[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” module_class=”post-animation” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
New to 2D animation? Here\u2019s what actually happens behind the scenes. The real process, not the romanticised version. Let\u2019s see what is 2D animation?<\/strong><\/p>\n At its core, 2D animation is straightforward. It\u2019s about creating the illusion of movement by showing a series of slightly different images in quick succession. Yet it\u2019s a skill that combines art with technical know-how, and it\u2019s been central to entertainment for generations.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve put together this guide to walk you through how it works, the distinction between classic and modern approaches, and what the career prospects actually look like.<\/p>\n When you think about 2D animation, you\u2019re looking at an art form that\u2019s all about creating the illusion of motion in a flat, two-dimensional space. It covers everything from characters and creatures to visual effects and backgrounds. The principle is surprisingly straightforward. Take a series of individual drawings, show them one after another at the right speed, and your brain automatically stitches them together into smooth, continuous movement.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/explainvisually.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2d-walk-cycle-1.jpg” alt=”Animated characters – 2D animation walk cycle” title_text=”2d-walk-cycle” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”post-animation” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The story of 2D animation goes back to the late 1800s. Artists like \u00c9mile Reynaud and J. Stuart Blackton figured out something remarkable that, if you put sequential images together, you could fool the eye into seeing motion<\/strong>. They experimented, discovered the underlying principles, and essentially opened the door for everyone who came after them. The techniques they pioneered became the foundation for an entire medium.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/explainvisually.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IN189_7_CCCRx2000-1.webp” alt=”Four Ad jobs” title_text=”IN189_7_CCCRx2000 (1)” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”post-animation” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Now, the medium itself has evolved quite a bit. In the beginning, animation meant sitting down and drawing every single frame by hand, and if you\u2019ve ever tried that, you know it\u2019s exhausting work\ud83d\ude06. But technology has changed the game.<\/p>\n Modern animators have access to powerful software like Toon Boom Harmony and Adobe After Effects, tools that make the process faster and more efficient. That said, despite all these digital tools, the medium hasn\u2019t lost its artistic soul. It\u2019s still recognisably 2D animation, with all the distinctive visual quality that comes with it.<\/p>\n Back when 2D animation first started, it was genuinely gruelling work. Animators had to hand-draw every single frame, and to give you a sense of scale:<\/p>\n One second of finished animation typically required 24 individual drawings.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Now, not every animator used all 24 frames per second. It depended on the style and budget of the project.<\/p>\n This approach, called \u201con 2s\u201d<\/strong>, became pretty standard in the industry because it cut down significantly on both production time and costs without sacrificing too much visual quality.<\/p>\n That traditional way of doing things has transformed dramatically over the years. When digital tools arrived (software like Toon Boom Harmony and Adobe After Effects) the possibilities exploded. Animators could suddenly create far more intricate animations with richer visual detail.<\/p>\n You can see this evolution everywhere, from the way Walt Disney pioneered the craft with \u201cSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs\u201d to the sophisticated digital animations you see online today. The medium has spread across film, television, streaming platforms, and everywhere else, constantly finding new ways to tell stories.<\/p>\n There\u2019s something special about 2D animation that crosses generational lines\u2026.<\/p>\n People of all ages feel a genuine connection to it, and there\u2019s a familiarity to the medium that just feels right, something comforting about hand-drawn animation that digital techniques haven\u2019t entirely replaced.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/explainvisually.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07-1.gif” alt=”2D animation software – Gif” title_text=”07″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”post-animation” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n What makes 2D animation so enduring is its flexibility. It works across virtually every genre you can think of, and it\u2019s genuinely accessible. If you\u2019re thinking about getting into animation yourself, 2D is often where people start. Despite all the technological progress we\u2019ve seen, 2D animation hasn\u2019t lost its appeal. There\u2019s something emotionally direct about it that resonates with viewers, whether it feels nostalgic or fresh.<\/p>\n If you look around the internet right now, 2D animation is everywhere and it\u2019s thriving. You\u2019ll find it in TV shows, video games, feature films, commercials, mobile apps, and websites. Companies are using it constantly to grab attention and tell their stories.<\/p>\n Take a look at what studios like Explain Visually<\/a> are doing with projects for brands like Mitsubishi Electric, or how indie games like \u201cCuphead\u201d have become cult classics thanks to their hand-drawn style. Even social media platforms like Snapchat are investing in short animated episodes because they know audiences eat that stuff up.<\/p>\n You probably see 2D animation every single day without even realising it. Ads, entertainment content, educational videos. Animations play a massive role in how we experience the internet.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Television animation has exploded, and streaming services are constantly hunting for fresh content. The demand for skilled 2D animators has grown massively over the past decade, and it shows no signs of slowing down.<\/p>\n Companies across industries, from marketing to education<\/a> to pure entertainment, are looking for artists who can create original, engaging animations that actually capture people\u2019s attention and deliver messages effectively.<\/p>\n Visit Explain Visually<\/a> to learn how we help brands make their mark on the world with 2D animation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Read also: Animation vs. Illustration: Which is More Effective [Based on Research]<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/explainvisually.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2015.28.7_new_image-2.jpg” alt=”The classic Mickey Mouse cartoon @ Copyright by Disney” title_text=”2015.28.7_new_image (2)” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”post-animation” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Traditional animation (sometimes called hand-drawn or classical animation)is a time-honored animation techniquein the business. The principle is straightforward:<\/p>\n you draw each individual frame by hand to create the appearance of movement.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Typically, animators would sketch each frame on paper first, then trace it onto transparent sheets called cels. These cels get layered over static background artwork to form the complete scene.<\/p>\n Every frame shows a tiny shift in position or expression. When you play these frames back in sequence, the eye perceives smooth, continuous motion. It\u2019s labour-intensive work that demands serious skill and patience. To give you a sense of scale, a single animated feature can require thousands upon thousands of hand-drawn frames.<\/p>\n Modern 2D animation takes a completely different approach compared to the traditional methods. Instead of drawing everything by hand, animators use computers to speed up and simplify the entire process.<\/p>\n These programs come packed with features (vector-based drawing tools, rigging systems, motion tweening) that cut down on the repetitive work of drawing frame after frame.<\/p>\n What\u2019s particularly interesting about modern animation is how it connects with other digital technologies. You can create interactive animations for video games, mobile apps, websites\u2026 Pretty much anywhere.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s something worth noting!<\/p>\n2D animation \u2013 definition and history<\/h2>\n
History of animated films \u2013 origins and evolution<\/h3>\n
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Nostalgia and timeless appeal<\/h3>\n
2D animation today<\/h2>\n
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Styles and techniques in 2D animation<\/h2>\n
Traditional animation<\/h3>\n
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Modern animation<\/h3>\n
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