Today, when we are getting used to seeing more and more computer-generated imagery in the filming industry, one may wonder: is hand-drawn animation still popular in 2024? Despite the prevalence of CGI, drawn animation and its unique animation styles continue to hold a special place in the hearts of the millions. It’s irreplaceable, as stated by Micky Mouse voice actor Bret Iwan in Forbes. Moreover, the profession of animator is getting highly required and well paid.
The Hand-drawn animation is still alive and gets a prominent place in the industry. Below we will discover the history of hand-drawn animation, and animation drawing styles, highlight traditional animation vs computer animation, and discuss hand-drawn animation examples 2024.
Let’s take a journey into the magical world of traditional hand-drawn animation. It’s a fascinating technique in which each frame is lovingly crafted by skilled artists. This kind of animation used to be the superstar of cinema before computer animation took the spotlight. Below we highlight the main points of how traditional animation is created.
The character designers work their magic next, creating model sheets to keep the spirits’ appearances and movements consistent throughout the film.
The animators draw each sequence on transparent paper, frame by frame, capturing the magic of motion. While they do their thing, the background artists are busy creating stunning sets for the characters using watercolors or oil paints to add life to the scenes.
Once the drawings are polished and perfect, they get transferred onto thin, clear plastic sheets called cels. On cels, which is short for celluloid, objects are drawn or painted for traditional, hand-drawn animation. After all the hard work is done, the film is developed and processed. And voilà, the final masterpiece is ready to enchant audiences.
Let’s focus on the development of the industry after the introduction of celluloid film in 1888, which led to its use in theaters, television, and home entertainment.
Between 1895 and 1920, during the boom of the cinematic industry, brilliant minds reinvented and developed various traditional animation techniques. They played around with stop-motion using objects, puppets, clay, and cutouts, as well as hand-drawn and painted cartoons. Hand-drawn content, especially on cels, took center stage and became famously known as traditional animation throughout the 20th century.
As we approached the new millennium, computer animation and 3D animation with new cool animation styles stepped into the spotlight, becoming the go-to technique in many regions. However, Japanese hand-drawn anime and European hand-drawn productions still maintain their popularity. Computer cartoons usually boast a stunning three-dimensional appearance with intricate shading, but technology has also allowed for many other exciting animation art styles to come to life.
Despite its time-consuming process, hand-drawn animation with its vibrant styles, charm, and unique appeal, continues to find versatile applications in various industries. Let’s discover diverse use cases of hand-drawn animation in 2024.
One of the most iconic animation studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, continues to incorporate hand-drawn elements and creative freedom in their projects. Films like “The Princess and the Frog” and “Moana” feature a blend of hand-drawn and digital animation, demonstrating Disney’s dedication to honoring traditional techniques.
Animation studios like Studio Ghibli and Cartoon Saloon have continued to produce breathtaking hand-drawn animated films that captivate audiences worldwide. One of the best examples is Spirited Away (2001) which continues to mesmerize us with meticulous animated characters and moving landscapes. Moreover, Shows like “Adventure Time” and “Steven Universe” have garnered a loyal fan base with their different animation art styles and compelling storytelling.
Whether promoting a product, service, or brand, animated videos add a playful and artistic flair to marketing campaigns. The authenticity and creativity of hand-drawn animation resonate with audiences and make promotional videos more impactful and shareable in the age of social media.
Forget about hiring real actors to explain how your app works, as you can amaze viewers with fantastic animated characters and objects. Hand-drawn animations bring a touch of whimsy and personality to explainer videos, making complex information more digestible and engaging for viewers. Hand-drawn animation enhances user experience and helps app developers and website owners effectively communicate their messages.
A good example of implementing traditional animation into a modern mainstream is typography animation. While some creators may opt for powerful computer software or even augmented reality animation, lots of famous video production companies adhere to old good types of animation to bring that amazing feeling of childhood memories.
Teachers, online educators, and e-learning platforms utilize hand-drawn animations to create visually stimulating video content that enhances learning experiences. From explaining scientific concepts to storytelling in history lessons, hand-drawn art fosters better understanding among students of all ages.
Digital animation has come a long way from its roots in traditional cartoon methods. Nowadays, we can spot some significant variations between digital and traditional animations. By exploring these differences, you can discover the advantages and disadvantages of each method and figure out which one suits you best.
| Traditional animation | Digital animation | |
| Costs | Creating hand-drawn images for traditional animation demands a significant time, and rendering it is a more expensive approach in terms of cost. | The digital process is typically much less labor-intensive and needs fewer tools, leading to cost-effectiveness. |
| Errors | Addressing errors in traditional hand-drawn animation can present a more intricate challenge and require additional time for rectification. | Using digital tools allows for effortless and rapid rectification or elimination of mistakes. |
| Time | Creating characters is a time-consuming process and demands a dedicated setup, lacking on-the-go convenience. | Using computer graphics speeds up animation, letting you animate on the go with a laptop. |
| Virtual Vs. Physical | Traditional hand-drawn animation creates tangible artwork, requiring storage, but holding significant value. | All computer animations are entirely virtual and stored in digital versions only, enabling seamless online sharing. |
| Tools | Stationery supplies like paper, colored pencils/paints, erasers, and other essential items require replenishment as they deplete over time. | You need to consider buying specific computer software or programs and purchasing a computer powerful enough to work with 3D animations and long video projects. |
| Realism | Even the most skilled animators encounter difficulties when attempting to achieve photorealism in their work. | You can generate lifelike renders that breathe life into animated characters and objects. |
| Reusable | Repurposing conventional hand-drawn animation proves to be more challenging, as it necessitates the adjustment of tangible visuals in the procedure. | Once you’ve generated a digital animation, you can modify and repurpose it with the help of software, leading to enhanced efficiency and cost savings. |
The hand-drawn animation is diverse and animations can be reached in multiple styles: from old styles of animation including hand-drawn animation frames to 2D redrawing styles.
Now, we will immerse you in the intricate details of the top 8 hand-drawn animation styles used for 2D screens that are poised to capture your imagination and command your focus.
Back in 2007, a charming whiteboard animation style made its debut and it’s still creating waves in the world of marketing videos. Picture this scenario: you’ve got an exciting concept itching to be shared. With whiteboard animation, it’s as if you’re sketching it onto a welcoming blank canvas. As your pen gracefully glides across the screen, a warm voice joins in, leading you through the narrative.
Kinetic typography is like the rockstar of hand-drawn animations—it brings written words to life. But guess what? It’s not just about the moves—it’s about the story you want to tell, especially when it comes to spreading the word about your awesome stuff.
Imagine creating your mini-movies by taking photos and giving life to objects right in front of your camera. As you play back each photo in a sequence, you’ll see those objects come alive and move on their own. The real trick of stop-motion animation happens between those frames. It’s like a hidden dance of creativity that brings everything together. The result might look simple and smooth, but the amount of care and attention to detail that goes into every snap is incredible.
That is a nifty method that allows you to alter the stage’s elements in each frame. It’s ideal for crafting intricate hand-drawn animations, where the image evolves in every frame, rather than simply gliding across the stage. Keep in mind that frame-by-frame animation can increase the file size more rapidly compared to tweeted animation. That’s because animation stores the values for each complete frame, so it may take up more space.
That’s a cool technology that lets us change and transform geometric objects into different states. It works by using key points to smoothly transition figures from one form to another. The best part about shape animation is that it adds life and dynamics to objects. They start moving gracefully and undergo beautiful transformations. It’s almost like creating a hand-drawn cartoon frame by frame, which makes it one of the closest types of animation to the classic style. Every movement on the screen is a result of the hard work and dedication of creators.
This awesome animated style dates back to the 20th century, and it was hugely inspired by the shadow theaters of that time. The process is pretty cool: first, you create characters using paper, cardboard, or even photos. Then, you layer them on top of each other to give the illusion of movement. It’s like a subgenre of stop-motion animation but in a 2D format. A great example of cut-out animation’s awesomeness is South Park, probably the most famous one out there. You can also use this fantastic hand-drawn animation style for marketing purposes.
Back in the early days of traditional animation, smart folks discovered a cool trick. They copied human motions from old film frames and made lifelike animations. One of the best examples of rotoscope animation is Snow White, created in 1937. Fast-forward to 2006 and it jazzed up a Scanner Darkly’s look. Even now, it’s like fireworks, nailing real moves that’d take forever to make. So, next time you’re wowed by on-screen smoothness, you’re seeing an age-old awesome trick.
Travel back to the 1930s, when the brilliant French animator Alexandre Alexeïeff unveiled an enchanting animation technique, long before the digital graphics era. Alexeïeff’s ingenious technique involved a board adorned with countless tiny metal pins. Skillfully arranging these pins, he crafted captivating animations that were uniquely his own. Alexeïeff would nudge these pins to create shapes that formed the desired image – much like computer pixels forming pictures, but with pins.
The world of 2D hand-drawn animation and animated video is buzzing with excitement and brimming with potential. As this art form keeps on growing and adapting to the ever-changing trends and cool technologies, there’s a lot to look forward to.
Now, picture this, 2D animation is going to rock the digital and interactive scene. With all those nifty mobile gadgets, gaming setups, and mind-boggling virtual reality technology, the opportunities for 2D animation to dazzle us are seriously endless. Think about those addictive mobile games like “Angry Birds” and “Candy Crush”—they’ve nailed the art of using hand-drawn animation to create gaming awesomeness.
What’s more, 2D animation shines in the realm of bite-sized content. In our fast-paced world, platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram offer quick doses of animated delight. This trend is just beginning and it will definitely cover 2D animation usage.
We’ve taken a delightful dive into the top 8 animation styles that are stealing the spotlight and proving that hand-drawn animation is here to stay. From the enchanting nostalgia of traditional animation techniques to the mind-bending fusion of computer graphics, each style brings its unique flavor to animated films, cartoons, and video production. With the long-loved art of animation, our real life is full of expectations and vibrant stories.
Do you have an idea for a drawn animation for your marketing campaign or animated series to promote a product? Our Wow team is always ready to advise and help you. Contact us to create unforgettable hand-drawn content!
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