Animaker Review: Is this animation tool any good in 2023? (2023)

Why trust me with this Animaker review?

My name is Nicole and, like you, I always read reviews before signing up for any new software or before deciding to download a new program. After all, it can be difficult to be completely sure if the software you intend to use is safe when you end up having to buy additional content to use the app, or even what comes in the box.

My Animaker review is based solely on my own experience with it. I signed up, tested the software, and gathered information so you don't have to, and that also means you'll see screenshots and recent content from the show. You can quickly decide if Animaker is right for you.

As proof that I have personally experienced this program, here is a screenshot of my account activation email:

Lastly, I am not endorsed by Animaker or any other company, so you can trust my review to be as unbiased as possible and to only present real facts of how it works.

Detailed Animaker review

starting

Animaker is designed to be used right away, but if you're a little confused, don't worry! Here's a quick guide to setting up your first video.

When logging in for the first time, you will be asked to choose which industry you want to use Animaker for. This doesn't affect the content you access, other than putting what you think are the most relevant models at the top of your dashboard.

If you're just trying it out, choose Other. After that, you will immediately see a panel with available templates for starting a new video.

You can also select "Blank" in the top left corner if you're not interested in a template. Some templates are only available to certain tier users depending on the plan they are using. Paid users can access "premium" templates while free users can only use "free" templates. All templates are categorized by type and you can sort them using the tags in the left sidebar.

After choosing a template, you should be taken to the editor screen. Some users may encounter this warning first:

By default, many modern browsers disable Flash because it quickly becomes obsolete. However, sites like Animaker will need you to re-enable them to work properly. Just click "Activate" and agree when your browser asks you to activate Flash.

After the editor loads, you will see the following:

The content varies depending on the type of template selected, but the basic design is the same. The left sidebar shows scenes, while the right sidebar shows media and design elements you can add. The middle is the canvas and the timeline is underneath.

From here you can add content to a scene, create new sections for your video, and do all the editing.

media and texts

Animaker offers different types of media categorized as follows:

• characters
• Characteristics
• bottom
• Text
• Pay

Each category has a tab in the right sidebar and contains some default materials (the number of materials available depends on the nature of your plan).

characters

Characters are small images of the same person, available in different poses and often in different colors (indicated by the small multicolored flower in the left corner of the image). Many characters offer alternative facial expressions in addition to different poses. Free users can access 15 characters, while paid users can access dozens.

Characteristics

Properties are "props", clipart or background objects that you can add to your video. Many of them are available for free, but it wouldn't be difficult to import some of your own either. They are mostly made in flat design style. Some offer multiple "poses"; For example, briefcase accessories are available both closed and open. However, it seems that most accessories cannot change color.

bottom

Backgrounds set the stage for your video. Some are animated while others are just still images which are good for placing your characters and props. Backgrounds are divided into two categories: images and colors. Images are the default animated backgrounds, while the color tab is simply a place where you can choose a solid color background.

Text

Text is a common form of animated video media. You might need it for a banner, title or information (especially in explainer videos or infographics). Animaker offers a lot of flexibility with text. You can always insert a new text box, but you can also choose from pre-built templates or a wide range of speech bubble and callout styles.

Pay

While "Numbers" sounds like an oddly specific form of text, it's a special category for a reason. In "Numbers" you will find customizable tables and graphs with animations and additional functions. From bar charts to pie charts, you can easily add important data assets to your videos.

Upload your own media

If Animaker is missing something you need (or if you have a paywall), you can use the upload feature to add your own images to a video. This feature only supports JPEG and PNG files, so you can't create animated GIFs, but that should be enough for most users. Custom fonts can only be uploaded if you are a business plan user.

audio

Audio is an important part of conveying the message in your video. The graphics might grab someone's attention, but ultimately things like the voiceover, narration, and background music will pique their interest.

Animaker includes a library of royalty-free music that you can use in your video (titles in green indicate that you must be a paying user to access them). It also offers a selection of sound effects in addition to background tracks.

You can also use the "Upload" or "Voice Recording" buttons to add a voiceover or special narration to your video.

If you want to record your voice, you must give Adobe Flash permission to access your camera and microphone. It seems a bit sketchy, but since Animaker is Flash software, this is the interface it uses.

You may also see a small popup like this in your browser:

In both cases, you must click "Accept" or "Allow" to continue. You will see the following recording screen:

Pressing the start button immediately starts recording, which can be annoying if you're used to a countdown. Also, the recording window covers your video screen, so you can know your time in advance or need to adjust your video after recording voiceover.

You can also use the Upload panel to add a finished recording. Any files you upload for use as audio must be MP3s.

The advertised text-to-speech feature actually redirects you to an applet called "Animaker Voice" where you can import a script and create any text-to-speech voice you want. However, you can only download a few of these recordings each month.

Scenes, animations and timelines

Scenes are the components that make up your final video. They allow you to toggle between settings and move on to new information. In Animaker, scenes can be accessed on the left side of the program's interface.

Each new scene presents a blank canvas. From there, you can add backgrounds, props, characters, and anything else you need. Once all elements are placed, you can use the timeline to manipulate them.

The timeline is the bar at the bottom of the workspace. On the timeline, you can change the time your objects appear and disappear, and edit music/audio tracks at any time.

When clicking on an object, you can resize the yellow area to decide when to enter or leave a scene, and resize the orange area to change that character's animation effects. For example, some characters may have curved paths that must occur at a specific point in time.

You can use the media tabs to switch to other types of timeline items besides characters and props. You can click on the camera icon to add pan and zoom functionality or click on the music icon to toggle between the different types of added audio.

Finally, make good use of Animaker's transitions. These transitions can be applied between scenes to create cool effects or just a smoother transition between ideas.

All transitions seem to be available for free users which is a nice bonus. There seem to be about 25 transitions. This tab also shows some camera editing effects that you can use, such as: B. "Left camera" and "Right camera" that appear in the "Camera" tab of your timeline after application.

Before you can export to Animaker, you need to save your project. Then click on the small gear at the top of the desktop and select "Export".

After that, you'll see a small export screen where you can choose how you want to format your final video.

As you can see, there is a small message that says "You can post your videos on Youtube or Facebook with the free plan". Paid users can also download your videos.

When downloading a video, you can choose between SD and HD quality (depending on your plan) and the video will appear unbranded.

Those who want to upload to YouTube need to link their Google account by clicking the "Add Channel" button. You will see a notice that you need to grant Animaker access to your account, but these permissions can be revoked at any time. Once your accounts are linked, you can export to YouTube. Video quality depends on your plan. For example, users of the free version can only export to YouTube in SD.

Also, free users will notice a small Animaker logo in the bottom corner of their videos. This flag cannot be removed without upgrading to a paid plan.

Since Animaker's export options are quite limited, I reached out to their support team to ask if they offer a "pay per export" plan instead of a "pay per month" plan. However, it does not appear.

This means you have to pay the monthly fee and stick to your plan's export limit to get the best quality videos.

Reasons for my grades

Effectiveness: 4/5

As a DIY animation software, Animaker is quite efficient at what it does. You can easily create videos, use templates or expand on a blank canvas with your own creativity.

It includes the tools you need to succeed, like audio features and customizable characters, with one exception: a very limited export feature, especially if you're on a lower plan (even paying users will encounter some limitations in video quality and features ) Exports by Month).

Overall, Animaker can get the job done if you use it correctly, and it goes beyond simple template videos.

Price: 4/5

Finally, despite being freemium software, Animaker is much cheaper than many of its competitors for equivalent features. The free basic subscription gives you access to all the tools plus export as a video file, which gives you plenty of room to get started and experiment.

There are a decent number of characters and media files to use, and paid users will also find a wide range of materials. Overall, it's a very affordable DIY animation software.

Ease of use: 3/5

Animaker's interface is very easy to use. Everything can be understood without a tutorial (although one is provided), and all functions are intuitive. However, I am forced to reduce the stars for two main reasons.

Firstly, there is no autosave feature. This might seem like a minor gripe, but since this software is web-based, it's particularly prone to accidental tab closures or browser crashes, and constantly worrying about saving your work is tedious.

My second reason for retaining one star is that when testing the software I had 3-5 crashes in about 2 hours of use. These crashes never went away on their own and instead required a page reload (thus losing all my work due to the lack of autosave). While Animaker is pretty easy to use on the surface, it does have a few bugs that still need to be fixed.

Support: 5/5

If you're not sure how to do something in Animaker, you don't have to wonder too much. The program includes an extensive library of tutorials, knowledge articles/FAQs, many community resources, and a support team that responds quickly to queries. It's a pretty comprehensive system and should leave you worry-free.

Alternatives for you Animaker

Powtoon(Network)

Powtoon is also web-based software, but it boasts that it can be used for both traditional animated videos and more interesting presentations (unlike standard PowerPoint). The interface is very similar to Animaker and other animation software, making it easy to switch or learn quickly. There's also a good amount of free media and template content.

we did an extensivePowtoon review, which you can refer to for more information.

explained(Mac e PC)

For those who prefer a complete software application, Explaindio 3.0 could be the solution. Although the user interface is more complex and the default media library more limited than most freemium or web-based solutions, it offers more features and editing controls than its competitors. It's also a standalone software, so you only pay a one-time fee and don't have to rely on your internet connection for editing.

We also did a detailedExplanation ReviewHere.

shorts rohe(Network)

If you want to stay web-based but Animaker isn't a good fit for you, try RawShorts. It's also a freemium animation creation software that uses a drag and drop interface and the same basic timeline and scene template that many other creator platforms have. While the features it offers are very similar to those of Animaker, it does offer different pricing and the option to purchase downloads instead of a subscription.

You can also read ourBest whiteboard animation softwareCheck the summary for more options.

Diploma

If you're looking for DIY animation software that can deliver high-quality results without much effort on your part as a creator, Animaker is a solid choice. It gives you plenty of tools and materials to get there, and you can even get started for free before committing to anything.

What do you think of this Animaker review? Have you tried this animation tool yet? Leave a comment below and let us know.