QUICK SUMMARY:  A richly-featured, low-cost program is a great introduction into animation, but the program doesn't do much to help new users learn the craft of 2-D animation.

I selected Anime Studio Debut mostly for my kids' sake (teen and pre-teen).  Since earlier this year, they've all enjoyed using a digital camera and Windows Movie Maker to create movies, especially Lego-based movies using Lego-built characters, vehicles and movie sets.  Anime Studio seemed like something they'd enjoy using.  Okay, and I'll admit I was intrigued, too.

In reality, I think the program offers a lot of value for the money, but the implementation for a "Debut" program -- one where no prior knowledge of animation is required or expected -- left a lot to be desired.  Although the makers offer a very thorough tutorial to help new users explore the program, I found it to be tiresome switching back-and-forth between the PDF-based, 41-page tutorial document and the actual program.  I prefer the more elegant way of learning a new program where the program itself uses wizards to hand-hold me through the learning process.  For instance, when I learned Sony Vegas Movie Studio earlier this year, its wizards got me using a program that is certainly no less complicated than Anime Studio, and perhaps is more so.  Whereas I continue to enjoy learning how to use Vegas, my enthusiasm for Anime Studio waned quickly.

My older, pre-teen daughter and I were both frustrated at the lack of context-sensitive help or menus in Anime Studio.  I like programs that let me right-click anywhere I happen to be, and a context-sensitive menu pops up with appropriate suggestions for what I'm doing at that moment.

I will credit Anime Studio Debut as being a "fun" program.  My pre-teen daughter especially has enjoyed manipulating the template characters that come with this program, giving herself and her siblings a lot to laugh at.  My daughter hasn't tried using the Users' Guide to learn the program -- her learning so far has been by trial-and-error.  If the authors of this program could see my daughter interacting with their program, they could see why a PDF Users' Guide tutorial isn't what's needed for this "Debut" program.

I am concerned that Anime Studio crashed a LOT while we've used the program on an otherwise stable Vista laptop computer.  If you install this program, I suggest monitoring the Reliability Monitor (in Vista and Windows 7) to see how reliable your computer currently is, and again how reliable it is after you've installed and begun using Anime Studio Debut.  (To find the Reliability Monitor, click the Start button, then type "Reliability" in the Start Search textbox to find the monitor).

SUMMARY:  I think Anime Studio Debut offers a lot of value for the money.  I've spent nearly as much money on stupid kids' games that weren't nearly so interesting to play with.  The functionality of this program is pretty deep.  Where the program comes up short is not on the functionality it has, but in how new users must go about learning how to use those functions.  For a "Debut" program, there is a lot that can be done to make learning Anime Studio Debut easier to do.
QUICK SUMMARY:  A richly-featured, low-cost program is a great introduction into animation, but the program doesn't do much to help new users learn the craft of 2-D animation. I selected Anime Studio Debut mostly for my kids' sake (teen and pre-teen). Since earlier this year, they've all enjoyed using a digital camera and Windows Movie Maker to create movies, especially Lego-based movies using Lego-built characters, vehicles and movie sets. Anime Studio seemed like something they'd enjoy using. Okay, and I'll admit I was intrigued, too. In reality, I think the program offers a lot of value for the money, but the implementation for a "Debut" program -- one where no prior knowledge of animation is required or expected -- left a lot to be desired. Although the makers offer a very thorough tutorial to help new users explore the program, I found it to be tiresome switching back-and-forth between the PDF-based, 41-page tutorial document and the actual program. I prefer the more elegant way of learning a new program where the program itself uses wizards to hand-hold me through the learning process. For instance, when I learned Sony Vegas Movie Studio earlier this year, its wizards got me using a program that is certainly no less complicated than Anime Studio, and perhaps is more so. Whereas I continue to enjoy learning how to use Vegas, my enthusiasm for Anime Studio waned quickly. My older, pre-teen daughter and I were both frustrated at the lack of context-sensitive help or menus in Anime Studio. I like programs that let me right-click anywhere I happen to be, and a context-sensitive menu pops up with appropriate suggestions for what I'm doing at that moment. I will credit Anime Studio Debut as being a "fun" program. My pre-teen daughter especially has enjoyed manipulating the template characters that come with this program, giving herself and her siblings a lot to laugh at. My daughter hasn't tried using the Users' Guide to learn the program -- her learning so far has been by trial-and-error. If the authors of this program could see my daughter interacting with their program, they could see why a PDF Users' Guide tutorial isn't what's needed for this "Debut" program. I am concerned that Anime Studio crashed a LOT while we've used the program on an otherwise stable Vista laptop computer. If you install this program, I suggest monitoring the Reliability Monitor (in Vista and Windows 7) to see how reliable your computer currently is, and again how reliable it is after you've installed and begun using Anime Studio Debut. (To find the Reliability Monitor, click the Start button, then type "Reliability" in the Start Search textbox to find the monitor). SUMMARY:  I think Anime Studio Debut offers a lot of value for the money. I've spent nearly as much money on stupid kids' games that weren't nearly so interesting to play with. The functionality of this program is pretty deep. Where the program comes up short is not on the functionality it has, but in how new users must go about learning how to use those functions. For a "Debut" program, there is a lot that can be done to make learning Anime Studio Debut easier to do.