50 Animation Tools

8/13/2019 50 Animation Tools

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50 Animation Tools & Resources For Digital Learners

by Lisa Chesser, opencolleges.edu.au

A purple monster with wild curls spiraling out of control explains the economics of oilproduction in the Sudan to students in Los Angeles, Sydney, Berlin, Jerusalem, and

Riyadh.

That is education and animation working together to teach students everywhere, everything

they ever wanted to know. Educators need only utilize the tools available, most of them for

free.

Some of the animation links catalogued here will give educators very basic tools and

histories of animation while others have the animation already created and set in motion,

its just a matter of sharing it with students.

Educators need to decide which tool is best for them. If you want to create your own

animation from scratch, then you want to go to sites such as Animwork. If you want to

select from animation thats already set up for you then perhaps Explainia makes more

sense.

One of the easiest ways to animate, however, isnt with your own camera and modeling

clay, its with your links to sites that hand you everything within their own forums.

Use the first part of this list for creating original animation or using animation tools to create

lessons. Use the second part to select animated lessons that are already completed and

set to share.

1. Animation for Education

In this support system for educators,iCreate to Educatehelps teachers and schools from

primary through higher education become better learners by making animation more

accessible throughout Europe. It offers some great resources and valuable animation

software and resources. It also has a free stop-motion animation tool called SAM.

2. Animwork

A European partnership created this guide to help teachers learn more about using

animation to teach. With some basics in place such as how to create a good story and what

tools to use,Animworkputs everything into perspective for any teacher who wants to

create his or her own animation.

3. GoAnimate for Schools
http://www.animationforeducation.co.uk/http://www.animationforeducation.co.uk/http://www.animationforeducation.co.uk/http://www.animwork.dk/TWA/http://www.animwork.dk/TWA/http://www.animwork.dk/TWA/http://www.animwork.dk/TWA/http://www.animationforeducation.co.uk/


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Easy and quick,GoAnimate for Schoolsis a one-stop shop for creating custom animation

thats well-made and easy to use. Globally accessible to any educator, its also secure and

educators get a major discount. Schools can sign up about 200 students at a time.

4. GoAnimate

If the purpose of using the animation tool is solely for teaching and sharing educator-

created animation, take another route toGoAnimatefor business. This tool has a free sign-

in where educators can use basic tools to create animation with whatever message they

need to get across to their students.

5. Devolver

Quick animation with some bizarre characters and sleek backgrounds that help make a

point or send students into the beginning or end of a lesson makesDevolvera great tool for

the educator who moves fast. Students can also use it to email professors their

interpretation of a theory or lesson.

6. Voki

Adding an interesting twist to communication and lecturing,Vokiallows educators to create

avatars that speak for them. Record or type in messages and send or embed the clips on a

site. Voki even offers educator logins with free extras.

7. PowToon

A free business presentation tool,PowToonhelps users create animated presentations

with quality graphics. It even has a home dedicated to educators at any level. PowToon

touts itself as being as easy to use as Powerpoint and educators seem to think it is.

8. Make It Share It

For those who prefer to draw, theresMake It Share It.Create your own drawings from stickfigures to sketches to full cartoons and animate them all online. This might be an online tool

to share with students who like to draw or to create a project.

9. Wideo

But, if drawing seems to just get in the way, go toWideo.Some modern graphics with

interesting selections and fonts give users the ability to make unique videos for business

and education. Nicely done tutorials provide users with confidence and basic skills to begin

quickly.
http://goanimate4schools.com/public_indexhttp://goanimate4schools.com/public_indexhttp://goanimate4schools.com/public_indexhttp://goanimate.com/http://goanimate.com/http://goanimate.com/http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/http://www.voki.com/http://www.voki.com/http://www.voki.com/http://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/http://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/http://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/http://www.makeitshareit.com/homehttp://www.makeitshareit.com/homehttp://www.makeitshareit.com/homehttp://www.wideo.co/http://www.wideo.co/http://www.wideo.co/http://www.wideo.co/http://www.makeitshareit.com/homehttp://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/http://www.voki.com/http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/http://goanimate.com/http://goanimate4schools.com/public_index


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10. Mixeek

This free software allows users to design web animations based on Javascript, CSS3, and

HTML5. One of the best parts of this tool is that users can make their animation

interactive.Mixeekalso makes it easier for beginners to start the whole process with simpletutorials.

11. Myths and Legends

Hailing from the United Kingdom, this site is best used as a tool for students to create their

own myths and legends. For instance, students might want to turn a factual news story into

a myth or legend using theMyths and Legendstools.

12. Zimmer Twins

Make a movie or watch a movie with animation tools set neatly in place atZimmer Twins.

