If you had to picture a dragon in your head, what would it look like? Would it be a colorful and anti-physical beast resembling a Disney cartoon character, or a realistic and textured like "Game of Thrones" The moving monsters? 2D and 3D animation can be seen almost everywhere, and this miraculous achievement is no doubt due to animation's talent for capturing our imaginations and depicting both real and fictional in a way that filming can't.

Although 3D animation only became popular and popular about 40 years ago, it has become an integral part of the global animation industry and accounts for a large portion of the total amount of animation created each year. For example, if you're a movie buff, you've probably noticed how many 3D animated movies are released each year, and some of those movies make billions of dollars during their run. Given this dynamic growth of 3D animation, you might be wondering where is 2D animation. Has it been replaced by 3D and faded into the history books, or is 2D more durable and powerful than some people think? How easy is 3D animation vs. 2D animation? We'll examine these questions and dive into one of the two animation styles situation in between.

What does two-dimensional mean

The easiest way to understand 2D is to imagine a square on a white sheet of paper. A square has 4 sides, width and height, but no other dimensions or depth to speak of. Because it has a width (1) and a height (2), this is considered a two-dimensional (2D) object. Naturally, 2D animations often have other characteristics, such as color and motion, but they usually don't change the "flat" appearance of objects and animations.

So how exactly does 2D animation work?

2D animation is achieved by sorting. First, the artist must come up with the animation concept and create all the unique drawings that will be part of the animation. The set of plots is then sorted (connected in order) to create a one-second animation, longer animations require a correspondingly larger number of plots. Typically, one second of animation contains 24 frames, each 2 frames contains a different drawing. At this speed, switching between frames happens so quickly that the motion of objects in the frame appears smooth and uninterrupted to the human eye. Most people associate 2D animation with TV cartoons and cartoon movies, but this style is used much faster. 2D animation is used in advertising, mobile and desktop applications, video games, websites,

The evolution of 2D hand animation

The earliest forms of 2D animation appeared in the 19th century, when drawings were hand-drawn and implemented in different instruments for quick sorting. Notably, the kineograph (now called flipbook) was invented in 1868. The tradition of hand-drawn animation drawings continued into the 1990s. During this period, the use of computers by animators became common and they began to utilize the first animation software. Thus, the first computer-created 2D animation appeared, and since the motion in animation was controlled by vectors, it was called vector-based animation. Eventually, a live-action 2D animated movie made using this method was released.

Today, most animations are created with computer software because it is cheaper and faster than drawing by hand. Today's most popular 2D animation programs include AdobeAnimate, ToonBoomHarmony, CelAction2D, and Synfig. Many 2D animation programs are free and easy to use, so just 10 minutes of tinkering with such a program can easily convince anyone who questions "is 2D animation easier than 3D?".

The advantages of 2D animation:

Easy to learn

Relatively low production cost

Faster creation compared to 3D

greater artistic freedom

  shortcoming:

Difficult to achieve a high level of realism

Heavy reliance on creativity and ingenuity

relatively small demand

3D animation: what is it?

As you probably understand by now, 3D stands for 3 dimensions. 2D uses the width and height dimensions of an object, while 3D adds another dimension - depth (sometimes called length). If the simulation used to explain 2D is a square, then the accurate simulation for 3D is a cube. A cube (as one of the 2D vs 3D animation examples) is not visualized as flat, has perceived depth and volume, and appears to occupy space despite the flat surface on which it exists. 3D animation allows to add very realistic visual effects like lighting effects, tiny details, textures and this is considered the main difference between 2D and 3D animation.

How Realistic 3D Animation Works

The creation of 3D animation is not easy and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. However, we can describe it by looking at two main methods. First, there is a hand-drawn method. Like 2D, 3D animations can be drawn in frames and connected by sequencing, but this approach is rare. Usually, using some kind of computer software, this method consists of 3 basic steps:

1. Modeling

At this stage, all 3D objects that appear in the animation are created in the 3D animation program.

2. Layout and animation

Implemented animated backgrounds and settings and added mechanics (movements, changes).

3. Rendering

3D objects, layouts and mechanics are all combined and captured to create a complete product (animation).

Of course, there are a lot of extra steps to making an animation clip (such as adding sound effects, special effects, and compositing), but the above 3 steps are the core requirements.

The evolution of 3D animation

The first computer-generated 3D animation clips appeared in the 1980s, but the technology didn't catch on until 1995, when the first computer-animated feature film, Toy Story, was released. This was also when the term CGI (computer-generated imagery), often associated with 3D, became popular, and the hand-drawn animation vs. CGI debate first emerged. Since then, 3D animation has dominated the animation box office, and the use of 3D in other industries has followed.

The amount of detail and real-world imitation in 3D animation has only increased over time, and today's technology allows us to create very realistic animations. The most popular programs currently used for these purposes include 3DSMax, Blender, Maya and Cinema4D. These programs are also praised for their ease of use, so 3D animators sometimes enthusiastically engage in the 2D vs 3D software debate. It should also be mentioned that 3D animation is used in all the same visual media as 2D, but it is more popular than its counterparts in the creation of animated films, video games, architecture and virtual reality simulations.

The advantages of 3D animation:

Superior motion visualization and accuracy

Excellent detail and realism on all animated elements

The finished 3D model can be reused and applied elsewhere

Good prospects for future modernization

Disadvantages of 3D animation:

Production costs can be high

More creative restrictions on movement and movement

Takes longer to learn and master

Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of 2D and 3D animation

Around the world, animators, graphic designers, game artists and other creatives create thousands of 2D and 3D models and animations every day. There is no way to measure the ratio of the total amount of work created in 2D animation versus 3D animation, but we can compare the two styles in other ways. So, let's move on to analyzing the pros and cons of 2D animation vs 3D animation.

1. 2D animation budget and 3D animation cost

2D animation is generally considered more affordable than 3D because 3D requires more resource-heavy software and hardware, as well as a longer creation process. However, recurring 2D animation shows can be even more expensive than 3D shows, which traditionally reuse models with little effort and cost.

2. Requirements

This is a difficult quality to measure, but we can make an overall assessment by looking at current trends. For example, 3D animation is in high demand in video games, movies and product demos, and virtual reality. In contrast, 2D animation has a larger presence in TV shows, mobile and PC applications, websites and advertisements. 2D and 3D are prominently used in all of the above-mentioned visual media. When it comes to demand for 2D animators and 3D animators, both careers are coveted.

3. Quality

Quality is a very subjective term, so everyone will have their own opinion on which style provides better quality. Obviously, there is a big difference between 2D and 3D graphics, so if you prefer detail and realism, you may find 3D animation is just right for you, while those who like creative and otherworldly visuals may prefer 2D. In the end, quality will depend on the impression of the content, not the content used to create it.

Some final thoughts. 2D vs 3D animation: which is better?

After analyzing 2 different styles of animation and their role in different markets, we can confidently say that there is no clear winner. Also, it's clear that 2D animation is safe and will be around for a long time. 3D may be newer technology and will definitely have a place in the entertainment industry, but people will always love the creativity and ease of use that 2D animation offers and will continue to use it. As human technological prowess advances, we can also expect 2D and 3D animation to continue to develop side by side. This is in line with industry forecasts (2D vs 3D animation forecasts).

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