Toon Boom Technologies today released the Mac beta version of its animation software, Toon Boom Studio. To draw attention to its efforts, Toon Boom Technologies has also kicked off its “Tooning Into Animation” contest.
Toon Boom Studio 1.0 is a 2D animation tool aimed at animators, game developers, Web designers and graphic artists. The software features paperless drawing, inking and painting, lip synchronization, and 3D scene planning, among many other features. The software will carry a retail price of US$499 when it’s released later this month, but users can download a free beta version from Toon Boom’s Web site now.
The Tooning Into Animation contest challenges users to use Toon Boom Studio to create Web-ready animation in one of three different categories: Music videos, political cartoons or online advertising. One winner in each category will work directly with video game maker Sega of America, Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Mike Luckovich or DJ Mark Farina to create animated shorts. Luckovich, Farina, and Sega of America’s vice president of marketing communications will each select a winner based on originality, creativity, and overall consumer appeal.
The winners of the contest will be announced July 17 at next month’s Macworld Expo event in New York City — Toon Boom will also show the winning content. Winners will also get US$1,000, a copy of Toon Boom Studio 1.0, a Wacom Intuos graphic tablet, and a trip to Macworld.