Pivot Animator

Pros

• - Simple animation tools
• - Create custom stick figures with control points
• - Images can be included in animations

Cons

• - Animated GIFs are the only output format
• - The installer contains heavy advertising

Pivot Animator is a unique and free program that allows users to create very detailed animations of stick figures. The program is not a full-featured animation and modeling program. It is a simple application that focuses on providing a way to animate stick figures across multiple frames. The entire program is very small and installs in just a few seconds. One drawback is that the installer contains a number of advertisements that could fool some people. It asks whether users want to install different browser add-ons and other marketing programs. Users have to click the cancel or decline button several times just to get through the installation.

The basic layout of Pivot Animator is easy enough to figure out without any instructions. There is a complete help file included with the application just in case a specific function does not seem to make sense. The main window of the application shows the current frame of animation. The size of the window can be changed to almost anything in the options menu. There is a strip above the main window showing each frame of animation in sequence. Users can scroll right or left for very long animations. All of the other tools are located in a horizontal bar to the left.

The basic method of animation revolves around control points on the stick figure. There are small dots on the figure that correspond to the joints of the body. The dots in locations like the hands and feet can be moved freely in any direction. The dots in locations like the knees and elbows are considered static and will move the entire limb. Users position the stick figure in the frame by dragging the control points and then click the next frame button. This saves the frame, duplicates it and then creates a new frame. Users adjust the stick figure a little and repeat the process again until all of the frames are created. Animating the stick figures is especially easy, since a shadow of the previous frame is visible to make sure motion is smooth and consistent.

There are actually a good number of extra features in Pivot Animator. Multiple figures can be animated at the same time. A background image can be added to the scene. Small images can be animated like sprites. A very interesting feature is a stick figure builder. Users can combine lines, circles and control points to create a custom stick figure that can be animated. The application even includes a few pre-made figures like a clock, cowboy and elephant. Each figure can be set to a specific color, scaled up or down and even joined to another figure during animation cycles.

One of the only drawbacks of the Pivot Animator is that it outputs to only one format. Projects can be exported as a looping animated GIF only. This can be restrictive when planning a long animation. Anyone who is interested in creating fun stick figure animations in a simple application should download Pivot Animator.

Pros

• - Simple animation tools
• - Create custom stick figures with control points
• - Images can be included in animations

Cons

• - Animated GIFs are the only output format
• - The installer contains heavy advertising