Top Educational & Engaging Animation Software Options For Kids

We all know how kids love watching cartoons, but have you ever thought that many of them would also enjoy creating them? Animation software for kids is not only entertaining but can also be educational and a great creative outlet. Thanks to modern animation software and increased internet accessibility, children can express their creativity by making animated videos. We’ve curated a list of the best animation software for kids in 2023. Parents and teachers who are new to design can also use these tools to create engaging content for kids.

7 Top Choices in Animation Software for Kids

When we put together this list, we also considered factors like ease of use, size of media libraries, and user interfaces. This is a lineup of our top picks!

1. Simplified

Simplified is safe and simple, perfect for those projects for school or just as a hobby. Using Simplified gives children access to hundreds of templates created by professional designers as well as stock videos to help make their movie visions come to life. You don’t have to install anything to use the Simplified video editor, it’s simple to navigate, and you can use your own footage as well. Besides editing tools to trim, add gradients, filters, and other effects, they can also animate elements to make the video more engaging. Once done, these videos can be downloaded as GIFs or MP4.

Highlights

• Using the free AI copywriter assistant lets them focus on developing one skill at a time.
• The copywriter helps by generating descriptions and titles among copy.
• Your kids can work collaboratively on a group project together by leaving each other comments/edits in real-time.
• One of its most practical features is its in-built scheduler you can plan and position your posts in advance!

Billing

There is a version of Simplified that is free forever (no credit card required). Their paid plans are priced differently depending on who is using it. For small teams, its about $30/mo, while for businesses, it’s listed as $50/mo. However, discounts are available as well.

Related: Why Video Marketing Is The Future Of Content Marketing

2. Toon Boom Harmony

If your kids want to create their own cartoons, Toon Boom Harmony is a great animation maker to explore. It allows kids to work on 2D projects with modern vector tools for freehand drawing. You can try their pre-made background templates, audio clips, and character collection. They also have an exciting range of professional brushes and color palettes.

Highlights:

• Offers products like Harmony StoryboardPro, Gaming, and Producer22, which look at more than just the editing process.
• Storyboard helps create an outline of the video and allows users to pitch their concepts.
• Harmony Gaming combines animation with the biggest sector in the field of entertainment.
• Producer 22 gives users the ability to look at the production from a professional lens, tracking budgets, progress, and more.

Billing:

Toon Boom Harmony offers three versions – one for Beginners ($27/month), one for Advanced Users ($65.50/month), and the third for Premium users ($123.50/month). The monthly billing stands at You can try the version you select for free for a period of 21 days.

Related: How to Create an Engaging Video Script [+Free Generator]

3. OpenToonz

A free-drawing animation maker, OpenToonz offers users a good platform for traditional 2D animations. With an intuitive user interface and detailed tips, it is quite beginner-friendly. Kids can experiment with filters, shading, and morphing. Their special SDK plug-in (a set of tools and libraries) allows for an enjoyable experience with different types of animation, including skeletal designs. Kids can also use the software on tablets with a stylus to create characters with more precision.

Highlights:

Designed to keep young users interested, it offers them a way to use this software on tabs and a stylus for precise characters. Its GTS scanning tool was developed specifically for hand-drawn animation frames.

Billing:

OpenToonz is a free and open-source software, its source code was released to a GitHub repository in 2016.

Related: A Step-by-Step Guide to Make Videos With Photos

4. Animatron

Animatron offers a simple drag-and-drop interface that is efficient and smooth for beginners. There are a variety of royalty-free multimedia clips, including audio, music, and images. Kids can play with the collection of pre-animated sets and add customizations. Parents and teachers can also use the app to create fun animations for presentations and workshops. This animation maker is also used by professionals to create product explainers and marketing content.

Highlights:

Animatron is designed especially for inexperienced users or beginners looking for a way to express their creativity. It offers a Lite Mode, which is a further simplified platform to make the experience even easier.

Billing:

Some features are available for free for new users to try out. Billed versions are segregated into Streamer ($16/mo), Creator ($24/mo), and Business ($48/mo).

Related: How To Edit TikTok Videos In 10 Easy Steps

5. Pencil 2D

Pencil 2D is a free and open-source animation software that can be used by kids and adults alike. The app can work on Windows, macOS, and Unix. The app allows users to create animations by beginner-friendly methods. Kids can create characters by tracing drawings and layer-on effects to animate them. Kids can also upload images of characters to bring them to life. The software has a unique library of colorful characters, and everyone can use them to create short animations. After completing the project, you can save them in high-quality formats and share them online.

Highlights:

• Its platform is designed to be minimal so users can focus solely on the animation rather than worrying about tapping the right tool buttons.
• Easy to switch between raster and vector, so you can sketch or ink without any trouble

Billing:

Pencil 2D is available free, it is open source. It is even available free of cost for commercial purposes.

Related: The Definitive Guide to Choosing the Best Aspect Ratio for Your Videos

6. Stop Motion Studio

Stop Motion offers a fun and easy 2D animation maker that is extremely kid-friendly. You can upload images and add effects using the frame-by-frame editor. You can also use drawings and toy images to create animations. Connect with DSLR cameras to capture better-quality images. The app lets you record audio and also add voice effects.

Highlights:

• Offers composition guides for exact positioning
• Allows you to pre-mark In and Out points for smooth looping and playback
• Huge library of sounds and music elements to add life to your videos

Billing:

The trial version is free for all devices. The paid version varies in price depending on the device. iPhone and iPad versions are around $5.99, while Mac versions are listed at $9.99. It’s also available for Windows, Chromebook, and Android.

Related: How To Create Engaging YouTube Vertical Ads Using Simplified

7. VideoScribe

A fun and fast animation software for kids, VideoScribe works like an educational game. The drag-and-drop user interface is fun and easy to use. Kids can learn how to use the platform by following animated videos rather than reading text instructions. Afterwards, they can create videos using their collection of images, music, and pre-made designs. However, you must have access to a great internet connection to use the app.

Highlights:

• VideoScribe is also an excellent tool for new video creators who want to create guides and tutorials.
• The best part is that they offer a proactive support system to help with doubts and queries.

Billing:

VideoScribe offers a free trial for an entire week. Users have access to all its features. However, all your downloads will be watermarked for the period of the trial. You don’t need a credit card for this trial. After the trial, they have varying pricing tiers. A basic plan is $22/month, but if you take an annual subscription, this drops to just $9/mo. If you are looking for a plan for your entire team, contact them for a discounted price.