Smith Micro has debuted Anime Studio Pro 9.5, an update of its higher-end animation software. The v9.5 release concentrates primarily on improving bone rigging. New nested layer controls grant more hierarchical control over rigs, and the Smart Bones tool has gained tweaks like extra layer and shape effect options. “Flexi-Binding” isolates the influence of bones.
Other enhancements include Depth Shifting, which preserves the size of objects on different planes, and real-time views of canvas changes. The Switch Layer system has been adjusted to speed up workflow.
Anime Studio Pro 9.5 is $300 new. An upgrade from Pro 9 is $50, while users coming from Anime Studio Debut 9 or Anime Studio 6, 7, or 8 must pay $150. The software supports Mac and Windows systems; the Mac version requires OS X 10.6 and a 1.5GHz processor.
