About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Animation-ish is one of the most enjoyable software programs we've seen in a long time. Some games aren't even this much fun. Its playful interface invites you to jump right in and start drawing.

Don't worry if you think you can't draw. The ability to draw well may be more handicap than help. If you've ever tried to draw using a mouse, you know that it's a frustrating exercise, at best.

But the loose, unpredictable lines you can create with a mouse fit perfectly with Animation-ish's free and easy nature. The whole point of Animation-ish is to relax and have fun. If you like to doodle, you're halfway there.

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Pros

• Colorful, playful interface.
• Lets you create an animation in just a few easy steps.
• Supports multiple levels of undo.
• Can import images in a variety of formats.

Cons

• It's difficult to draw or trace with a mouse.
• Everything must be created by hand, including text.
• There's no option to add sound.
• Color palette is limited.
• No text-based help.

Description

• Available for Mac and Windows.
• Trial version available for downloading.
• Three skill levels.
• Includes 50 video clips.
• Includes a project vault with starter ideas and drawings.
• Free online lessons available from the Toon Boom Animation web site.

Guide Review - Animation-ish

Who hasn't watched a Saturday morning cartoon and wished they could do that, too? Well, with Animation-ish, you can. You may not land a job at Pixar, but you can enjoy the very satisfying feeling of watching your doodles come to life.

The home screen provides easy access to Animation-ish's three skill levels (Wiggledoodle-ish, FlipBook-ish, and Advanced-ish), plus a Project Vault and online lessons.

Wiggledoodle-ish lets you turn a scribble into an animation in just a few easy steps. The tools are simple: an arrow for selecting and moving items, a paintbrush, a paint bucket, and an eraser. You can adjust brush size using a slider palette, and select a color from a paintbox. If you make a mistake, just click the Undo icon or press command+z. Animation-ish supports a surprisingly high level of undos; if there's a limit to the number of undos, we couldn't find it. Once you're happy with your doodle, the next step is to trace it, and then trace it again. Then just click the 'Play' icon to see your image in action.

FlipBook-ish follows the same basic path, but doesn't limit you to three versions of a drawing. In addition to playing the animation, you can view it as a continuous loop.

Advanced-ish is a little trickier, because it uses some of the same concepts as more typical animation software, including frames, foreground images, and background images. It also has additional tools (grabber, transform, zoom) and a larger color palette.

The Project Vault organizes items based on which 'ish' you used to create them. You can import files in a variety of graphics file formats to add to or serve as the basis of your animations.

Last but not least, every screen has an 'Inspire Me icon' you can click for a brief video-based tip from creator Peter H. Reynolds. Lessons and additional inspiration are available free on the Toon Boom Animation web site.

Publisher's Site