Toonz, the software used by Studio Ghibli's animators to create anime classics, is now free to use and open source. An Italian studio has made a deal with a Japanese media company to enable it to produce and release a free version of the software.
The software used by the ever popular Studio Ghibli to make great anime classics can now be downloaded for free and has now become open source, The Verge reported. The studio created popular anime classics like "Princess Mononoke," "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Spirited Away" to mention a few.
Digital Video, an Italian studio, has made a deal with Dwango, which enables the Japanese media company to produce a release a free version of the tool. The software tool is called OpenToonz and can be used by anyone in the international animation community.
Claudio Mattei, the managing director of Digital Video, has said in a statement that the contract with Dwango has enabled the Italian studio to realize one of its strategies. One of those strategies is to make Toonz an international standard when it comes to 2D animation.
On March 26, Saturday, anyone can download the Toonz Studio Ghibli version, according to Wired. The software will include the different features the famous Japanese studio has helped develop.
Toonz was first released in 1993 and has become a powerful software tool for 2D animation. Aside from the Japanese studio's popular works, it also helped create "Futurama," "Asterix," and video games like "Discworld 2."
The tool is easy and flexible to use. Users can be able to work with old-school hand drawn animation or productions entirely in digital. The open source version has a great potential to expand the world of animation for many studios out there to use.
This move could result in big implications for the anime and gaming sectors in Japan. The Japanese media company owns game developer Spike Chunsoft, streaming video site NicoNico Douga and has influences with smaller animation houses in the country.
Meanwhile, the Italian studio will still continue to develop its own Toonz Premium software product. This version will be aimed at the professionals and will be sold at prices that can compete with others.
Watch the Studio Ghibli five weird facts video below: