Moho Debut 13.5 | Create your own cartoons and animations in minutes | Software for PC and Mac OS

I puchased this Moho Debut 13.5 recently, wanting to mess around with doing some 2D animation and learn a new bit of software. After installing it, I had the impression I had used this software before - and turns out I had. This is Smith Micros Anime Studio rebranded as MOHO. I already had both Anime Studio Pro 9 & Anime Studio Debut and had used both in the past. So there shouldnt be much of a new learning curve for me with this Moho Debut. If you are new to this sort of thing (2D animation software), this software might seem a bit challenging at first. Take your time, read the tutorial manual and the user manual. There are also some good videos on YT that can cover the basics of getting started. One thing about this Debut version of the software, its basically the PLE (personal learning edition) for the full version of the software, Moho Pro 13.5. You can do most of the basic things with Debut, but you need the full version to do more advance work. All-in-all, Im happy with my purchase and look forward to seeing what new features there might be in this 13.5 release of the software.

I have not created animation on a computer before so I was curious to see how it works and what its like. I feel the Debut version of this software is a great way to get your feet wet with the concepts and tools used for creating digital animation. There is a PDF file that includes a step by step tutorial of how to get started in creating animations of your own. I also found some great videos made by McCoy Buck on YouTube that really helped me learn the software basics even though he was using the Pro version. This might be a great way to see the features in action before purchasing if youre on the fence. This tool appears to have previously been called Anime Studio many years ago but the tools and layout are very similar to Moho Debut today. Moho Debut allows the creator to create custom drawings and objects using vector drawing tools which provides endless possibilities for the creator. As an example, I created a stick person drawing using the basic drawing tools. Then I created a bone structure for my character which allows me to move the arms and legs of the character and bring it to life. The next step is to record an animation using key frames (for this example) which allows me to specify where I want objects positioned at this specific point in time from one keyframe to the next. Its very similar to tools I have used while editing videos. Since I dont have great artistic ability, I was happy to see a character building tool and a library of characters that come included with Debut. This makes it easy for beginners to quickly get going with creating a scene and to begin telling a story with these characters. I also enjoy seeing the stock pre-created scenes that appear when opening the application. Many of these have backgrounds and animations applied to the characters so you can see examples of what types of animations are possible with this tool and you have the freedom to experiment and explore the inner workings of the scene to see how it was created. If you are a beginner, give Debut a try before going for the Pro version unless you already know there are tools in the Pro version you will need. I do like that this tool is not subscription based so its a one time purchase. They also sell additional character packs and other add-ons via their website. Overall, I have been happy with this tool after spending about 20 hours learning the various features and tools. Im sure there is much I have to learn still but I like what Im seeing so far.

This is an amazing bit of software for this price. If you recognize 2d animation, this gets you there with minimal learning. Im family with general movie editing software as well as music software, so the concept of layering is not new to me. However, I have no animation experience - in no time, I found myself setting up mini vignettes and scenes (mostly using pre-made character samples). This gives me a good feel for the capabilities of this software. Theres amazing capabilities for an introductory software package and an array of educational videos available on YouTube for exploring the possibilities. Perfect for learning animation on a budget, but also capable of professional grade 2d animation. Recommended.

Fast delivery, great program and good price.

