What is 2D Animation?

An Ultimate Guide to 2D Animation

 

In the term “2D animation” 2D stands for two-dimensional, meaning that 2D artists create images and characters in the two-dimensional format and enliven them with movement. This type of animation is regarded to be the traditional form of animation with plain, non-voluminous characters moving up, down, left, and right.

 

How Is 2D Animation Created?

 

There are many ways to create 2D characters and bring them to life. If you are a fan of old-school animation, then all you need is a pen/pencil and many sheets of paper (for black-and-white animation). Add a color palette to that set to get colored animation. So, here you are: draw your character on a sheet of paper, then duplicate it on another sheet and add a tiny change to it, then do it again and add a change. The typical speed of image shift in today’s animation is 24 shots per second; so, after you have 24 sheets of paper with small changes added to each next one, you’ll be able to display one second of animation.

 

 

What Do 2D Animators Do?

 

Though 3D animation has become enormously popular at the end of the second millennium and still takes the lead in the world of animation today, 2D is far from dead. 2D animators are still in demand and perform a wide range of works for their clients including:

• Character design and creation
• Implementation of digital animation and video
• Creation of stop motion and web animation
• A variety of designs with the use of life drawing techniques.

 

 

Software Used to Create 2D Animation

 

The most traditional tools that every 2D animator should have include Adobe Photoshop and Flash. In Adobe, you can design characters and then add movement, backgrounds, and effects to bring them to life. It’s indispensable for creating 2D animation software for games, films, and Web use. The software offers multiple tools for design, thus giving you the flexibility and functionality professional 2D animation requires. Adobe Animate CC (previously Flash) is a vector animation program with such attractive advantages as ease of use, interactivity, and production of small-size files. All these features make Adobe the golden standard of 2D animation for many years.

If you specialize in 2D character animation, then you should definitely try Toon Boom; it’s highly efficient in terms of 2D animation projects’ implementation cycle, from design to compositing and effects. It is rich in styles, speeds up production, and gives the full toolset for project completion just the way you see it. For those more interested in 2D motion graphics, Adobe After Effects will also become an indispensable assistant.

 

 

These are specialized 2D animation software suites enabling the creation of professional, striking animation projects. But no matter whether you are planning a 2D animation career or looking for a 2D animation professional for hire, keep in mind that software is secondary, while the artist’s creativity and expertise are of primary significance.

Interested in 2D animation? Find more information and get high-quality 2D animation services at https://wow-how.com/2d-animation. Wow-How Studio employs the best 2D artists with a creative approach and solid experience to meet and exceed clients’ expectations.

In the next article, you will learn how to create a 2D Animation.