Create scenes from scratch or choose from scenes that are already set up. Educators can

take advantage ofZimmer Twins at Schoolby creating accounts for up to 40 students

including blogs for added communication.

13. Loogix

For simple movements and creative elements of photographs or short film, useLoogix.Its

very basic and not as innovative or interactive but it gets the job done if the goal is to add a

fun twist to images.

14. Blabberize

A hilariously fun site,Blabberizeturns any image into a talking image complete with your

recorded message. Now, whatever point any educators trying to make is a lot more

effective when a talking cat, dog, or lama says it.

15. Aniboom

If theres a need for something more tailored and none of the tools youve looked at so far

meet your needs, tryAniboom.There youll find access to actual animators. Just post your

project then assign an artist to it. You can check on the progress during the process.

16. Creaza

Another online animation tool has both a free limited version and a version that you can get

a quote on for pricing. With a large variety of backgrounds and characters, using the
http://www.mixeek.com/http://www.mixeek.com/http://www.mixeek.com/http://creator.myths.e2bn.org/http://creator.myths.e2bn.org/http://creator.myths.e2bn.org/http://www.zimmertwins.com/http://www.zimmertwins.com/http://www.zimmertwins.com/http://zimmertwinsatschool.com/http://zimmertwinsatschool.com/http://zimmertwinsatschool.com/http://www.loogix.com/http://www.loogix.com/http://www.loogix.com/http://blabberize.com/http://blabberize.com/http://blabberize.com/http://www.aniboom.com/http://www.aniboom.com/http://www.aniboom.com/http://www.aniboom.com/http://blabberize.com/http://www.loogix.com/http://zimmertwinsatschool.com/http://www.zimmertwins.com/http://creator.myths.e2bn.org/http://www.mixeek.com/


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premium version might be worth it. Creazas selling points are the video editor, an audio

editor, a cartoon editor and a mind map builder.

17. Doink

An app for ipads, iphones, and ipods,Doinkoffers really creative tools that allow users to

customize artwork and to create a library of drawings and animations. With a composition

editor, animation appears professional and adds more versatility than a lot of other

programs out there.

Ready To Go Animation

The following links will help educators find animation thats already set in motion. Its tried

and true so educators simply search for their subject or their purpose and grab videos to

help their students grasp concepts or even learn difficult material that otherwise may have

eluded them.

18. TEDEd

Here educators will find brilliant animation with unique twists on a basic concept add new

dimensions to learning withTED Ed.The clips are usually short, approximately 5 minutes,

but they squeeze important information into that time frame and do it rather effectively.

19. Brain Pop

Another site with quick clips,Brain Popsimplifies difficult lessons in all the basic subjects

including engineering and technology. Like TED Ed, it adds material constantly so theres

always more to choose from; however, there is a fee to access the material.

20. BBC History

Walk through the architectural planning of the Colosseum, watch the reconstruction of the

Iron Age Chariot, and learn about the Battle of Somme in World War I among many otheranimated insights. It can all be found at theBBC Interactive Content Animations.

21. ABC

An Australian site full of insightful and entertaining documentaries,ABCalso has cool

animated videos about Greek gods, Naval officers, and science plus lots of interactive

video and gaming.

22. Explania
http://www.doink.com/http://www.doink.com/http://www.doink.com/http://ed.ted.com/http://ed.ted.com/http://ed.ted.com/http://www.brainpop.com/http://www.brainpop.com/http://www.brainpop.com/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/online/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/online/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/online/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/online/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/http://www.brainpop.com/http://ed.ted.com/http://www.doink.com/


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From learning how to save the oceans to how to calculate your body mass index, the

animations seem endless onExplania.Just register and gain access to creative animations

that explain almost anything.

23. Google Apps

Google Apps for Educationis filled with animated apps that shed light on otherwise out of

reach concepts and difficult problems that sometimes even the best educator cant perfect

into a lesson readable by all students. GeoGebra and Desmos have sketchpads and

graphing calculators and thats just the beginning.

24. Enlightenment

RSAbrings power to intellectual debates with animation. Use their videos as a springboard

for further debate or to introduce 21st century topics to any subject that thrives on

arguments.

25. Brainpickings

Full of informational animations that give the learner visuals that transfer difficult concepts

into understandable snippets,Brainpickingsnarrows the gap between confusion and

understanding.

26. Literature

Openculturecompiled a list of animations relating to various literature such as Emily

Dickinsons poetry and Shakespeare. Explain the wonders of Plato and Kafka as well as

Hemingway with these short clips.

27. Electric Literature

Find folktales, comedies, minidramas, and more, all animated with fascinating graphics and

sound onElectric Literature.Bring story telling to students with these videos that offerunique perspectives.

28. WatchKnowLearn.org

With tons of videos to choose from, some arent animated but you can sift through them to

find the animated ones.WatchKnowLearn.orgis broken into subject areas and acts as a

database for rated videos that teach students. The ratings have stars and a review, which

is really helpful because it saves time when choosing which one to use.

29. Canada Film
http://www.explania.com/enhttp://www.explania.com/enhttp://www.explania.com/enhttp://www.google.com/enterprise/apps/education/http://www.google.com/enterprise/apps/education/http://comment.rsablogs.org.uk/videos/http://comment.rsablogs.org.uk/videos/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/03/19/animated-visualizations-for-education/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/03/19/animated-visualizations-for-education/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/03/19/animated-visualizations-for-education/http://www.openculture.com/2012/12/17_animations_of_classic_literary_works.htmlhttp://www.openculture.com/2012/12/17_animations_of_classic_literary_works.htmlhttp://electricliterature.com/single-sentence-animations/#!prettyPhoto[portfolio]/0/http://electricliterature.com/single-sentence-animations/#!prettyPhoto[portfolio]/0/http://electricliterature.com/single-sentence-animations/#!prettyPhoto[portfolio]/0/http://www.watchknowlearn.org/http://www.watchknowlearn.org/http://www.watchknowlearn.org/http://www.watchknowlearn.org/http://electricliterature.com/single-sentence-animations/#!prettyPhoto[portfolio]/0/http://www.openculture.com/2012/12/17_animations_of_classic_literary_works.htmlhttp://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/03/19/animated-visualizations-for-education/http://comment.rsablogs.org.uk/videos/http://www.google.com/enterprise/apps/education/http://www.explania.com/en


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At the site for theNational Film Board of Canada,educators will discover free streaming

documentaries and animated films. Short animated films about poets, poetry, music, and

other themes add interest and are a great resource for any educator.

30. National Geographic

While housing all types of great resource videos, National Geographic also has valuable

interactive animations for teaching about the world around us and the world itself. Click

through the steps ofGreenhouse Effectand learn exactly how it works.

31. BioInteractive

Sleek, professional, colorful, and detailed animations atBioInteractivehelp educators

communicate their curriculum with students. Educators choose from topics such as

anatomy, brain, cancer, cardiovascular, organism behavior, and a lot more.

32. The Archeology Channel

Using Google maps,The Archeology Channelhas created an interactive map that gives

educators a visual guide of its animated videos of historical figures and finds according to

the country or region. For instance, if educators click on Italy, theyll find a video about

Matilda of Canossa.

33. How Stuff Works

Full of videos, the animated ones make understanding any subject or process much easier

atHow Stuff Works.Under the category Culture, you might click on the animated video

How Murphys Law Works.

34. Cell Biology Animation

John Kyrkcreated intricate animations explaining cell biology. Beginning with amino acids

and protein and delving into DNA structure, the animation available on his site provideslearners with complete visuals into the workings of cell biology.

35. Plant & Soil Sciences eLibrary

Access well-made animations of flower structures, plant breeding, gel scoring, gene

cloning, genetic mapping, herbicide metabolism and so on.Plant & Soil Sciences

eLibraryallows educators to access and use animated videos for free after they login.

36. Exploratorium
http://www.nfb.ca/http://www.nfb.ca/http://www.nfb.ca/http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview-interactive/http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview-interactive/http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview-interactive/http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractivehttp://www.hhmi.org/biointeractivehttp://www.hhmi.org/biointeractivehttp://map.archaeologychannel.org/http://map.archaeologychannel.org/http://map.archaeologychannel.org/http://www.howstuffworks.com/videoshttp://www.howstuffworks.com/videoshttp://www.howstuffworks.com/videoshttp://www.johnkyrk.com/http://www.johnkyrk.com/http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://www.johnkyrk.com/http://www.howstuffworks.com/videoshttp://map.archaeologychannel.org/http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractivehttp://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview-interactive/http://www.nfb.ca/


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Split into categories such as Astronomy or Cognitive Science/Psychology, educators can

find animated videos depending on the subject within the subject insideExploratorium.

37. iTunes U

Find any and everything atiTunes U,just search or select a category and move through

animation after animation. Sign up as an educator and add something even more useful to

the equation by creating your own unique lessons or even videos.

38. MIT

Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers open courses with some great animation

available. Check out some of the courses available atMITand send students that way if

they need extra guidance or even if they need a good challenge.

39. PBS Online

InsidePBS.org,educators have access to animations of such topics as growth, well-being,

and jobs in what it calls the new economy or the story of Theodore Roosevelts building the

Panama Canal.

40. YouTube

Another helpful place to find animations,YouTubedelivers any and every animation on

almost any topic or subject imaginable. However, educators might have to sift through

some unprofessional videos while searching.

