2D/3D Animation - Hashtronics

2D/3D Animations

In traditional 2D animation, things that you see are created by hand, or by frame. Moreover in 3D, you animate your characters and objects in a 3D environment using 3D animation software, where you can manipulate those characters and objects. Although drawing is an added advantage, it is not essential in 3D.

In 2D animation, animators2 sequence individual drawings over time to create the illusion of movement within a two-dimensional space using characters, VFX, and backgrounds.

Use cases

2D animation is used in cartoons, but in the 21st century, it is used in the majority of social media video content such as documentaries, videos, product demos, explainer videos, and animated whiteboard videos.
3D video animation is a modern art form and is used in movies, cartoons, and video games to create more realistic visual effects.

Top 3D Animation Software Programs

3ds Max

Autodesk’s computer graphics program is most popular among TV commercial studios, architectural visualization studios, and even game developers.
It can be used to create 3D video animations, models, and images for anything from movie effects to movie pre-visualization.
It also boasts the most robust animation and modeling tools of any 3D program, offering dynamic simulation, global lighting, shaders, particle systems, a customizable user interface, radiosity, and more.

Autodesk Maya

A 3D computer graphics software is used to create interactive 3D applications for visual effects, movies, TV shows, and video games.
It provides everything you expected from a professional program, including fluids, particle effects, peeling, modeling, ropes, and more. Maya was used to creating several films that went on to win Academy Awards.

Unity

From mobile games and next-gen titles to upcoming virtual reality experiences, Unity has seen a huge rise in popularity among game developers.
Its application comes is very easy to use, offering abundant features and art assets, and providing a free personal edition to try before considering the pro edition. Notable games made with Unity include Lara Croft Go, Battle Worlds: Kronos, and Asian Rift.

A 2D and 3D comparison

In 2D animation, animators use characters, visual FX (VFX), and backgrounds to create the illusion of movement within a two-dimensional space by arranging individual drawings throughout the spell.
In contrast, 3D animation involves manipulating characters and objects along three dimensions: height, width, and depth.

Use Cases

A complex category of 2D is 2D game animation. Unlike 3D video animation where characters interact with each other, characters have to respond to user input and perform corresponding actions in 2D game animation, which means the characters can be seen from many different angles. It has to look perfect. 2D animation is used in cartoons, but in the 21st century, it is used in the majority of social media video content such as documentaries, videos, product demos, explainer videos, and animated whiteboard videos. 3D video animation is a modern art form and is used in movies, cartoons, and video games to create more realistic visual effects.

The basic definition of 2D and 3D animation

2D animation is an art style based on the creation of a movement of objects and characters in two-dimensional space, satisfying only length and width. 2D animation is the art of creating movement in two-dimensional space. This includes characters, mortals, FX, and circumstances. The 2D animation style is used in cartoons, commercials, product demos, and brand videos – such as educational videos or infotainment videos. While 3D video animation is done by using computer software and deals with the formation of 3D models and their programs in a digital environment. 3D video animation is much more complex as compared to 2D animation involving modeling, animation, and rendering. 3D video animation is mostly used in the video game industry, movies, and cartoons and is usually used for high-end productions.

Top 2D Animation Software Programs

Autodesk Sketchbook Pro

Digital painting and drawing applications are known for allowing artists to work faster than other programs. Useful tools in the latest version include a Perspective Guide that renders perfect 1-point, 2-point, 3-point, and fisheye perspectives, a Distort Transforms tool for adjusting perspective and positioning, a Flipbook animation tool, an improved Layer editor, and more.

Adobe Photoshop

A program that has become a household name among professional artists, is being used by many entertainment and digital art companies. It helps 2D artists and animators alike by allowing you to edit and compose raster images in multiple layers while offering many features. If there’s one program that all animators should be familiar with, it’s Photoshop.

Tone Boom Studio

This program, which has been used for countless movies and shows, is one of the best for any aspiring 2D animator new to the art. Known for being easy to pick up and master, Tone Boom Studio also has many features like animation effects, bone animation tools, and a library of useful content. From mobile games and next-gen titles to upcoming virtual reality experiences, Unity has seen a huge rise in popularity among game developers.

2D and 3D animation training

We hope you now understand the difference between 2D and 3D video animation. Are you interested in creating 2D or 3D video animation graphics? Or, maybe you’re interested in a career in motion graphics. You can go the four-year university route which takes a lot of time. But in online training, you specifically study the principles and advanced motion graphic animation to learn without any fluff.

Differences Between 2D And 3D Animation

In the realm of animation, the more intricate of the two is known as 2D animation, distinguished from 3D video animation. This type of animation demands animators to create 24 frames per second and possess a thorough grasp of animation techniques, the structure of movements, and the science behind those actions. Animators have to work on each frame in 2D animation, which makes the process more labor-intensive and slightly more challenging than in 3D. On average, 2D animation is less expensive than 3D video animation, though the cost can fluctuate depending on the project. Typically, a 60-second traditional 2D animation will cost between $1,000 – $5,000, whereas a similar 60-second 3D animation will range from $7,000-$9,000. This discrepancy exists because 3D video animation necessitates advanced software and platforms, whereas 2D animation is predominantly done by hand and can be assembled using free 2D software.