Animation Basics: Understanding 2D Animation The beauty, power, creativity, and versatility of 2D animation have made it a treasured art form for many decades. While the tools used to create it and the styles that define it have evolved over time, 2D animation has remained an eminently useful and beautiful way of communicating concepts and stories. Understanding its history, tools, styles, and potential can help you to gain a better grasp of how the 2D animation studio can assist your own project. Definition of 2D Animation 2D animation, also known as hand-drawn animation or traditional animation, creates animated projects that appear within a two-dimensional context, such as that created by a drawing on paper. It consists of numerous frames that, when played in rapid succession, give the appearance of movement. Typically, each scene requires hundreds of frames. Today, 2D animation is usually created digitally in any one of numerous styles to give each project its own unique look and feel. Throughout the years, 2D animation has developed a wide range of styles and techniques that make it a versatile art form. For instance, animators can choose from the whimsical features of anime or embrace the more concrete details of realism while they create. In addition, styles can often be combined to create entirely new looks. With the help of a skilled concept design artist, any project can be transformed from vague ideas into a concrete, polished, and unique style. As a result, while 2D animation has sometimes been overshadowed by the advent of 3D animation, this form of animation retains a powerful role in virtually every type of animated production, from feature-length films to famous mascots to educational clips. Tools Used in 2D Animation Originally, 2D animation companies utilized hand drawings to create their animated projects. Every scene required multiple frames drawn by hand, with each frame depicting a slight change from the previous frame. When these frames were then photographed and presented in rapid succession, they would convey movement to the viewer. While tedious and labor intensive, this system was used to create many classic films, such as Pinocchio. Over time, animation began to take advantage of advances in technology that made the process faster and easier and that achieved better results. One of the first of these advancements was the use of celluloid to preserve certain aspects of the background from frame to frame in order to cut down on the amount of drawing required. Today, 2D animation relies almost exclusively on computer technology. Among the many computer programs that serve as staples for 2D animators are Adobe Flash and Adobe After Effects. These programs allow 2D animators to achieve realistic, high-quality animation that rivals that of 3D animation for all kinds of projects. Uses of 2D Animation 2D animation was originally used in entertainment, particularly in feature length films such as those put forth by Walt Disney. However, it was not long before animation's ability to engage and educate was put to use in other areas. For instance, because 2D animation is uniquely suited to engaging the viewer, it makes an effective medium for advertising and mascot development. As a result, it is now a valuable tool wielded by marketers to do everything from build brand awareness to sell a new product. In addition, 2D animation's ability to visually depict complex concepts has made it popular in education projects and animated explainer videos. These include projects for people of all ages, from young children to professionals and executives. Interactive animation appears in video games and other areas where user participation is beneficial, while animation's versatility makes it a wise choice for enlivening and enriching almost any digital project.
Advantages of 2D Animation 2D animation has occasionally suffered from a misconception that 3D animation can provide a superior animated experience. However, the truth is that 2D animation can be just as effective as 3D animation, while offering a number of advantages. For instance, 2D animation is highly entertaining, making it a wise choice for educational projects or presentations that might otherwise confuse or bore the audience. In addition, 2D animation tends to be more cost effective than 3D animation, which is one of the reasons it has been able to make such extensive headway into fields such as advertising and education. As a result, it provides a way to garner the benefits of animation even for smaller budgets. Finally, the versatility and artistic creativity that 2D animation brings means that it can be designed to suit almost any project. For instance, regardless of the target audience, a 2D animated advertisement can be designed to speak to the audience in way that they will find persuasive. Similarly, 2D animation can be designed to appeal to small children for an educational program, and created with polished and professional tones for a boardroom presentation. The result is an art form that lends itself to a wide variety of uses and needs. 2D animation continues to thrive in numerous roles across a variety of fields. Up and coming animators continue to embrace the art form for its beauty, versatility and simplicity, and continue to provide clients of all kinds with animated projects that meet their entertainment, advertisement, or educational needs. With its evolving tools, techniques, styles, and advantages, 2D animation promises to be a powerful force in the animated world for many years to come, adjusting itself to people's needs and continually producing unique, refreshing, and effective works of art. Sources: https://blog.udemy.com/2d-animation-2/ https://www.dbswebsite.com/blog/2010/01/29/what-is-the-difference-between-3d-and-2danimation/ http://learn.org/articles/What_is_2D_Animation.html http://www.wizmotions.com/2204/difference-between-2d-and-3d-animation-videos/ http://overit.com/blog/2d-3d-animation-know-differences