you to create stop motion animation. Multiple soundtracks, background music, sound effects, and narration will make you able to create animated cartoons in a snap. The features enlisted at the Frames are group frames into scenes, match frame & audio duration’s system, Chroma key images, capture images with time-lapse, illustrate your own characters, pan & zoom images, etc.

#8 MonkeyJam

Free
-28

MonkeyJam is a multiplatform and multifunctional stop motion software for creating all kinds of stop animations. It will let you capture images from any camcorder, webcam, or scanner and then assemble them as separate frames to create the animation. Use your PC’s images or take the new one with the supported cameras and instantly create the animations.

Animations created by you can be export in AVI format as well. The four main features of MonkeyJam are X-sheet, capture, preview, and stop motion mode. It will deliver you the exposure sheet-driven interface, save and reload x-sheets, up to then levels of drawings, and multi-language support. In terms of supporting the cameras, it has featured rich compatibility. It will allow you to use any webcam, camera, firewire, and VFW capture to capture the stop motion animation. It will also allow you to capture images as PNG, BMP, and JPEG in black and white and color options.

#9 Zu3D

Paid
-29

Zu3D is the best stop animation software specially designed for educating children. It can also be used for commercial purposes but is not capable of handling mega-production projects. This easy-to-use stop motion software makes its users create complete movies and learn the animation techniques in the step-by-step guideline. Based on the fine mixture of powerful features and an intuitive interface, it’s entertaining software. For educational purposes, Zu3D is a complete set library of sound, music, artwork, and effects.

The green screen system will provide an opportunity to create your own green studio. Check out some stunning features and functions like work with any webcam that a PC can support, watch files at any time with an instant playback system, dynamically adjustable frame rate, delete frames, full editing options, import music, sounds automatic Chroma-keying, time-lapse, and much more. In short, it will deliver you all those features and functions that will let you create a stunning and professional-level project.

#10 Stop Motion Pro Eclipse

Paid
-36

Stop Motion Pro Eclipse is designed for the education sectors, animators, and animation producers to create stop motion animation in a more comprehensive and easy-to-use way. This tool is not just about capturing the frames of animation only, but it has a proper audio scrubbing and Chroma key system. It is packed with great features like smooth playback at up to thirty frames/second, track & pan movement with markers, capture multiple frames with one click, customizable shortcuts, support for multiple cameras, audio recording while playing back animation, advanced project management tools, and thumbnail editor.

Furthermore, it also features to move puppets with precision, onion skinning system for better moving, assign a voice to each character with lip sync tools, layer sound effects with dialogue or music while animated by way of the multi-track audio editor, fly the characters through the air with the rig removal tool and freedom to import images and videos into their animation. Stop Motion Pro Eclipse is an easy-to-use and intuitive stop motion animation platform for both beginners and professionals looking for a platform to create stop motion movies.

#11 qStopMotion

Free
-44

qStopMotion is a platform for creating free stop-motion animated movies. If you have the best idea and storyline, it will help you create a perfect animation movie. This free version is currently available for Windows operating systems. Various improvements have been made in the latest version regarding the new styled website, better camera control system, and native grabber. These features will let you develop the stop motions from your picture imported from a hard drive or directly from the camera and export it on this platform for the animation to different video formats.

Currently, the formats supported are MPEG and AVI. This tool is integrated with all those functionalities and features that will reduce your dependency on external tools. qStopMotion is the best way to represent yourself in the form of a high-quality animated movie. Its interface is simple, containing very limited but basic options, and these options include recording, camera, and camera.

#12 Stop Motion Pro

Free
-70

Stop Motion Pro is a stop motion animation platform for the professional and advanced clay animation level, stop motion animation, pixelation, and cut-out animation. This platform is designed for handling mega animation production projects. Just connect your webcam or any digital camera with the PC and start-stop motion animation. Don’t worry about the compatibility; most video and web cameras are compatible with this platform.

Control focus, zoom system, exposure, and a great selection for webcams are a part of this platform. You worry about your camera and leave everything else to this amazing tool. If you are using a camera with a face tracking function, then Stop Motion Pro will perfectly help you out.

#13 iStopMotion

Paid
-73

iStopMotion is a dedicated stop motion platform for the Mac OS X operating systems for creating both time-lapse and stop motion animations. Its latest version supports the Nikon and Canon DSLRs, one of the most popular cameras for stop motion animation. Among many features and functions, the best thing about it is that it has a live preview with the semi-transparent onion skinning effects that would let you check what your next step would look like before actually capturing the frame.

Some of its key features and functions are onion skinning, instant playback. Time-lapse system, flipbook printing, tilt-shift filter, Chrome keying, foregrounds, rotoscope, sound waveform, animated GIF, screen capture, sharing, iStopMotion Remote camera, editing and support for multiple cameras, and much more. iStopMotion supports the remote camera system, transmits a live video feed via Wi-Fi, and supports high-resolution capturing.