Moho Debut offers a great way to start working with vector-based skeletal animation, without requiring a large upfront investment. The learning curve can be steep, but even a novice can produce great-looking results with a little time and effort. Experienced animators, however, should skip this version in favor of the more expensive Pro edition, as some of Debut’s limitations make it suboptimal beyond casual use (especially when it comes to output quality). Moho’s bone animation system is intuitive to use, and an optional beginner mode makes things even easier by initially hiding some of the software’s more advanced features. A tutorial is provided in the form of a 329-page PDF document, which seems daunting at first, but the large size is the result of having many helpful pictures that guide you every step of the way. That said, the tutorial and user manual could be improved if Moho made use of PDF’s indexing/navigation features (e.g., a clickable table of contents), as the current documents require a ton of scrolling to find what you’re looking for. My only disappointment with Moho Debut is its severely limited output resolution. When creating your own projects, the software offers only a handful of SD/480p presets, and the custom dimensions are limited to just 900x900. That means even basic HD (720p or 1280x720) is out of reach, and your exported animation videos can look blurry/pixelated on modern devices or screens. Nowadays, even the cheapest of smartphones can record video in 1080p, which makes Moho Debut’s 480p resolution feel downright archaic. Overall, I’m enjoying Moho Debut’s easy-to-use animation tools and detailed tutorial, but its low-resolution output presets and short 3000-frame length limit can make the software feel somewhat more like a paid demo for the Pro edition, rather than a complete standalone product. Four stars.

I have been a user of Moho for over 10 years. It’s my go to animation software and an essential tool in my workflow. I have also released a few courses and a book on how to use the software. I think it’s a fantastic investment for anyone interested in animation. The Debut version of Moho is a great way to enter the animation world on a budget. You get access to some of Moho’s best features: the Bone system, camera, multiple layer types and vector tools. Moho can be used to create any style of animation from something like Family Guy, South Park or Archer, to Anime or anything in between. You can design everything in Moho or import outside images, or even combine the two. A streamlined yet powerful set of tools for creating fun animations. As stated, Debut is streamlined compared to Pro. You will find more options with Pro, but Debut is a great place for beginners or hobbyists. Even better, if you realize down the road you need more functionality, you can easily bring your Debut project files over to Pro and keep building up your work with the enhanced toolset. Bottom line: if you’re curious about animation but don’t want to invest a lot, this is a great place to start. It showcases some of Moho’s best features, is functional for creating standalone productions and allows for further expansion with the optional Pro version.

Initial impressions- Initially, I opened the software in beginner mode and then needed to dive into tutorials. I thought that I would be able to pull up characters and get them to move quickly. However, I am now on my 15th video and have not yet created a character and can tell I will need to study and further educate myself on this software. I have learned about bones and manipulated an existing flytrap and was able to move its parts around but can tell that there is quite a bit I will need to learn and understand. A lot of patience will be needed. There is an incredible amount of potential and I look forward to further use. However, I would not expect to be able to create a character in five minutes unless you have existing experience. There are a lot controls to understand. I will continue to use this and update with time and use.

If you dont have access to a dvd rom, you can download from their site and just input the serial number from the dvd. I have zero knowledge about animations, but in navigating inside the software, it feels very familiar to photoshop. On the left side of the software is a BEGINNERS MODE TOOL column. When you highlight a tool, there is an info box explaining what the tool does, as well as a video link you can click on for further demonstration. These video links take you to YT btw. Get used to the word BONE. In animation, you need to give your character bones in order for them to move. Each bone, whether it be arm, leg, hand, etc. has movements that you can define. I still know nothing, but I feel the software isnt all that intimidating if you spend a little time with it, as well as watching YT tutorials. And if you have photoshop or adobe illustrator experience, I think youll feel right at home. 5-Stars.

There is a really steep learning curve with this software (even the basic version), but if you stick with it it is really good animation software. The pro version is more functional, but you actually get quite a lot in this basic version at a fraction of the cost. This is good software for a hobbyist or someone just dipping their toes into animation. My daughter has been doing stop-motion animation for years and wanted to try something new. She was initially frustrated that this software wasnt more intuitive, but shes getting it now. You can install it on up to 3 machines/devices (though you can only use it on one at a time) and I downloaded the install on 2 of my laptops. Works well on my windows computers.

I have no artistic skills but I like the idea of animating things so wanted to give it a shot. While this software isnt simple (you have to draw, color, and animate), its not terribly difficult and a reasonably smart or dedicated person can use it. It comes with libraries already built in that you can tweak to get you started, as well as a 300+ page getting started booklet in PDF format. Im not expecting to make movies, but I love that I can do at least a little something.