ToonBoom Alternatives: How Outsourced Video Production Works
By Drawstory team
Aug 5, 2025
What was once an in-house operation, limited by geography and expensive gear, is now a global network of remote creatives, distributed teams, and cloud-based pipelines.
At the heart of this shift is outsourcing - a production model that allows studios, agencies, and content creators to delegate different parts of the process to specialized teams around the world.
As outsourcing becomes standard, so does the need for flexible, collaborative, and accessible tools for video production. And while ToonBoom remains a cornerstone for many studios, it’s no longer the only option. In this article, we’ll break down how outsourced production pipelines work, why ToonBoom is so widely used, and what ToonBoom alternatives are emerging—especially with the rise of AI in creative production.
How Outsourced Production Pipelines Work
A typical outsourced video or animation project often moves across multiple countries and production layers. Here's a simplified example of how a global pipeline might look:
USA → Canada → India/China
The client is usually based in the United States. This could be a brand, a studio, or a media company commissioning a video or animated content.
The main production studio is often located in Canada. Canada is currently one of the largest video production markets in the world, known for its tax credits, technical talent, and strong institutional support.
The execution teams - animators, storyboard artists, clean-up artists, etc. - are frequently based in India or China, where labor is more cost-effective, and high-volume delivery is possible.
This system allows productions to run faster and more affordably, but it also introduces complexity - especially when it comes to tools and workflows.
Why Canada Matters (And Why ToonBoom Dominates)
ToonBoom is widely considered the industry standard for 2D animation and storyboarding. But in Canada, it's not just a popular tool—it's a required one.
ToonBoom has an exclusive contract with the Canadian government, meaning that all Canadian productions are mandated to use ToonBoom. This agreement ensures consistency across projects funded or overseen in Canada.
Even outsourced teams in India or China—if they are subcontracting under a Canadian studio—are often required to use ToonBoom in order to meet compliance and production guidelines.
This has created a rigid toolchain: if a project starts in Canada, the rest of the chain must follow suit.
While this works well for large-scale productions and formal studios, it also limits experimentation and flexibility—especially for newer or smaller teams looking for modern workflows.
ToonBoom Alternatives: New Tools for Video Production
As outsourcing continues to evolve, so do the tools supporting it. Several ToonBoom alternatives have emerged in recent years - especially for teams who don’t require Canadian compliance, or who want more agile and AI-powered solutions.
Here are some of the best options currently available:
These alternatives vary in complexity and use cases. For example, Storyboarder is a great option for indie creators who want to sketch quickly. TVPaint is beloved by traditional animators, while Blender opens the door to hybrid 2D/3D workflows. Moho is especially powerful for character-based projects with rigging needs.
But the standout for pre-production is Drawstory.
The Rise of AI in Creative Production
As the creative industry races to meet faster deadlines with leaner teams, AI in creative production is gaining real traction. The most immediate use case? Storyboarding.
Storyboarding is one of the most time-consuming and expensive steps in the production process. It requires skilled artists who can visualize scripts, translate them into camera angles, and prepare frames for animators and editors to follow. But there’s a global shortage of storyboard artists—especially those trained in cinematic language and collaborative workflows.
Some artists reportedly work just once a month, and their availability becomes a bottleneck. At the same time, much of their work is repetitive and process-driven: framing, composition, matching continuity, and shot planning.
That’s where AI steps in - not as a replacement, but as a force multiplier.
DrawStory: AI-Powered Storyboarding
Drawstory is a new tool designed to bridge this gap. It allows users to turn scripts into visual storyboards automatically—complete with scenes, characters, and shot suggestions.
Whether you're a filmmaker, creative agency, or remote animation team, DrawStory helps you:
Pre-visualize your project in minutes
Generate scene-by-scene images from just a script
Reduce dependence on hard-to-find storyboard artists
Iterate quickly with clients and teams
The tool is especially useful in outsourced environments where teams are spread across time zones and need to work asynchronously. Instead of waiting days for a storyboard draft, DrawStory users can generate one on demand—then share it for refinement.
As more creative teams embrace AI in creative production, tools like DrawStory aren’t just replacing workflows—they’re redefining them.
Final Thoughts: Flexibility Is the New Standard
The global video production industry is no longer defined by geography—it’s defined by speed, collaboration, and adaptability.
If you're managing or building an outsourced production pipeline, tool choice is critical. Not just for creative output, but for operational compliance, creative alignment, and speed to delivery.
While ToonBoom remains essential for productions operating within the Canadian system, it’s not the only tool that matters. Today, more teams are turning to ToonBoom alternatives that offer flexibility, AI features, and compatibility with modern remote workflows.
Whether you’re scaling an animation studio, building internal creative capacity, or delivering projects for agencies and brands, your tools define your possibilities.
And that future is increasingly being shaped by AI, automation, and a new generation of creative software.
