1
Pose it
Drag any joint and inverse kinematics moves the rest of the body. Pin a foot, pull a hand, done.
900+animators on Discord
120K+views on YouTube
12updates so far
$0free, no subscription
How it works
From first pose to finished clip.
Three steps, one app. If you can drag a mouse, you can animate.
2
Time it
Add a frame and pose again. Onion skin shows the frames around it, so the motion stays smooth.
3
Share it
Export an MP4, a GIF or an image sequence, ready for YouTube, TikTok or your Discord server.
Features
Everything you need to animate. Nothing you don’t.
Pro tools, arranged so a first-timer can use them. Start simple and go deeper when you’re ready.
Camera
Make every hit land.
Inverse kinematics
Grab any joint. The body follows.
Pull a hand, plant a foot, drop the hips. Try it right here.
Onion skin
See the frames around you.
Shortcuts
Fast, and fully remappable.
Dual timeline
Start simple. Go pro when you’re ready.
Same animation, two ways to work. Switch any time.
Motion paths
Edit the arc, not just the pose.
Drag the top of the path to reshape the jump.
Drawing layers
Draw right on the canvas.
Sketch scenery, smears and effects on their own layers, frame by frame, over your animation.
Movieclips
Save a move once. Reuse it anywhere.
- 1Save it as a clip
- 2Drop it in any scene
- 3Loop, retime or hold
Figure builder
Build any character. Then animate it.
Line Circle Colors Polygon Test rig
Effects
17 effects. Drag to compare.
+11 more
Export
MP4, GIF or a PNG sequence.
1920 × 1080 · 24 fps · H.264
Audio
Sound on the same timeline.
Drop in music and sound effects, then time every hit to the beat.
Also included Asset libraryLayer parallaxGrid & guidesDark modeUI scale 75–200%Crash recoveryAutomatic updates
Coming from Pivot or Stick Nodes?
Your old projects open right in.
Double-click a project file. It opens in StykAnimate, ready to keep animating.
A real Pivot project playing in StykAnimate · Pivot animation by Uriel
Pivot Animator.piv.stk
Keeps timing, camera, sprites, polygons and gradients.
Stick Nodes.stknds.nodes.nodemc
Keeps your library, movieclips, poses, sprites and camera keys.
Then go further with
Inverse kinematicsReal timelineCamera moves17 effectsAudioMP4 export
Community library New
Start from something great.
Free figures, effects, moves and whole scenes made by other animators. Download one and it opens in StykAnimate with a double-click.
- FiguresCharacters and props, ready to pose
- MovieclipsEffects and moves that play on their own
- ProjectsWhole scenes to learn from or remix
What’s new
Shipped every few days.
New features and fixes arrive often, and the Setup version installs them for you.
1.2.5Oct 1, 2026LatestWindows · Linux · Browser
Layer folders, camera follow and smoother editing
- Layer folders with quick creation and a searchable filter to organize your timeline.
- Playback ranges to loop a chosen section of your animation.
- Automatic updates for the Linux AppImage, with a prompt to save your work before restarting.
- Move a layer up or down from its menu in the timeline.
Is StykAnimate really free?
Yes. StykAnimate is completely free, with no subscription and no paywall. Development is supported by optional donations on Ko-fi.
What do I need to run it?
A 64-bit Windows or Linux PC, or a modern browser. Windows Setup keeps itself up to date; on Linux, download the new AppImage when an update is released.
I’m on a phone or a Mac. Can I use it?
Open StykAnimate in your browser. A larger screen and a mouse or pen are recommended. Save projects as files to keep a copy outside browser storage.
Can I open my Pivot or Stick Nodes projects?
Yes. StykAnimate opens .piv and .stk files from Pivot Animator and .stknds, .nodes and .nodemc files from Stick Nodes. Double-click them after installing.
How do I export my animation?
As an MP4 video, an animated GIF or an image sequence, including high resolutions. Large exports stream straight to disk.
Is the download safe?
Installers come straight from StykAnimate’s official GitHub releases, and every version lists its SHA-256 checksum on the download page.
I’m new to animation. Where do I start?
Watch . It walks through a complete animation, from the first pose to the finished clip.
Your next animation starts with one frame.
Download StykAnimate and make your first animation today. It’s free.
Version 1.2.5 · Windows · Linux · Browser