| Type | Private ltd |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Products | animation and storyboarding software |
| Website | toonboom.com |
Toon Boom Animation Inc. is a Canadian software company that specializes in animation production software. Founded in 1994 and based in Montreal, Quebec, Toon Boom develops animation and storyboarding software for film, television, web animation, games, mobile devices, and training applications. In 2005, Toon Boom was awarded a Primetime Emmy in Engineering.
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Toon Boom's client base ranges from professional studios to individual animators and colleges. Prestigious customers include: Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Television Animation, Nelvana, Warner Bros. Animation, Walking the Dog, Mercury Filmworks, China Central Television, Toonz India Ltd, W!LDBRAIN, eMation, Rough Draft Korea, Alphanim, 2d3D Animations, Cromosoma and Enarmonia.
The live action/animated film, Space Jam, the Disney film Hercules and the Danish film Jungledyret Hugo 2: den store filmheit were the first films to use Toon Boom software.
In 2006, the IT Federation of Quebec (FIQ) awarded the company an OCTAS 2006 award in the Multimedia – Educational and Cultural Sector category for Toon Boom Studio 3.0. In 2007, the FIQ awarded Toon Boom an OCTAS award in the Best Technology Innovation category for Toon Boom Storyboard Pro. In 2008, Flip Boom was awarded the Parents' Choice Gold Award. In 2009, Flip Boom was granted the Editor's Choice by the Children Technology Review. In 2010, Flip Boom All-Star was granted a Parents’ Choice Silver Award.
The Toon Boom community comes from 85 countries. Working extensively in Asia and more particularly in India, China, Korea and The Philippines, Toon Boom is also developing new geographies in the Caribbean and Africa especially in Egypt and South Africa.
Several video tutorials developed by Toon Boom are available to learn Toon Boom Studio, Storyboard Pro and Animate. Toon Boom publishes on its web site monthly tips that make users more proficient with the different tools. In addition, several power users have developed their content to help the community develop higher quality animation. Examples can be found in the Cartooning in Toon Boom Wiki at toonboomcartooning.wetpaint.com and at ToonBoomTutorials.com. Additional tutorials can be found at Toon Boom EF Tutorial!. Another series of video tutorials are developed by Adam Phillips on YouTube Adam Phillips' Animate Tutorials and by CartoonSmart on Vimeo CartoonSmart Video Tutorials on Animate.
Tips and tricks, animation charts and FX templates are also developed on a monthly basis, and teaching aids are available to educators. Students and educators have now a dedicated section in the Toon Boom Forums.
In 1996, Toon Boom purchased the software development business of USAnimation studio. Its animation production services were initially to be merged into CST Entertainment according to a premature press release from CST. That merger never transacted, and USAnimation's studio changed its name to VirtualMagic Animation in 1996 and operated independently. Toon Boom has been continuing the development of the USAnimation software, formerly known as Toon Boom Opus, it is now called Toon Boom Harmony.
In 2006, Toon Boom acquired French company Pegs's'Co[2], developer of the 2D bitmap animation software called Pegs. Since the acquisition, the software has not been updated and cannot be purchased anymore (it has been replaced by Toon Boom Harmony).
In 2009, Toon Boom acquired English company Cambridge Animation System, developer of Animo.[3]