ToonBoom Software and the high cost of animation software

[Pierre]

I've been peppered with e-mails from the kind folks at ToonBoom to purchase their software at some rather nice discounts.  Unfortunately, spending $300 on ToonBoom Studio is a bit beyond my budget right now.  ToonBoom Animate is currently listed as $999 and Animate Pro is $1999 (their recent discounts are no longer valid).

I'm curious what justifies these kinds of prices?  I understand that these prices help fuel further development and these are considered pro-level pieces of software.  However, these prices seem to be beyond the reach of this hobbyist who would like higher end features than Animate Studio offers.  What functionality is offered at these prices that makes one decide to spend that kind of money?

Curious minds want to know.

Thanks!
Pierre

[chluaid]

It's called an investment. A carpenter can pay hundreds of dollars for a single chisel because it's exquisitely crafted by people who take the time and best techniques to make high quality, long-lasting chisels. In any industry, you pay for higher quality tools. Why? Because it takes more people, more time and a higher level of expertise to create them. Furthermore, a carpenter WILL pay hundreds for a single chisel because he's using it to craft his own art and make an income from it.

The ToonBoom programs are better suited for professional 2D animators, most of whom find Flash (which is more expensive than Animate) lacking in features and functionality for broadcast quality animation. Considering that animators use very few (if any) programming & web development tools in their work, Flash is terribly overpriced. If Adobe were to release a timeline animation tool with only the functionality that animators need and use, it would be a fraction of the price - or, they could perhaps add features and fix loads of stuff and keep the price the same.

Unlike Flash, ToonBoom as you know has a whole range of animation programs with varying levels of functionality and price, so if you can't afford the top tier just yet, get to know one that's lower in the range. Then again, there's always the free Personal Learning Editions.

btw, you said it yourself: This is pro software. Naturally it's a little beyond the reach of a hobbyist. That carpenter saved hard for his chisels.. he didn't get them as an apprentice. My advice would be to learn with a PLE, then when it comes time to start making money from your work, make the investment.

[TheGrayK]

Thank you Adam for the mention of the PLE version after seeing that I really checked out the site (before I went and only "glanced" at it). This time I watched the entire video tour of the software and this makes Flash look like a joke as an animation software.
Again a great Thanks to you Adam for this I will Love you forever and ever!

[Pierre]

Hi Adam,
Thanks for your reply.  I understand your point of view and I will certainly look into the Personal Learning Edition.  I've actually downloaded it and will venture to use it to get myself aquainted with its capabilities.

Pierre

[chluaid]

Good luck to the both of you! I look forward to seeing what you can come up with