Windows
- Released Date: 2021-11-15
- Released Version: v4.51.3511.1
- File size: 62.5MB (Hub Installer)
- File size: 679MB (CTA4 Pipeline Trial)
- Alternate Download Link
*CTA4 is no longer available for MAC trial download or purchase from Sep. 1st, 2022.
For more information please check FAQ.
Trial Version Contains
CTA4 Pipeline
Full Functions
Motion LIVE 2D
(Mocap plug-in)
Facial Mocap
(Webcam Profile)
+
Hundreds of Free Resources (816MB)
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Windows
Recommended System Requirements:
- 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU or higher
- 8 GB RAM or higher recommended
- 10 GB free hard disk space or higher recommended
- Display Resolution: 1440 x 900 or higher
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 or higher / ATI Radeon HD 5770 or higher
- Video Memory: 2 GB RAM or higher recommended
Minimum System Requirements:
- 2.4 GHz Dual core CPU or higher
- 2 GB RAM or higher recommended
- 5 GB free hard disk space or higher recommended
- Display Resolution: 1024 x 768 or higher
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX630 or higher /ATI Radeon HD 4000 or higher
- Video Memory: 1 GB RAM or higher recommended
Additional Requirements:
- 3-button mouse
- DirectX 9 and WMEncoder 9 are required for WMV exporting in x86 version of CrazyTalk Animator.
- Internet connection required for online activation.
- Stereo devices and player are required for viewing contents with stereo vision.
Windows Operating System:
- Windows 10 /Windows 8 /Windows 7 SP1
- Only Support 64-bit operating system
EDITION COMPARISON
Key Feature Comparison:
| KEY FEATURES | PIPELINE | TRIAL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD$ 199 | Free for 30 Days | ||
| Program | Customize Elastic Motion Effects | ✔ | ✔ |
| Smooth 360 Head Creation | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Smart IK Animation | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Custom End Effectors for Free Bone Characters | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Motion Retargeting | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Custom IK Rig GUI | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Photoshop Design Pipeline (PSD import/export) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| AE Script for CTA | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Import 3D Motions to Cartoon Animator (v4.4 or above is required.) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Loading .SWF Files | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Design your Vector Content to be Compatible with Multiple Render Style | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Plug-in | Motion LIVE 2D (Plug-in Sold Separately.)
| Support | Support |
Complete Feature Comparison:
| Major Features | Pipeline | Trial |
| Character | Pipeline | Trial |
| Custom Characters from G3 Human, Animal, Spine, and Wings Templates | ✔ | ✔ |
| Free Bone-rig G3 Characters from Images | ✔ | ✔ |
| Edit Initial Pose for G3 Bone-rig Characters | ✔ | ✔ |
| Create G3 and Multi-angle G2 Characters by Replacing Sprites | ✔ | ✔ |
| Create G3 Characters Directly from PSD Format | ✔ | ✔ |
| Smooth 360 Head Turn for G3 360 Characters | ✔ | ✔ |
| Customize Full-body Multi-angle G2 Characters | ✔ | ✔ |
| Character Proportion Modification | ✔ | ✔ |
| Create Vector-based Character, compatible with Multiple Render Style | ✔ | ✔ |
| Use Run-time Composer to Setup Multi-angle G2 Characters | ✔ | ✔ |
| PSD character/prop creation flow for Pipeline version. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Character/Prop can be launched to external PSD Edtiors for further modification. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Export Scene with editable and grouped layers in PSD formats. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Enabled assembling functions to create customized accessories. | ✔ | ✔ |
| The new Animated Accessory Systems. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Custom templates for Free Bone characters replaced. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Animation | Pipeline | Trial |
| G3 Motion libraries for Human, Animal, Spine and Wings Characters | ✔ | ✔ |
| Enhanced Sprite-basd Face System for Smooth Expressions | ✔ | ✔ |
| Audio Lip-sync for both Sprite-based and Morph-based Characters | ✔ | ✔ |
| 2D Facial & Body Puppeteering | ✔ | ✔ |
| Advanced Adjustments for Face Puppet & Face Key Editor | ✔ | ✔ |
| 2D Motion Key Editing | ✔ | ✔ |
| Advanced 2D Motion Editing for Sub Tracks | ✔ | ✔ |
| 3D Motion Key Editor for G2 Characters | ✔ | ✔ |
| Free Form Deformation Editor | ✔ | ✔ |
| Import 3D Motions for 2D Animations | ✔ | ✔ |
| Elastic Motion | Pipeline | Trial |
