Tools for Animation and Shape Manipulation: A Scoping Review

Objectives: This paper presents a review of the latest, state-of-the-art research on animation tools, shape de-formation and manipulation published over the last 20 years (from 2001 to 2021). By presenting a systematic classification of available tools and expressing the methods and limitations of each of these tools, our goal was to answer some of the questions faced by researchers who are seeking to work in this field. We posed three questions and answered them by reviewing the literature. Materials and Methods: Four databases (IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, Springer, and Google Scholar) were searched for studies that introduce animation, deformation, or manipulation tools. The initial search yielded 296 articles. After evaluating them against the input criteria, 32 studies remain. Results: Out of the 32 studies we reviewed, four of these studies were related to shape manipulation and deformation, and the rest were related to animation tools. The results show that 24 of the tools developed are suitable for 2D manipulation or animation. Also, 28 cases were suitable for novice users. Conclusion: We presented a review of animation, deformation or manipulation tools, including methods and limitations. We also By referring to this work, the new researchers can identify their target community and determine what features previous papers have focused on and what limitations they have, and finally what choices they should be made to get started.