AnimatorDV+

AnimatorDV+ is a free StopMotion photo compiling software available for download and installation on most Windows and MacOS devices.

A standalone webcam that can be connected via USB (not a built-in webcam as most laptops have) will be needed in order to capture pictures properly. Logitech manufactures and sells plenty of affordable models of webcam available at your nearest tech/electronics store

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Alternatives:

iMotion (iOS) - If you have an iPad, you might want to consider iMotion as you can use your iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch as both the photo compiler AND capture device

LMMS

LMMS is a simple music composition software available for free to download and use. A great starting program for budding musicians/composers before investing in more costly, industry grade software.

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Alternatives:

GarageBand (Mac OSX/iOS) - GarageBand is a fully functioning composition software that is available for free (and most likely already installed) on most Mac OSX devices and is also available on iOS devices as well.

FL Studio (Win/iOS) - FL Studio comes with a lifetime free trial. The only catch to this trial however is that you will not be able to save your progress and/or reopen saved projects. The ability to do so will only be unlocked when you purchase a licensing fee.
FL Studio also has a simplified version released on the iPad for a fraction of the cost.

FlipaClip

FlipaClip is the best 2D Animation application available for free on Google Play Store (Android devices) and App Store (iOS devices). Simply search for the app on your device's application downloader.

The core application is free to download and use. Additional features can be purchased however are not essential.

A stylus pen is not necessary for drawing and animating in FlipaClip however is recommended for serious and higher quality animating. A simple soft-tipped stylus can be found at your local dollar store, otherwise for those who are seriously invested in animating, the Bamboo Tip by Wacom is an excellent precision-tip stylus compatible on both Android and iOS devices.

Kdenlive Video Editor

Kdenlive is a free, open-source, and cross-platform video editing software that can be used on Windows, MacOS, and Linux devices. Technically speaking, you can use any video editing software you wish, but if you currently don’t have one and are in need of something functional and totally free, Kdenlive will get the job done.

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Alternatives:

iMovie (iOS/Mac OSX) - Available for free on Mac OSX and iOS devices
Adobe Premiere (Windows/Mac OSX) - An industry-grade video editor available for Windows and MacOS devices. Requires a monthly subscription to Adobe.
Sony Vegas Movie Studio (Windows) - Also in use at our Claymation camps as it has built-in voice recording. More detailed description below.

Sony Vegas Movie Studio

Sony Vegas Movie Studio is a quality level video composition and editing software that comes with a free 30 Trial. After the trial has expired, a license key will need to be purchased for continued use.

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Alternatives:

iMovie (Mac OSX/iOS) - Available for free on MacOS and iOS devices

Adobe Premiere (Win/Mac OSX) - An industry-grade video editor available for Windows and MacOS devices. Requires a monthly subscription to Adobe.

OpenShot (Win/Mac OSX/Linux) - See description above.

Audacity

Free, open source, and cross-platform available. Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux.

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Inkscape

Inkscape is our go-to 2D graphics software as it allows us to effortlessly create amazing vector art. Available for free for Windows/Mac OSX/Linux devices.

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Alternatives:

Adobe Illustrator (Win/Mac OSX) - An industry grade alternative to Inkscape with a monthly subscription fee to Adobe.

Scratch

Scratch is a free software available for download and installation on most Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux computers.

With its simple logic brick style programming, it is a great introduction software for those who are interested in game design and/or programming.

*If you do not wish to download/install Scratch, it is also available as an online Editor however an account registration will be required.

Godot Engine Version 3.2

Godot is a totally 100% free, cross-platform game engine that allows users to develop both 2D and 3D games, and even exports to mobile devices! 

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*At this time, due to Apple's application regulations regarding iOS applications, all of our mobile exporting options are limited to Android.

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**To export to Android, you will need to follow the installation steps provided on our Build-An-App page..

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Alternatives:
There are many different types of available engines depending on the project at hand, but here are a couple of commonly known engines. (These are free to download and use for personal projects. A royalties fee may apply for commercial use/profiting off your games.)

Unity (Win/Mac OSX/Linux) - Unity is a popular choice for Indie developers and is also totally free for personal use.
Unreal Engine (Win/Mac OSX/Linux) - A higher powered engine well known for its high-res graphics capabilities. A staple for Triple A studios, but it is available and free for personal use.

Blender

Blender is an amazing 3D Modelling and Animation software that is available for free to download and use on Windows/Mac OSX/Linux devices.

For a program that is available for free, it has the same capabilities as its more recognized, industry-grade counterpart, Autodesk Maya.

Blender also comes with a built-in game engine which we use for our 3D Game Design camp.

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Alternatives:

Autodesk Maya (Win/Mac OSX) - Maya is an industry standard 3D modelling and animation software available for purchase.