Blender has few positives, it has all the functionality of Maya, simpler interface (or you can set it from options to have same interface and keybinds as Maya). Is lighter, much better UV mapping. Cycles engine is amazing and full node based support for other engines.
Blender is really simple, it is THE simplest to start with tbh it got low learning curve after the initial bump of course. After that it is quite steady.
But I am not talking about 3D animation. Blender can do 2D and 2.5D also. It just takes one button to switch the camera setting to 2D planar.