The 2D and 3D animation industry as a whole is subject to limitless creativity. Animation is a fantastic pathway to realizing ideas, whether you want to make something heartfelt, provocative, or that addresses important, prevalent themes.
When lining up a new animation project, one of the critical questions is whether to use 2D animation or 3D animation. The nature of this question is, of course, multifaceted, and it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘yes’ to one option and ‘no’ to the other. There is no absolutely right or wrong answer, just the right one for that project.
2D Animation Considerations
Due to there being one less dimension to work with, 2D animation can be considered more straightforward than committing to 3D animation.
This isn’t always strictly true, as the complexity of a project lies in the details and what you’re trying to achieve, not determined by the direction you decide to take. Frame-by-frame animation, for example, can ramp up the complexity quite quickly and wind up being more costly due to the painstaking nature of the technique.
Regardless, 2D animation can be an attractive option if you’re working on marketing video campaigns or animated series as it can be quicker and cheaper to produce compared with 3D animation. 2D animation can be easier to iterate on, making it ideal for animation projects that require AB testing or any kind of audience testing. With 3D animation, this can be more expensive to do due to the extra dimension that needs to be addressed throughout the animation process, but this is less of a concern with 2D animation.
Another distinct advantage of 2D animation is that it lends itself very well to reuse for other purposes. Need thumbnails for YouTube videos featuring your animation? Or perhaps a poster for a 2D animated production you’re working on? 2D animation is inherently flat-looking, and therefore its assets are ideal for reuse in other formats.
3D Animation Considerations
There’s a perception held by some that 3D animation can look more professional than 2D animation. This is of course not strictly true, as 2D animation can look every bit as polished and refined as a 3D project, but this aspect is something worth considering for your animation projects.
If you’re building out your portfolio and you’re specifically targeting certain types of work and companies, it’s absolutely worth considering working with 3D animation. Adding 3D animation pieces to your portfolio in addition to 2D-animated work demonstrates versatility in skills and a willingness to try different things that could be appealing for freelance jobs or companies.
Theoretically, there are more possibilities with 3D animation due to the usage of the third dimension. Another dimension means more space to work with, angles from which your assets can be viewed, and more to consider. Take a 3D character model for instance. When inserted into a 3D-animated scene, the character is subject to being viewed from a wide variety of angles, concentrated by characters in 2D animation that appear flat. The 3D character is therefore subject to more scrutiny and requires rigorous attention to detail.
3D animation can also lend itself to a general sense of scope. With 3D animation, it’s generally easier to create scenes that feel big and instill a sense of awe. This can at least be partially attributed to the dynamic action possible with 3D animation. The additional dimension means that more can be done with actions and movements, allowing for more complex scenes.
Considering Hybrid Animation
Sometimes, a best-of-both-worlds approach can be beneficial.
A 2.5D hybrid animation direction can feel distinct from its more traditional 2D and 3D animation counterparts. While it retains much of the qualities of 2D animation, it exhibits a sense of depth not usually possible with straightforward 2D animation. It presents as a 2D animation with many layers, which adds intrigue and an opportunity for detail in some of the layers beyond the foreground. Overall, this is an eye-catching in-between option for animators that is anything but middle of the road and helps your projects stand a great chance of being noticed.
