Adobe Flash VS Anime Studio: Which Is Vector Animation King?

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As both an animator and an instructor, I get many questions regarding Adobe Flash and Anime Studio Pro. Which software is more affordable? How does each utilize animation? Is Anime Studio easier to use? And overall, which software is better? The clear answer is this: neither of these pieces of software are better than the other. However, there are differences that may or may not benefit users, depending on the circumstances. I will list five main points in this article regarding the pros and cons of each software.

  1. Bone VS frame by frame animation. While AS can do frame by frame animation, it was built for bones. Bone animation is the technique in which you draw out a skeletal structure and animate an object based on it. Flash has a basic bone and tween system, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Anime Studio’s. However, Flash is more usable as a frame by frame animation software. There is no right or wrong here, it just depends on your style.

  2. Anime Studio is more user-friendly. It’s true, especially if you have never dealt with animation before. The software is pretty straight forward (especially the Debut version) yet deep enough for professionals to get some real mileage out of it. AS was designed to be an animation solution. Adobe Flash is an overall more robust package, allowing for programming, web design and more, so the focus isn’t strictly on animation. If you’re new to animation, and don’t want to become overwhelmed, Anime Studio may be your best bet.

  3. Adobe Flash costs more. If you’re on a budget, you may want to consider the cost of these software. Adobe Flash can cost upwards to $500 USD while Anime Studio can be snagged for $100 or so, depending on where you buy. There is, however, a trade off to this…

  4. Adobe Flash does more than just animation. Interactive websites, games, mobile applications and the list goes on. Flash is used by many in the industry for more than just cartoon animation. Plus, it integrates well with the entire Adobe Suite. If you want more than just vector design, Flash may be your best bet.

  5. Try them for yourself! I could go on and on about the differences between these two pieces of software. At the end of the day though, it all comes down to personal preference. Ease of use VS more features, bone animation VS traditional animation, cost VS integration, etc. These are all things to consider before plunking down money. Take some time, download the demos and try them out for yourself.

4 Tips That Would Prevent You From Having A Compromised Animated Explainer Video Quality

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Animated Explainer Videos are extremely effective in putting across your message in a comprehensible manner. The real challenge, however, lies in making sure that the quality of your Explainer Video is just perfect. Here are four insightful tips that could prevent you from getting a low quality Animated Explainer Video produced.

1. Finalize your script before the animation process starts

In the video production process, animation is done on the basis of the script. Once the animation is completed and the final video produced, altering the script would only deteriorate the video quality. This is because, correspondingly, animation would also have to be altered, requiring that part to be made from the scratch. The altered part may then appear like a patch and break the flow of the video, thereby reducing its overall quality. Therefore, it is important to finalize the script before giving it for animation.

2. Specify the minutest of details, right at the beginning

It is advised that even the minutest of details, like color specifications, logo details (where and when to place in the video) etc., are given right at the beginning of the production process. Any redoing / revision is strictly ill-advised, as the new specifications may not fit-in as well, and may in fact, decrease the visual appeal of the video.

3. Final Voiceover v/s Dummy Voiceover

Voiceovers form the foundation of Explainer Videos. For a video to look professional, perfect synchronization between the voiceover and the animation is a must! Sometimes, during the video production process, animation is done first on the basis of a dummy voiceover which is then replaced by the final voiceover. This is a No-No! The final voiceover could have some variations from the dummy voiceover, in terms of the speed of voiceover narration, emphasis made on particular words, pause placements etc. This creates a mismatch between the animation and the voiceover, thus deteriorating the video quality. Even a minutely desynchronized video could confuse the viewers and make them feel annoyed by the low quality. Thus, it is better to animate the video based on the final voiceover instead of on a dummy voiceover.

4. Finalize step-by-step

Typically, the video production process involves the following steps in the given sequential order:

  • Research
  • Scripting
  • Storyboard Creation
  • Voiceover Recording
  • Animation
  • Delivery

Since the video is built gradually, based on the output of the previous step, therefore, going back to a previous step during the production process should be avoided. Since it is extremely important to have the perfect synchronization between the script (voiceover) and the animation, altering anything in these elements, often disrupts the flow of the message, making it ambiguous.

These precautionary tips could help in eliminating the unwanted elements that could put off your viewers. Follow these and pull off an amazing animated Explainer Video for your brand promotion.