| Apply Elastic Motion and FFD Effects from Library - Entry, Emphasis (Loops), Exit | ✔ | ✔ |
| Elastic Motion Editor - Parametric Control over Elastic Effects | ✔ | ✔ |
| Set Up Motion, Loop Duration, Pivot, and Alignment of Elastic Motion | ✔ | ✔ |
| Create Animated Props with Elastic Motion Effects | ✔ | ✔ |
| Modify and Save Custom Elastic Motion from current Elastic Motion Effects | ✔ | ✔ |
| Custom Design Elastic Motion Effects using Key Frame Animation | ✔ | ✔ |
| Timeline | Pipeline | Trial |
| Basic Timeline Editing | ✔ | ✔ |
| Advanced Timeline Editing (Time Warp, Transition Curve, Clip Loop, Speed Control, Copy&Paste) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Full Timeline Sub-track Controls(Detailed Tracks for Individual Body Segments) | ✔ | ✔ |
| 2D Timeline Animation Editing -Sprite Switch, 2D Motion Key, Layer Order, Deformation, Opacity | ✔ | ✔ |
| 3D Timeline Animation Editing -3D Motion Layer, Angle Key | ✔ | ✔ |
| Collect Clip - Save Selected Clip Range from Timeline, and Add to Action Menu | ✔ | ✔ |
| Import & Export | Pipeline | Trial |
| Import Image (JPG, BMP, GIF, TGA, PNG) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Import Video (AVI, WMV, popVideo3*) - PC only | ✔ | ✔ |
| Import Video (MOV, MP4) *Install K-Lite BASIC to cover most formats, as it supports full DirectShow Codec for Windows media playback. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Import Audio (MP3, WAV) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Import Chromakey Video (popVideo3*) - PC only | ✔ | ✔ |
| Import Flash vector assets (SWF) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Import 3D Motions to Cartoon Animator directly. (.rlMotion) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Export Image Sequence (JPG, BMP, PNG, TGA) up to 4K resolution | ✔ | ✔ |
| Export Video (WMV, AVI, MP4, popVideo3*) - PC only | ✔ | ✔ |
| Export Transparent video: MOV PRoRes 4444 - Mac only, popVideo3 - PC Only | ✔ | ✔ |
| Full Screen HD Video Output (1920x1080) | ✔ | ✔ |
| 3D Stereo Output | ✔ | ✔ |
| Capture Selected Items to Clipboard (PNG, AniGIF for Presentations and Web Pages) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Others | Pipeline | Trial |
| G2 Character Design Pipeline White Paper (PDF X 1) | ✔ | |
| G2 Character Pipeline Templates and Tools (FLA x 1, SWF x 1, ctMotion x 1, xls x 1) | ✔ | |
| Apply Custom Render Style and Color Modification to Vector Objects | ✔ | ✔ |
| Capture PNG or GIF file in the clipboard for use in the Cloud Animator service. | ✔ | ✔ |
| The program now supports high-resolution monitors. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Content Compatibility | Pipeline | Trial |
| G1 Single-angle Character (0°, 315°, .ctactor) | ✔ | ✔ |
| G1 2D Motion (0°, 315°; .ctmotion) | ✔ | ✔ |
| G2 Multi-angle Character (10 angles, .ctactor) | ✔ | ✔ |
| G2 2D Motion (Choose from any of the 10 Angles; .ctmotion) | ✔ | ✔ |
| G2 3D Motion (.ct3dmotion) | ✔ | ✔ |
| G3 Bone-rig Character (0°, 315°, .ctFBactor & ctTBactor) | ✔ | ✔ |
| G3 2D Motion for Human, Animal, Spine, Wings (.ctBmotion) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Others | Pipeline | Trial |
| Audio & project length | 15 mins | 15 mins |
| Usage time limitation | - | 30 days |
| Save limitation (save project, animation, ...) | - | Enabled |
| Export limitation | - | watermark |
Character Comparison:
* CTA2 (G2 Character), CTA 3 (G3 Character), CTA 4 (G3 360 Character)
| Functions | G2 Character | G3 & G3 360 Character | |
| Template Bone | Custom Bone | ||
| Multi-Dimension (10 angles for 3D motion) | ✔ | ||
| Flexible Joint | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Vector (.SWF) | ✔ | ||
| Multiple Render Style | ✔ | ||
| Morph-based Head | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sprite-base Head | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| G3 Smooth Facial System | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| G2 Motion (2D, 3D) | ✔ | ||
| G3 Character Motion | ✔ | ||
| G3 360 Head Turn | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Body Puppet | ✔ | ||
| Face Puppet | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Apply 3D Motions to 2D Characters | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 3D Motion Editing | ✔ | ||
| 2D Key Editing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Create Character in CTA3 (Pipeline version) | *Adobe Flash required. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Content Developer White Paper | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Show More
Buy CTA4 Pipeline and Get Free Upgrade to CTA5
Cartoon Animator 5 vs. Cartoon Animator 4
* For mobile users, scroll right to read the detailed comparison sheet.
