What is OpenToonz used for?

OpenToonz is an open-source 2D animation software based on Toonz, used by Studio Ghibli. It is a good fit for professional animation production, individual animation creation and educational use in schools.

Is OpenToonz open source?

Yes. OpenToonz is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at opentoonz/opentoonz and is written mainly in C++.

Yes. OpenToonz is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.

Can I self-host OpenToonz?

Yes. OpenToonz can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.

What is OpenToonz an alternative to?

OpenToonz is an open-source alternative to Adobe After Effects, Clip Studio Paint and Apple Motion. Other open-source alternatives to Adobe After Effects include Blender, Krita and Synfig Studio.

Is OpenToonz actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to OpenToonz was on 12 October 2026, and the latest release is v1.8.0, published on 19 June 2026. The project has 7.8k stars on GitHub.

OpenToonz: open-source alternative to Adobe After Effects

About OpenToonz

OpenToonz is a 2D animation creation software. It is based on Toonz, which was developed by Digital Video of Italy and customized by Studio Ghibli for use in their productions. The project was started by Dwango with cooperation from Digital Video and Studio Ghibli.

The software is free for both commercial and non-commercial use. It is open source, allowing anyone to modify the source code. It aims to be a platform connecting academic research in visual expression with animation production.

Key features

Includes GTS, a scanning tool developed by Studio Ghibli for animation production
Supports digital painting with anti-aliased lines and independent drawing and palette data
Provides a time sheet interface and node tree GUI for compositing effects
Supports both raster and vector drawing formats
Includes a plugin effect SDK for adding image processing effects
Offers effects developed by Dwango's research team, including deep-learning-based style transfer

Good fit for

Professional animation production
Individual animation creation
Educational use in schools

Built with: C++ tools
Tags: 2d animation; animation software; opentoonz; studio ghibli; open source

OpenToonz: questions and answers

What is OpenToonz used for?: OpenToonz is an open-source 2D animation software based on Toonz, used by Studio Ghibli. It is a good fit for professional animation production, individual animation creation and educational use in schools.
Is OpenToonz open source?: Yes. OpenToonz is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at opentoonz/opentoonz and is written mainly in C++.
Is OpenToonz free?: Yes. OpenToonz is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.
Can I self-host OpenToonz?: Yes. OpenToonz can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
What is OpenToonz an alternative to?: OpenToonz is an open-source alternative to Adobe After Effects, Clip Studio Paint and Apple Motion. Other open-source alternatives to Adobe After Effects include Blender, Krita and Synfig Studio.
Is OpenToonz actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to OpenToonz was on 12 October 2026, and the latest release is v1.8.0, published on 19 June 2026. The project has 7.8k stars on GitHub.