Moho

Formerly known as Anime Studio, Moho is a powerful 2D animation program that occupies a unique middle ground. It is significantly more advanced than consumer tools like Vyond, but it approaches rigging quite differently than the enterprise giant Toon Boom Harmony. It is heavily favored by independent animators and small-to-medium studios producing web series or television content. Moho's standout feature is its proprietary "Smart Bones" system. Rigging a 2D joint (like an elbow) often results in ugly distortion when the arm bends. Smart Bones allow an animator to set up rules so that when the elbow bends, the software automatically triggers secondary animations—like a bicep bulging or a shirt sleeve wrinkling—keeping the vector art looking perfect at any angle. It also excels at integrating with traditional frame-by-frame workflows. You can import PSD files from Photoshop with all layers intact, rig them in Moho, and animate them. It includes a physics engine that allows gravity to act on specific vector layers, making it easy to animate dangling earrings or flowing hair without doing it frame-by-frame. It provides professional-tier capabilities at a much more accessible one-time purchase price.