Best Gifts for Animators

With the advancement of technology, animation is one of the top professions in the market. There’s absolutely no better place to run your imagination freely than in the world of animation.

Is there a 3D animator in your life that you care about? They have a flair for bringing great ideas to life via amazing animations. Animate their life with these best gifts for animators.

5 Best Gifts for Animators

1. FlashForge Adventurer 3 Lite FDM 3D Printer

ASIN: B07TYRGWSQ

A 3D printer should be the first thing on your mind when talking animators. The 3D printer can create souvenirs of their 3D creations that they can proudly decorate their homes with.

The FlashForge Adventurer 3D Printer offers terrific value for money. Your animator friend will like tinkering with this top-rated gadget and explore what it can do.

The improved and upgraded nozzle is designed for uninterrupted operations and minimal jamming. The vibrant full-color touchscreen display simplifies control and is very user-friendly. Calibration is simple and precise due to its built-in calibration detection system.

The minimalist design sports useful features like the detachable nozzle. The flexible and removable build plate is a joy to work with. The printer can work with a long list of filament materials – you name, it’s got you covered.

At 45 dB, this high-performance 3D printer is quieter than other models.

This is a superb choice for those who want extraordinary print quality without spending a fortune on 3D printers. A splendid choice for any 3D modeling fan.

Pros

• Extraordinary good print quality
• Full-color touchscreen display
• Upgraded nozzle design minimizes jamming
• Excellent value for money
• Compatible with many filament materials

Cons

• Small build volume

2. Sculpey Clay Pack

ASIN: B000XAUKZM

The Sculpey clay pack can be a great gift idea for your animator friend. Although 3D modeling is done on computers, good old-fashioned sculpting clay can inspire the artist within, improve your skill and give a better eye for detail.

Sculpting clay is great for helping aspiring 3D animators to try out new ideas that they have in mind quickly.

Sculpey is a fantastic choice since it dries in months. Your animator friend can use it for months at end. This clay can hold an incredible level of detail.

Pros

• 10 colors available in pack
• Stays moist and pliable for months
• It can be carved, drilled, and painted easily after baking
• Non-toxic

Cons

• Some find it too soft

3. Game Anim: Video Game Animation Explained

ASIN: –

You may want to give your animator friend this book if they are planning to start video game animation.

This book demystifies video game animation. It provides clear and detailed explanations of all stages of game animation. The differences between traditional animation and the more recent non-linear animation are laid out.

A very useful book to read for those who want to have an overarching view of the animation part of video game development. Professionals and beginners alike can benefit from the work philosophies and insights that this book purveys.

The author is Jonathan Cooper, the highly acclaimed video animation expert who has lead teams on AAA titles like Mass Effect and Assassin’s Creed.

Aspiring animators will appreciate this book, giving them access to 2 decades of experience and practcal insights from an award-winning legend animator who has seen it all.

Pros

• Written by award-winning animator
• All stages of video game animation explained
• Presents over two decades of field experience in video game animation

Cons

• Geared towards beginners

4. Pinnacle Studio 24

ASIN: B08F9PG9CR

You can think of gifting the very best professional-grade animation software. However, that could easily set you back thousands of dollars. But you don’t have to choose prohibitively expensive animation software.

Serious amateurs can benefit from the Pinnacle Studio Ultimate. Of course, there are bound to be a few compromises in functionality, but overall, the features are fantastic given the incredibly low price point that’s almost too good to be true. Not only is it the most affordable, but it also offers a great wealth of features that animators require.

Besides extensive features, Pinnacle also boasts extraordinary rendering speed that is one of the very best. This matters because animation software is resource-heavy and demanding.

The best part is that you get a lifetime license, unlike other software where you have to fork out a pretty penny each year.

You can gift your friend Pinnacle Studio 24 to assist them in reaching the Pinnacle of their animation career.

Pros

• Low price point
• Superb wealth of features
• Very fast rendering
• Permanent license
• The latest version has powerful upgrades

Cons

• Limited motion tracking

5. Logitech MX Master 3 Advanced Wireless Mouse

ASIN: ‎B07S395RWD

3D animators need professional-grade ultra-wide 4K monitors and computers with phenomenal processing power. Both of these would make extremely expensive gifts. You may not buy something this costly for your own self.

But there is one key item that is often overlooked and underrated. An excellent super-smooth scrolling Bluetooth mouse like the Logitech Master 3 Advanced. Even if you know next to nothing about 3D animation, you will realize that the mouse is key to the animation workflow. 3D animators have to use one for hours at a stretch, in fact, all the time. So a great mouse is not a luxury. It is a necessity for motivated 3D animators who want to go pro.

If your animator buddy does not have a mouse of this caliber, then you are in luck. This high-end Bluetooth mouse sports 4000 DPI for ultra-precise scrolling. Even the wheels on this mouse are one of a kind.

The mouse contour is unique. Besides stainless steel wheels (that includes a thumbwheel!), it also has a thumb rest to facilitate long hours of work.

With its USB battery charging, you can have it last 70 days on just one charge.

Using the app provided, you can program the mouse to perform the most common animation function for expedited workflow.

An awesome high-performance mouse is one of the best and safest gifts you can give to an animator friend. After all, this is key to their work, and they have to use one all the time.

Pros

• 4000 DPI
• Bluetooth enabled
• Super fast and smooth scrolling
• Lasts 70 days on a full charge
• Thumbwheel plus thumb rest

Cons

• For right-handed use only

Our Final Thoughts

The best gifts for animators listed above can unleash creativity in your grateful friend. So, don’t wait to get one for your friend now.