The Benefits of 2D Animation
Since the 1990s, 3D animation has become very popular. Today, major movies around the world use his techniques to create lifelike images that give the viewer a sense of being part of the animated world displayed on the screen. Despite the benefits and popularity of 3D animation, traditional animation in the form of 2D animation and elsewhere still plays a central role in the animation world. Since its arrival in the early 1900s, it has brought a slew of benefits to animated projects. The following are just a few of the many benefits that 2D animation offers.
efficiency
An advantage of 2D animation is the efficiency with which it can be produced. Animation, by nature, is never a simple process. As an art form, it takes a lot of skill and creativity to produce objects, characters, and worlds that appeal to the target audience and that accurately convey stories and messages. In addition, the numerous techniques and styles that have developed over the past century provide an animator with a variety of tools from which to choose.
While 2D animation requires just as much skill as 3D animation, it is generally faster to create, simply because it doesn’t require a third dimension. 2D animation companies don’t have to create lifelike images like 3D animators do. For example, their cityscapes don’t have to consist of buildings with details that make them look like real buildings. This faster design can help people who need to finish a project quickly.
Simplicity
A second advantage of 2D animation is the fact that the designs are often less complex than those of 3D animation. How beneficial a simpler design is depends on the project. For example, action movies usually benefit from 3D animation because of the detailed action and complex imagery they use to draw the viewer in.
However, when the design needs to emphasise the message, the services of a 2D animation studio are usually preferred. For example, a sleek design is often more effective in advertising than a traditional one, because it conveys the advertiser’s message more clearly to the viewer. Certain games, such as Candy Crush, also rely on a simpler design to appeal to their audience. Some television shows, such as South Park, have built their success on 2D animated designs. Even educational apps or explainer videos need a design that doesn’t get in the way of the message the project is trying to get across.
Cost efficiency
The efficiency and simplicity of 2D animation lead to greater cost-effectiveness, another boon for people who want the benefits of animation but can’t afford the sometimes hefty price tag associated with 3D animation. The fact that this type of animation takes less time and is less complex means that it can be achieved with fewer resources, savings that often translate into a lower price tag. In fact, many projects use 2D instead of 3D animation, at least in part, because it’s more cost-effective for tight budgets and small businesses. Any 2D animation provider should be able to work with your budget to create a project that meets not only your creative needs but also your financial constraints.
artistic freedom
Each type of animation brings with it numerous creative possibilities. However, 3D animation should always look lifelike and realistic, regardless of the scene, objects, or people depicted. As a result, the fanciful and exaggerated generally don’t translate well to the 3D screen, and styles like anime are more difficult to create through the use of 3D tools.
2D animation, on the other hand, makes entirely new worlds possible. For example, through traditional animation, the animator can create people, cartoons, and more that don’t exist in real life. As a result, anyone who needs an animated project can use 2D animation to more easily create images and worlds that would otherwise be very difficult to film and/or create with 3D tools. This aspect of 2D animation also lends itself well to creating projects that target specific audiences. Not only can the animator use his imagination to create characters and worlds that are not lifelike or realistic, but in doing so,
because of the artistic freedom offered by 2D animation, this type of animation requires a high level of talent that makes the animator as proficient as anyone working on a 3D project. The animator should use their creativity and knowledge of the art form to develop characters and worlds that meet the needs of the project, rather than simply focusing on creating images as lifelike as possible. From concept design to character design to storyboards, they must use their expertise to create exactly the type of project being proposed and the goals that govern it.
Choosing 2D animation for your animation project does not mean that you limit your choices. Instead, the efficiency, simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and artistic freedom with which the animator can bring your idea to life give you advantages that, in many cases, make it a better choice than 3D animation for successfully completing your animated project.
Powerhouse Animation is a traditional 2D animation studio based in Austin, Texas, with offices in Burbank, California. Since 2001, Powerhouse has been bringing ideas to life through animation, illustration, and motion graphics. Powerhouse works on a wide range of projects and has created animations for clients including Disney, Sony, Marvel, DC, Old Spice, Miramax, the USO, and others.