| Features *New functions in Cartoon Animator 5 are marked in bold. | CTA 5 | CTA 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character | Custom Characters from G3 Human, Animal, Spine, and Wings Templates | ✔ | ✔ |
| Free Bone-rig G3 Characters from Images | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Create G3 and Multi-angle G2 Characters by Replacing Sprites | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Create G3 Characters Directly from PSD Format | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Create G3 Characters Directly from SVG Format | ✔ | ||
| Smooth 360 Head Turn for G3 360 Characters | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Character Proportion Modification | ✔ | ✔ | |
| PSD character/prop creation flow for Pipeline version | ✔ | ✔ | |
| SVG character/prop creation flow | ✔ | ||
| Character/Prop can be launched to external PSD Edtiors for further modification | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Export Scene with editable and grouped layers in PSD formats | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Enabled assembling functions to create customized accessories | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Animated Accessory Systems | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Spring Editor- assign bones to Spring Groups for multiple spring behaviors | ✔ | ||
| New spring assets for hair, cloth and accessories | ✔ | ||
| Custom templates for Free Bone characters replaced | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Animation | G3 Motion libraries for Human, Animal, Spine and Wings Characters | ✔ | ✔ |
| Enhanced Sprite-basd Face System for Smooth Expressions | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Audio Lip-sync for both Sprite-based and Morph-based Characters | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 2D Facial & Body Puppeteering | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Advanced Adjustments for Face Puppet & Face Key Editor | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 2D Motion Key Editing | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Advanced 2D Motion Editing for Sub Tracks | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 3D Motion Key Editor for G2 Characters | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Import 3D Motions for 2D Animations | ✔ | ✔ | |
| The new Object-Based FFD Editor | ✔ | ||
| FFD Presets and Templates | ✔ | ||
| Realtime Spring Animation | ✔ | ||
| Spring Presets and Templates | ✔ | ||
| Spring Group Editor | ✔ | ||
| Elastic Motion | Apply Elastic Motion and FFD Effects from Library - Entry, Emphasis (Loops), Exit | ✔ | ✔ |
| Elastic Motion Editor - Parametric Control over Elastic Effects | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Set Up Motion, Loop Duration, Pivot, and Alignment of Elastic Motion | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Create Animated Props with Elastic Motion Effects | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Modify and Save Custom Elastic Motion from current Elastic Motion Effects | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Custom Design Elastic Motion Effects using Key Frame Animation | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Timeline | Basic Timeline Editing | ✔ | ✔ |
| Advanced Timeline Editing (Time Warp, Transition Curve, Clip Loop, Speed Control, Copy & Paste) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Full Timeline Sub-track Controls (Detailed Tracks for Individual Body Segments) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 2D Timeline Animation Editing - Sprite Switch, 2D Motion Key, Layer Order, Deformation, Opacity | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 3D Timeline Animation Editing - 3D Motion Layer, Angle Key | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Collect Clip - Save Selected Clip Range from Timeline, and Add to Action Menu | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Adding FFD Track for object | ✔ | ||
| Spring track | ✔ | ||
| Sample key | ✔ | ||
| Import & Export | Import Image (JPG, BMP, GIF, TGA, PNG) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Import SVG format | ✔ | ||
