Animation is the process of creating the illusion of moving images using successive and rapidly changing still frames. Animation styles differ in the use of different tools and techniques for creating.
Both experienced animators and novice animation lovers will find it interesting to learn about different animation styles. Do not rush to be surprised if you have no idea about some of them. Therefore, we decided to collect the top 20 types of animation styles and tell you more about them.
Traditional Animation
Traditional animation is one of the older styles of animation. In it, the animator draws every frame. Sequential drawings quickly exposed one after the other, creating the illusion of movement. The simplest example of such animation is the old Disney cartoons.
2D Animation
2D animation is a term used when referring to traditional hand-drawn animation. It can also refer to computer vector animations using traditional. The reason that such types of 2d animation styles have been placed in their category is that in addition to the frame-by-frame animation option, the animator can create character components and then move the body parts individually rather than draw the character over and over again.
2.5D Animation
What is 2.5 D animation? 2.5d technology or voxel graphics try to imitate three-dimensional space. This is an ordinary raster in three-dimensional space, only to the standard color parameters for a raster and the coordinates of the X and Y axes, the Z axis, that is, the depth, is also added here.
3D Animation
3D animation is the creation of various objects in three-dimensional space and their subsequent animation on the screen. A distinctive feature of 3D animation is realism. Volumetric objects on the screen resemble objects from the real world. At the same time, they retain a kind of “cartoonishness”. Although, if necessary, the animator can create a realistic image too. It is because of this feature types of 3d animation styles have become so popular.
Whiteboard Animation
Whiteboard animation is the process where an author draws an illustrated story on a whiteboard using black and white colors. The drawing process looks very interesting and the audience can watch it. It is accompanied by a vivid narrative, allowing viewers to follow the drawing step by step.
Experimental Animation
In experimental styles of animation, images have their rhythm and movement. These animated films use original colors and textures. They do not have a definite structure or a coherent narrative. The animator uses a subjective approach, touching on philosophical and spiritual issues.
Motion Graphics
Motion graphics video production typically involves animating images, text, or video clips using keyframes that move to create smooth movement between frames. Today, it is one of the most popular animation styles which you can use to create brand promotional and informational videos, video for startups, explainers, tutorials, etc.
Stop Motion
Stop motion or puppet animation is a technique in which animators use real objects to shoot and change them for each frame. When they sequentially play frames, the illusion of movement appears.
Sand Animation
Sand animation is a process in which an artist creates portraits, landscapes, fairy tales, and realistic paintings on a table illuminated from below. An artistic means for creating paintings is ordinary sand or other bulk material. The whole process is recorded by a camera.
Paint-on-glass Animation
Paint-on-glass animation is a technique for creating animated films by painting with slow-drying oil paints or gouache on sheets of glass. The technique looks very beautiful and original but is not popular because of its complexity.
Cut-out Animation
Cut-out animation is a form of frame-by-frame technique using flat characters, props, and backgrounds cut from materials such as paper, cards, stiff fabric, or even photographs. Today, cut-out style is often created using computers and scanned images. One of the best examples is “South Park”.
Pinscreen Animation
This is an original animation style that you will need a vertical soft screen and a lot of needles to create. When you press the screen, the needles follow the shape of the object, creating an interesting play of shadows that allows you to achieve a three-dimensional image.
Rotoscope Animation
Rotoscoping is one of the animation styles and techniques in which animators frame-by-frame outline objects using special programs and a rotoscope. This style is considered traditional and originated in the early period of cinema when animators projected real-time shots onto a glass panel and traced the image.
360 Animation
360 animation is not just 3D. This is the type of video that opens up endless opportunities for video marketing. It allows you to see a three-dimensional object from all sides, so it is often used to create virtual tours of real estate or virtual fitting rooms.
Mechanical Animation
Mechanical animation is used to visually demonstrate the devices, components, and various mechanical products. It is much easier to explain the operation and functionality of such devices with the help of animation. Of course, the result must be of very high quality so that the picture will not contain errors.
Erasure Animation
This is an original style in which the author uses white paper, a pencil, and an eraser. He first draws, and then gradually erases the images.
Typography Animation
Typographic animation is a style of text animation that originated in 1899 when advertising with moving letters was created in France. In business, this technique is used to display statistical data.
Plexus Animation
Plexus animation is a style for creating flat images using dots and lines. This simple technique allows you to create fascinating patterns that can be a good addition to the main idea.
Minimalistic Animation
Minimalism is one of the new and modern animation styles that strives for maximum simplicity. This technique is ideal for explainer videos, allowing complex information to be presented in simple words and images.
Clay Animation
The essence of the technique is that the characters are created from clay. Further, their actions are filmed on camera. This type of animation is used for cartoons and commercials, the main audience of which is children.
FAQ
Animation is the process of creating the illusion of motion in a static image. Therefore, in a good animation, the pictures move smoothly and seamlessly. To create a movement effect the animator draws hundreds of still images so connected to each other that it is impossible to notice them individually when watching a video.
The most popular types of animation include classic animation, 2D animation, 3D animation, motion graphics, stop motion, paint-on-glass animation, whiteboard animation, experimental animation, etc.
Animation in Latin means “to revive”. It is a separate art form, which is created by the time-lapse shooting of individual scenes or drawings. Thanks to this, you can set in motion characters and various objects. Classical animation was created using drawings on paper. The artist painted several “frames” in a row and then combined them into a smoothly moving picture. At the moment, for the best animation styles, animators use modern computer programs.
