DeviantART Film is released! Now animators and film makers are all trying to get more amazing work together to post up, but the cost is often a big set back when it comes to the production of short films, or animation. It doesn't have to be! There are tons of Free or low cost programs out there that can help you assemble or create your animation.
I've used the Film Forum to help me compile a list of animation programs that you can use. They range from Free to high cost programs, but most or all of these programs have a free trial version!

Some of these are very expensive professional programs and some are completely free! When its available I've stated if its free or the price that the website lists! I've also reviewed products I've used! if you have use one of these, feel free to note me a review of the product.

here is a huge list of links to other programs too!

Classical/2d Animation & pencil testing

Plastic animation Paper Home version - € 99 Windows, Linux
I use this and its great. I do all my rough animation in this, and import it into Toon Boom studio for digital ink and paint. Its brilliant, and its free for commercial use! (even the free version) Worth checking out! easier than scanning all those pages (great customer support too and a forum)

Toon Boom studio
home version of the Leading professional programs for 2d animation and digital ink and paint in studios. - USD $399.99 Win/Mac OS
I have this myself, and I work with Opus at work. I think Opus is glitchy but studio, I haven't had any problems with

Flash CS3
Animation and drawing program. Formerly Macromedia flash MX, then Adobe Flash 8. - US$699 macOS/win
I've never been impressed with flash. its Ruined what used to be cool cartoons, its glitchy and limiting. but for quick freelance work its something that people easily fall into and accept so you can make decent money with little effort. It definitely has its used for web animation (this is what it was originally created for)

Gimp - for animation
That free program everyone thought what just an alternative to photoshop, can actually help you create animation! Here's how!

Cinepaint - free

Tweenmaker - Free student version, Upgrade $55usd

Corel Animation shop 3 - $39 USD

Pencil - Free classical animation program

Digicell(flipbook) Line testing program - USD $79 and up
I used this one on Vancouver film school, and it was extremely simple to use!

Frame Thief - mac only (free)

CTP pro & lite - starts at $99 USD

Fusion 5 - (you have to email for a price, it, probably isn't cheap )

Combustion - $995

3d/digital animation

3D Studio Max
Highly customizable and scalable 3D animation, modelling, and rendering solution - USD $3,495 Windows

Blender
Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License - FREE! Win/Mac/Linux/FreeBSD/Solaris/Irix

Cinema 4D
Robust, professional, easy to use 3D animation software.

Cinema 4D - USD $895 Win/Mac
Cinema 4D XL - USD $2,195 Win/Mac
Cinema 4D Studio - USD $3,495 Win/Mac

Lightwave 3D
Proven for years in television, film, and games, LightWave 3D is also being used to create graphics for print, web, industrial design, architecture, medical imaging, and anywhere else a 3D package is needed - USD $995 Win/Mac

Maya
Create breathtaking 3D and meet production demands with fast, efficient tools and work flows. (a Fully functioning learning edition is available, final renders will have watermarks, but its great for learning!) - USD $1,995.00

Complete - USD $1,995 Win/Mac/Linux/Fedora Core
Unlimited - USD $6,995 Win/Mac/Linux/Fedora Core

SOFTIMAGE|XSI
SOFTIMAGE|XSI gives artists and studios everything they need to keep pushing the boundaries of art and technology—all at an unbeatable value.

Foundation - USD $495 Win/Linux
Essentials - USD $2,995 Win/Linux
Advanced - USD $4,995 Win/Linux


Bryce
Whether you are a professional designer, or a 3D graphics enthusiast, Bryce 6 provides you with the tools to literally create a world of your own.

Bryce 6 - USD $99 Win/Mac

Poser
Poser provides the easiest way to design with the human form in 3D.

Poser 7 - USD $249.99 Win/Mac

Terragen
Terragen is a scenery generator for Windows and Mac, and is free for personal non-commercial use.

Terragen 0.9.4 Personal - FREE! Win/Mac
Terragen 0.9.4 Commercial - USD $99 Win/Mac
Terragen 2 Personal - FREE! Win/Mac
Terragen 2 Commercial - USD $199 Win/Mac
Terragen 2 Commercial w/ Animation- USD $299 Win/Mac

Vue d' Esprit
Vue 6 Esprit is the essential 3D application for artists and illustrators, casual and professional alike.

Vue 6 Easel - USD $99 Win/Mac
Vue 6 Esprit - USD $229 Win/Mac
Vue 6 Studio - USD $429 Win/Mac
Vue 6 Infinite - USD $735 Win/Mac
Vue 6 xStream - USD $935 Win/Mac

Stop motion

_{Thanks to ^Nico1 for these links.}
If you're a PC user:

Monkey Jam
Motion Mage StopMojo
Stop Motion Animator(for ClayMotion)
Stop Motion Pro Junior License

If you're a Mac user:

iMovie
iStopMotion

If you're a Linux user:

StopMotion 3.0
Motion Mage
StopMojo

Pre/post Production

Toon Boom storyboard
Paperless storyboarding program - USD $249.99 win/mac OS
Adobe Premiere - US$799 win/macos
Adobe After effects - US$999 win/macos
Final cut Studio - $1,299US mac/universal

Tools, stores & hardware

Topolate Line testers and light tables
Cartoon supplies

More!?

^deviantartfilm - deviantartFilm's Headquarters! this is the go to place for the film an animation community to stay updated! please add it to your devwatch!

Resource list - a list of schools, job boards, studio's and festivals over at ^deviantartfilm! Updated often!

Tutorials - a list of Tutorials all collected in the ^deviantartfilm account, so its a constant resource! Note ^deviantartfilm to get yours added!

If there are more programs that you know of, please feel free to drop a link in This forum thread and I will update this news to include it This should become an up to date place to access all animation resource needs.

_{Please also note, prices on here are taken from the website at the time the article was written, they may have changed and newer versions of these programs released.}