| Import Video (AVI, WMV, popVideo3*) - PC only | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Import Video (MOV, MP4) *Install K-Lite BASIC to cover most formats, as it supports full DirectShow Codec for Windows media playback. | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Import Audio (MP3, WAV) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Import Chromakey Video (popVideo3*) - PC only | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Import 3D Motions to Cartoon Animator directly. (.rlMotion) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Export Image Sequence (JPG, BMP, PNG, TGA) up to 4K resolution | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Export Video (WMV, AVI, MP4, popVideo3*) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Export Transparent Video: popVideo3 | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Full Screen HD Video Output (1920x1080) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 3D Stereo Output | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Capture Selected Items to Clipboard (PNG, AniGIF for Presentations and Web Pages) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Content Compatibility | G1 Single-angle Character (0°, 315°, .ctactor) | ✔ | ✔ |
| G1 2D Motion (0°, 315°; .ctmotion) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| G2 Multi-angle Character (10 angles, .ctactor) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| G2 2D Motion (Choose from any of the 10 Angles; .ctmotion) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| G2 3D Motion (.ct3dmotion) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| G3 Bone-rig Character (0°, 315°, .ctFBactor & ctTBactor) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| G3 2D Motion for Human, Animal, Spine, Wings (.ctBmotion) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| New Color Adjustment | Vector Color Group Tool | ✔ | |
| Direct changing color or adjusting the relative color | ✔ | ||
| New Content Manager | Direct Download Free Resource & Paid Assets | ✔ | |
| Well-structured Categories and different Views (Pack View, Item View, Custom Library) | ✔ | ||
| Intuitive Folder View and Searching & Tagging for finding your content | ✔ | ||
| Content Update Notification | ✔ | ||
| Multiple Drives Access and Synchronize with Windows Folders | ✔ | ||
| Shared folder between iClone and Character Creator | ✔ | ||
| Animated Thumbnail | ✔ | ||
| Other | Project Auto Recover when program exit unexpectedly | ✔ | |
FREE Everyday Template Projects
5 Template Projects for Sending Your Messages
Get the free template projects for daily practical use to start your easy-breezy animation adventure and make your messages cheerful!
FAQs
Which software is best for cartoon animation? ›
- Cartoon Animator 4. ...
- Adobe Character Animator. ...
- Clip Studio Paint. ...
- Adobe Animate. ...
- Blender. ...
- Synfig Studio. ...
- Open Toonz. This professional animation tool is free and open-source. ...
- Pencil2D Animation. This free software is ideal for 2D hand-drawn animations.
- Set up for success with a storyboard. When you first get an animation project, put together a storyboard. ...
- Choose your animation software. ...
- Start every animation with still images. ...
- Keep your animations organized. ...
- Make use of all your resources.
Try Cartoon Animator 4 FREE for 30 Days.
Which is best for 2D animation? ›Toon Boom Harmony
Hamony is a more advanced 2D software ideal for both frame-by-frame animation and rig-based animation. It has advanced rigging systems, effects and camera tools. It is vector based, but the more advanced version also has the option for bitmap drawing.
What animation software do Walt Disney Studios use? Recent characters are mostly modeled and rigged using Autodesk Maya. Disney also uses Pixologic Zbrush for sculpting and Houdini for effects. Pixar's Presto is the leading animation software, and Disney's Hyperion is used to render the final shot.
Is 2D animation easy? ›2D Animation in terms of “Traditional Animation” is more complicated than 3d animation as there are about 24 drawings per second, or also referred to as frame by frame. This requires the animator to have had years of studying anatomy, physics, animation principles, and drawing skills to translate through the pencil.
Are anime 2D or 3D? ›Although much of the rest of the world has developed towards creating primarily 3D animation, the core market for animation in Japan still largely has a preference for 2D works.
Does Disney still do 2D animation? ›Disney's decision to move exclusively to 3D animation lowered labor costs by making less work for the artists. All the animation is now done digitally with the use of CGI, effectively streamlining the animation process.
Is Adobe animate free? ›First of all, it is not free — you will have to buy a subscription plan (plans start at $20.99 in the United States, though prices can vary by region) to use Adobe Animate. In addition, you may be frustrated with the lack of brushes, or perhaps you simply don't like the layout of Adobe Animate.
Are cartoon animators good? ›Yes, this is a big thing when it comes to animation softwares. Everything is so intuitive to learn and easy to understand. One can start making fully customisable animation within hours . Although CTA comes with a huge library of pre-made characters, animation movements, etc.
What software do cartoon animators use? ›
Some of the best animation software in the market are Visme, Adobe Animate, Adobe Character Animator, Pencil2D, Biteable and Animaker.
Is pencil 2D good for animation? ›Best for personal use and for learning and practicing 2D animation. Best for people looking for a free tool for creating hand drawn animations on a computer. 1)Beginner-Friendly - The User Interface is very easy and simple. Even a new user can pick up this tool in a few hours.
Can I use Blender for 2D animation? ›As soon as you open Blender you can go into 2D animation. Grease Pencil is a particular type of Blender object that allow you to draw in the 3D space. Can be use to make traditional 2D animation, cut-out animation, motion graphics or use it as storyboard tool among other things.
Is pencil 2D free? ›Pencil2D is completely open source and free to use, even commercially!
Is Animaker free to use? ›Animaker is a Do it Yourself professional-quality video maker! It's absolutely free!
How can I animate my PC for free? ›- Animaker.
- Blender.
- K-3D.
- OpenToonz.
- Pencil2D Animation.
- Plastic Animation Paper.
- Powtoon.
- Stykz.
What animation software do Walt Disney Studios use? Recent characters are mostly modeled and rigged using Autodesk Maya. Disney also uses Pixologic Zbrush for sculpting and Houdini for effects. Pixar's Presto is the leading animation software, and Disney's Hyperion is used to render the final shot.
What software do cartoon animators use? ›Some of the best animation software in the market are Visme, Adobe Animate, Adobe Character Animator, Pencil2D, Biteable and Animaker.
What software is Rick and Morty made in? ›Toon Boom Harmony
While this software is appropriate for beginners, it's not limited to those just starting out. Major studios have used Toon Boom Harmony to create shows such as “Rick and Morty,” “Family Guy,” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
Blender is famous for being great for 3D, but did you know that it is also amazing for 2D animation? This is a relatively new feature introduced in Blender 2.8, and it includes a number of unique functionalities and tools that work extremely well for creating 2D animations.
Is Adobe Animate free? ›
First of all, it is not free — you will have to buy a subscription plan (plans start at $20.99 in the United States, though prices can vary by region) to use Adobe Animate. In addition, you may be frustrated with the lack of brushes, or perhaps you simply don't like the layout of Adobe Animate.
Is Maya free to use? ›The price of an annual Maya subscription is $1,785 and the price of a monthly Maya subscription is $225 . The price of a 3-year Maya subscription is $5,085 . If you have infrequent users and are interested in a pay-as-you-go option, please visit www.autodesk.com/flex to learn more.
Is animation easy? ›Let yourself fail: Animation isn't easy, and you're bound to create some bad animations at the start. Remember that all the greats started where you are, see what you can learn from your mistakes, and just keep practicing!
What are the 5 types of animation? ›- 1# Traditional animation. Traditional animation, also known as cel animation, is the oldest form of animation. ...
- 2# 2D animation. 2D animation, also known as vector-based animation, is all about creating movement in a 2-dimensional space. ...
- 3# 3D animation. ...
- 4# Stop motion. ...
- 5# Motion graphics.
Best for personal use and for learning and practicing 2D animation. Best for people looking for a free tool for creating hand drawn animations on a computer. 1)Beginner-Friendly - The User Interface is very easy and simple. Even a new user can pick up this tool in a few hours.
How much does 30 seconds of animation cost? ›A 30 second, high quality animated explainer video production costs between $2000 – $4500, depending on the style and number of revisions in the process. To bypass big expenses you should avoid 3D animation and traditional animation, going instead with 2D motion graphics.
What software does Pixar use? ›Presto is the proprietary software developed and used in-house by Pixar Animation Studios in the animation of its features and short films.