The open source software license allows for both commercial and non-commercial projects, and, to sweeten the pot even more, an effects development kit for advanced image processing like lighting and distortion effects, as well as GTS (a scanning tool developed by Studio Ghibli that allows for efficient scanning of sequentially numbered drawings) was released as well. If you’re serious about animation, I don’t see why you wouldn’t just jump right in. If you’re not yet familiar with animation, but would perhaps like to incorporate it into your next film project, start by checking out the (growing) number of tutorials and videos that have already popped up since the release of the open source version of Toonz: A user forum boasting hundreds of discussions, a development forum for deeper discussions of how to build out the software, unofficial resource guides like this one on Tumblr – and of course basic video tutorials:

There’s been some reports of clunky operation and system crashes in it’s initial release, but all signs point to a powerful animation software that will grow into a real competitor for software like Adobe and ToonBoom.

Download the software here.

Check out the trailer for The Tale of Princess Kaguya – produced by Studio Ghibli using the Toonz software:

h/t Cartoon Brew

Filmmaker meet Vimeo. Vimeo meet filmmaker. Oh, you already know each other? Of course you do. Vimeo is the go-to for high quality video hosting and has long been home to the most beautiful videos on the Internet – with a lot less distractions (oh look, KITTENS!) than on big brother YouTube. You’ve almost certainly also seen their Vimeo Staff Picks; a collection of short films and documentaries highlighting the best and the brightest among new filmmaking talent.

But do you know the Vimeo Video School?

Video School is a curated archive of videos on Vimeo that will help you learn about filmmaking through tutorials, lessons, advice, case studies and interviews with industry pros and creatives. All for the collective betterment of the visual medium and all of us who are trying to master it.

Need the scoop on how to compress video like a pro? Not a problem.

Just getting started with Final Cut Pro X? Check out the complete 17-episode tutorial.

Not sure how to go about shooting on your smartphone? There’s a lesson series for that, too.

And lots and lots of inspiration. Just dig deep.

No Film School has done an absolutely amazing job of reporting from the trenches and they’ve been kind enough to collect all their coverage in a round-up you can – and should – study in detail at your convenience. For those looking for simply a quick primer on what happened at NAB 2015, here’s a list of what we’re most excited about.

Adobe Introduces Character Animator

If you’re anything like me, motion capture and character animation sounds like both a major headache and thousands of dollars all in one unapproachable package. Well, Adobe thinks that this feeling of dread should be a thing of the past, even for relatively inexperienced filmmakers who wants to add character animation to their projects. From the looks of this video it’s not only relatively easy to animate in real-time, it’s also easy to get your hands on the software – for free – as long as you own Adobe After Effects and are subscribing to their Creative Cloud.

Cue the James Bond music. This tiny transmitter from Lectrosonics takes concealable audio units to a new level. It’s pricey, yes, but with this on the market, other and cheaper options are sure to follow soon. For me, these micro-transmitters are interesting products because they make a new kind of professional filmmaking possible. One where you don’t have to worry about blocking in fear of flashing your mic pack to the camera. One where you can be more spontaneous. This little guy is even controlled remotely from your iPhone or Android device. The 007-factor is important too, obviously.

#TryCion Program Let’s You Borrow Their Camera For Free

Along with a bunch of new features revealed with their latest firmware update, AJA has introduced the #TryCION program, which puts their CION Cinema camera in the hands of indie filmmakers – free of charge. Pretty cool. So if you’re gearing up for a production and would like to take advantage of the CION’s 4K/120fps shooting capabilities, head on over and sign up. Check out the gorgeous footage that awaits you:

3DR Announced New Drone At $999 Price Tag

I want one. Edit: I want several and I want them now. This little smart quadcopter from 3D Robotics may not do anything it’s competitors don’t, but what it does it does beautifully and at a price tag that allows even broke indie filmmakers to dream. Or even to pre-order from B&H. This thing will add unbelievable production value to any shoot. And even more importantly, it will allow indie filmmakers on a budget to dream of shots that were previously reserved for the big boys. See all the specs here – and check out the epic launch video:

Redrock Micro Is Changing The Way We Pull Focus

Pulling focus can be a tedious task. Depending on camera movement, blocking and the space you’re in, it might even be a time-consuming headache to get that pull-focus just right. No more, says Redrock Micro, as they usher in a new age of focus pulling with their HĀLO system. HĀLO will allow you to use a combination of manual and automatic focus via a touch pad and a nifty little device called HĀLO Explorer. In so many words; it looks awesome. In many more words, check out Redrock’s own explanation in No Film School’s video interview. It’s really quite spectacular:

Portable PRO Power LED from Lowel At Accessible Price

Lighting can be the bane of any low-budget shoot, especially if you’re working with a lot of locations and very little time. Here’s finally a – from the looks of it – professional grade light source that is portable enough to throw in the back of an Uber and flexible enough to be all you need to make your shots look like a million bucks, without spending a lot of precious time on setup and breakdown. Lowel’s portable PRO Power LED is available for $625, comes with a variety of light controls, runs on either AC or battery and has a number of different color options. Looks slick too.

Be sure to check out all the excellent articles from No Film School right here.