OpenToonz
opentoonz.github.io
What it is
OpenToonz is 2D animation software for professional and amateur production, as well as school education. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and exports formats including AVI, GIF, MP4, PNG, Spritesheet, and WebM. Its tools cover scanning, digital painting, and compositing: the GTS scanner supports four scanning types and saves settings, while painting supports anti-aliased lines and keeps painting data separate from palette data. Compositing offers xsheet and timeline interfaces and combines effects through a node tree. The software supports raster and vector images, and can convert between colored binarized TGA sequence images and OpenToonz format. An effects SDK allows image-processing plug-ins. GTS is TWAIN-compatible but available only on Windows. OpenToonz is based on Toonz, which Studio Ghibli customized and used for many years. Its source code is available under the New BSD License. OpenToonz is free for commercial and non-commercial projects, with no free trial listed.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- OpenToonz is software for producing 2D animation.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Audience
- The official site describes uses including professional production, amateur production, and school education.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Platforms
- The official FAQ lists requirements for Windows and macOS; the site says GTS is Windows only.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Free plan
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Integrations
- GTS is compatible with TWAIN scanners and is available for Windows only.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Support
- The official site directs users to a Google Group for troubleshooting, improvement requests, and bug reports, and to a GitHub forum for development topics.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- License
- The source code is available under the New BSD License.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- 2D animation tools
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- 3D modeling
- NoRead 21 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Character rigging
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Compositing
- Filming provides xsheet and timeline interfaces and supports synthesizing effects with a node tree.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Export formats
- 3GP,AVI,BMP,GIF,JPG,MOV,MP4,PNG,RGB,SGI,Spritesheet,TGA,TIF,TIFF,WebMRead 21 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Extensions
- An effects SDK lets users add image-processing effects as plug-ins.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Image formats
- OpenToonz supports raster and vector images and conversion between colored binarized TGA sequence images and OpenToonz format.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Painting
- Digital painting supports anti-aliased lines and keeps painting data independent from palette data.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Scanning
- Its GTS scanning tool supports four scanning types, saves scanning settings, and is compatible with TWAIN standards.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
- Studio Ghibli background
- The software is based on Toonz, was customized by Studio Ghibli, and was used in the creation of its works for many years.Read 30 Sep 2026 · opentoonz.github.io
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free for commercial and non-commercial projects
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Exports formats including MP4, PNG, and WebM
- Supports raster and vector images
- Effects SDK supports image-processing plug-ins
Limits
- GTS scanning is available only on Windows
- No free trial
Who it suits
OpenToonz suits animators and schools looking for 2D tools across Linux, macOS, or Windows. It also fits projects that need scanning, compositing, or image-processing extensions.
Verdict
OpenToonz covers scanning, painting, compositing, and plug-ins in a free 2D animation package. Note the Windows-only GTS limitation if scanner workflows matter.
Where Specifiction places it
- Animation Software#29 of 1068.3
- 2D Character Animation Software#23 of 487.9
- Cartoon Maker Software#18 of 317.9