# Canvas Software - Animate — 2D, hand drawn animation

> Professional 2D animation creation software for iPad and Mac. (iPhone/iPad app by Canvas Software LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-software-animate/id1360871260 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Canvas Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1025253999)
- Category: Graphics & Design, Photo & Video
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.40/5 from 81 App Store ratings · 68 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.4 · 27 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2018-04-23
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-software-animate/id1360871260/reviews.md

## What is Canvas Software?

Animate allows you to create professional quality 2D animations on the iPad and Mac. Create animations on the go with iPadOS, or sit down with a powerful desktop computer with MacOS. Features of Animate include:

Canvas:
- Animate uses the custom-built Canvas7 drawing engine for rendering drawings.
- Make selections, draw with different tools, and import images.

Timeline:
- Scrub through your animation by sliding your finger across the top of the timeline!
- Break up your animation into layers and scenes for better organization.

Symbol Library:
- Keep a global collection of commonly used drawings for use in different projects.
- Create symbols using the selection tool.
- Useful for things like lip syncing or character designs.

Audio Library/Timeline:
- Import audio tracks and place them at different times throughout your animation.

Data:
- All Animate projects are saved using the ".animatedoc" file format.
- Export to .mov, .mp4, and image sequence.
- With the .animatedoc file format, you can open projects on iPad and Mac by simply choosing the "Import from File" option when creating a new project.


Make sure to leave a review and let me know how Animate can be improved!

## Key features

- Canvas7 drawing engine
- Layer and scene organization
- Global symbol library
- Audio track import
- Export to .mov, .mp4, image sequence
- Cross-platform project compatibility (.animatedoc)

## Recent user reviews (10 of 68)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-software-animate/id1360871260/reviews.md

### 4/5 — It's fine.

*2025-08-12, version 3.0*

I would use it more if there weren't any bugs :c Pls fix the crashes I want to actually animate my object show!!!
Thanks :3
- a local weirdo

### 4/5 — It's fine.

*2025-07-03, version 3.0*

I would use it more if there weren't any bugs :c
Pls fix the crashes I want to actually animate my object show!!!

### 4/5 — one. more. thing.

*2025-05-27, version 3.0*

I LOVE THIS. its just when i play my animation its super laggy, and also i would love for an option to add audio BUT MOST IMPORTANT, AN OPTION TO DUPLICATE FRAMES. thats actually all i need bro, just pls

### 1/5 — Horrible User Interface

*2024-12-21, version 3.0*

The interface is pretty unusable on a MacBook, here is what I experienced: 

1) Any action I do the EDIT->UNDO is always greyed out. 
2) There are 2 Undo/Redo buttons that do something sometimes and works temperamentally. 
3) I click on “A” to add text, click on the screen it adds “TEXT” but then click on the text to edit it, it would create another “TEXT”,… 
4) Undo does not remove it, and using the SELECT tool opens up another menu of Apply/Cancel/Copy, nothing seems to be helping to change the text. 
5) I click “+” in the keyframe editor thinking it would create a Key, annoyingly the whole text disappears, and another 5 layers are created. 
6) Clicking DELETE on the layers does not restore my original, 
7) Clicking the “+” on the left to add a layer, I select “Drawing Layer”, add text, is no longer editable, by far clicking the arrow icon would create some lines to “select” but that’s about it. 

I have no idea how the business agreed to release this, has anyone done any “quality control” checks for such software!?!!?

### 1/5 — Overall not good

*2024-07-05, version 3.0*

Laggy choppy and keeps crashing it was good at first but honestly the only thing going for this is the features but only if the app actually lest you use it

### 4/5 — Potential!! :)

*2024-05-10*

Things that are great:
How Specific you can get with frames and animation speed.
All of the layers.
Being able to make your own brushes and texture/stamps!
Nice starting brushes!
There are already textures you can explore! 
Good layout!

Things that I would change, but you don’t have to :)
Copy and paste buttons show a bunch of random options when you click it instead of immediately copying/pasting 
(Add drawing layer, etc..)
More Layer Options.

