CrazyTalk

If drawing a character and animating it is too much for you, CrazyTalk can make your life a lot easier. This unique piece of software comes with a wide range of advanced tools, to help you create 2D and 3D avatars from scratch, animate them and make them say custom lines. You can even make a 3D-rendered version of yourself using nothing more than two simple photos. Furthermore, the program places numerous character customization options at your disposal, so if you want to create a digital version of yourself, nobody will blame you if you want to make it look a bit better.

The program is free to try for a limited time, without any major functionality restrictions. Downloading its setup package and installing its components may take a bit of time in some cases, but not enough to make you leave your computer. CrazyTalk comes with everything it needs to run right after you install it, so you don't have to go through more than one setup process.

The user interface may seem intimidating at first, due to all the controls it has to offer, but in reality, you can learn how the program works and master its functionality in just a few minutes. Avatars are presented in the largest part of the window, and you can make use of various controls to move it around, change the background, and make fine adjustments to specific parts like the mouth, teeth and so on.

The software provides you with a wide range of customization elements for your avatar, all neatly organized in separate folders, on the right side of the interface. You can add different eyes, mouth, nose, hair and other pieces to your avatar to make it look however you want. If you want to see yourself with blue eyes or a smaller nose, you can do it by simply clicking and dragging the parts you want.

Besides all the custom facial traits you can apply to your avatar, you can also find voice scripts, idle animations, as well as pre-made avatars on which you can try out all the available options. The best part is that you can make your avatar speak and behave however you want. The software lets you pick between several input methods, like an audio file, text or live recording. Just pick up your microphone and speak or type some text and watch your avatar talk in a realistic fashion, thanks to the program's lip-sync capabilities.

CrazyTalk's features don't seem to end. The software lets you create new avatars from the ground up, which is one of the program's strongest points. The possibility of creating a 3D-rendered avatar from two simple pictures is certainly impressive, especially if you look at the results. Instead of creating abominations by simply stretching a picture over a 3D model, the program takes you through a short process, during which you have to place dots on your nose, eye corners and other areas, to help the program determine the farthest and nearest points in relation to the camera. This is done on two pictures, one from the front and one from the side, so you should make sure not to pose in your pictures. A simple mug shot will do just fine.

Based on the location of the dots you place on your portrait, the program will generate a 3D model, after which it will give you more tools, to fine-tweak small details, like eyebrows, lips and other details. You can have your generated avatar loaded on the main user interface and use the same controls with it, to make it talk and act. There are countless possibilities to explore.

When it comes to creating 3D characters and animating them, CrazyTalk is nothing short of amazing.