41. Science Stage

Not just focused on science,Science Stageis worth visiting for almost any subject except

literature. Anyone who wants to learn more about a chosen field will find all the videos

fascinating, not just the animations.

42. NOVA

An animation of the Island of Stability for physics or animation of the

growth spurts of a T. Rex give learners clear insight into the unseen worlds of learning

onNOVA,a subsection of PBS.

43. NBC Learn
http://www.exploratorium.edu/tv/archive.php?discipline=4http://www.exploratorium.edu/tv/archive.php?discipline=4http://www.exploratorium.edu/tv/archive.php?discipline=4http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/itunes-u/http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/itunes-u/http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/itunes-u/http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htmhttp://ocw.mit.edu/index.htmhttp://ocw.mit.edu/index.htmhttp://www.pbs.org/search/?q=animationhttp://www.pbs.org/search/?q=animationhttp://www.pbs.org/search/?q=animationhttp://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/http://sciencestage.com/http://sciencestage.com/http://sciencestage.com/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/video/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/video/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/video/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/video/http://sciencestage.com/http://www.youtube.com/http://www.pbs.org/search/?q=animationhttp://ocw.mit.edu/index.htmhttp://www.apple.com/education/ipad/itunes-u/http://www.exploratorium.edu/tv/archive.php?discipline=4


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From sustainability of water to the science of the summer Olympics,NBC Learnmakes

education simple and understandable. The animations work alongside professional videos

explaining various topics.

44. History

History actually partnered with Aniboom and created a contest where people use Aniboom

to create a historical, animated video. On top of that, History online has awesome

interactive games, maps, and timelines including Ellis Island: Then and Now and hilarious

animation ofGreek Gods.

45. LearnersTV

If educators need animated video of science subjects such as biology, chemistry, and

physics, thenLearnersTVboasts animated videos detailing these subjects. It also

catalogues video on such subjects as engineering and economics but those videos arent

animated.

46. Maps of War

AtMaps of War,the history of religion, the Imperial history of the Middle East, democracy,

terrorism, the World Wars, and more map out the past and sometimes the future,

depending on how you look at it.

47. Khan Academy

Well-respected and known as the place to go for all learners,Khan Academymasters

teaching and animation with videos that lead a student to the unanswered questions.

48. See Math

See Mathanimations explain simple and complex math with animations that make learning

precise and understandable. Educators can sign up and show the videos to students orhave students sign up and learn.

49. Math is Fun

Animated cubes, triangular prisms, hexakis icosahedrons, gyroelongated square bicupola,

or hebesphenomegacorona among other three-dimensional animated shapes fill the web

pages ofMath is Fun,offering learners various ways to manipulate and view the

movements.

50. Vimeo
http://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/resourceshttp://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/resourceshttp://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/resourceshttp://www.history.com/videos/greek-gods#greek-godshttp://www.history.com/videos/greek-gods#greek-godshttp://www.history.com/videos/greek-gods#greek-godshttp://www.learnerstv.com/animations.phphttp://www.learnerstv.com/animations.phphttp://www.learnerstv.com/animations.phphttp://www.mapsofwar.com/index.htmlhttp://www.mapsofwar.com/index.htmlhttp://www.mapsofwar.com/index.htmlhttp://www.khanacademy.org/libraryhttp://www.khanacademy.org/libraryhttp://www.khanacademy.org/libraryhttp://www.seemath.com/#/New--New/http://www.seemath.com/#/New--New/http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polyhedron-models.html?m=Hebesphenomegacorona%20(J89)http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polyhedron-models.html?m=Hebesphenomegacorona%20(J89)http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polyhedron-models.html?m=Hebesphenomegacorona%20(J89)http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polyhedron-models.html?m=Hebesphenomegacorona%20(J89)http://www.seemath.com/#/New--New/http://www.khanacademy.org/libraryhttp://www.mapsofwar.com/index.htmlhttp://www.learnerstv.com/animations.phphttp://www.history.com/videos/greek-gods#greek-godshttp://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/resources


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If educators searchVimeo,theyll find some nicely done animation of shorts about anything

from sci-fi to love stories as well as beautifully done animation of challenging and

enlightening concepts to spark creativity and innovation with any learner who needs a

boost of imagination.
http://vimeo.com/search/page:4/sort:relevant/format:thumbnail?q=animationhttp://vimeo.com/search/page:4/sort:relevant/format:thumbnail?q=animationhttp://vimeo.com/search/page:4/sort:relevant/format:thumbnail?q=animationhttp://vimeo.com/search/page:4/sort:relevant/format:thumbnail?q=animation

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50 Animation Tools