Bugs: 
Undo button doesn’t undo immediately on some try's. 
Onion skin goes over drawing but goes back under when drawing or it fixes itself for that frame.
Sometimes it’s a bit laggy drawing/erasing if your too fast/rough with it.

Overall you all did an amazing job! But it could use some updates please :) thank you so much!! Bless em’ and Jesus Loves you! 💕✌️♥️

### 1/5 — I can’t even use

*2024-03-30, version 3.0*

I keep crashing every time I click it

### 4/5 — It great but

*2024-01-31, version 3.0*

It a great app and it’s wonderful but the brush don’t have like clean brushes but at the same time I am new to this app

### 1/5 — WHAT IS THIS

*2024-01-18*

bro whenever i go over 72 frames everything just starts lagging, and when i try to do something about it, i can't. it will not let me click on anything when it has started glitching. also somebody tell me where is the copy and paste stuff. ik that you can copy and paste in the same frame but it seems like i cannot when it is 2 fraems.

### 3/5 — Not too bad

*2023-12-03, version 3.0*

I mean it has a lot of brush sizes better then flip a clip and I think as a beggineer it's decent

## Frequently asked questions about Canvas Software

### What kind of animations can I create with this app?

This app allows you to create professional quality 2D animations. It utilizes a custom-built drawing engine for rendering and offers tools for drawing, making selections, and importing images.

### How can I organize my animation projects?

You can break up your animation into layers and scenes for better organization. The app also features a symbol library to keep a global collection of commonly used drawings, which is useful for elements like lip syncing or character designs.

### What are the export options for my animations?

Your Animate projects can be exported to .mov, .mp4, and image sequence formats. This ensures flexibility for sharing and using your animations across different platforms and projects.

### Can I use my projects on both iPad and Mac?

Yes, all Animate projects are saved using the .animatedoc file format. This format allows you to open projects seamlessly on both iPad and Mac by simply choosing the 'Import from File' option when creating a new project.

### Does the app support audio integration?

Yes, the app includes an audio library and timeline feature. You can import audio tracks and place them at different times throughout your animation, allowing for synchronized sound and visuals.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.0 — 2023-02-10

- Added the ability to move keyframes back and forth throughout a frame collection
- Onion skin now appears directly beneath each layer rather than being shown behind everything
- Fixed issue where exported animation had reversed colors
- Fixed issue where hidden layers in scenes that are not currently selected would still show during export
- Fixed issue where scrolling through the timeline sometimes separated the frames from their layers
- Ellipse select
- Add and remove selections
- Improved smudge tool
- Adjustment Layers
- Mask Layers
- New image filters

- Rotation handle when transforming
- Skew transform
- Shape and Image layers
- Clipping masks and alpha lock
- Perspective Grids
- Quick Menu

### 2.7 — 2020-12-07

- Changes to file format to make projects load faster.
- Fixed issue where export would sometimes stall.
- Smudge tool.
- New brush engine that allows you to edit brush dynamics and create custom brushes.
- Project folders on iPad.
- Selection context menu.
- Fixed issues with symbol library that would sometimes cause symbols to be deleted.
- New, faster color picker that stores recently used colors.
- New alert window for creating projects.
- Added an edit button to layers.

### 2.6 — 2020-08-28

- Fixed issue where people would sometimes experience a black screen or the screen would keep flashing

### 2.5 — 2020-08-27

- Fixed issue where copying and pasting frames wasn't working

### 2.4 — 2020-08-25

- You can now add audio to your animations and scrub through them using the timeline! To add an audio clip, tap on the current keyframe and click "Import Audio"
- Update to file format, but no changes required on your part
- New playhead to show the current frame
- Small improvements to drawing engine

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## More apps by Canvas Software LLC

- [Canvas Software - Storyboard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-software-storyboard/id1392405363)
- [Canvas Software - Painter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-software-painter/id1659824947)

All apps by Canvas Software LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/1025253999

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*