2D Animation

To mimic movement when viewed in quick succession, 2D animation creates a series of images that are marginally different from one another. Storyboarding usually starts the process by outlining the main plot points and scenes. After character and background design are done, keyframe animation is carried out, in which important postures or movements are rendered. The action is smoothed out by adding in-between frames, often named inbetweens. After drawing, the animation is either digitally or manually inked and colored.

An array of instruments are used in 2D animation, ranging from sophisticated digital software to more traditional techniques like pencil, paper, and lightboxes. Popular digital tools include TVPaint for frame-by-frame drawing, Moho for rig-based animation, and Adobe Animate and Toon Boom Harmony for a more professional-style animation. For independent animators, free programs like Synfig Studio and Krita provide strong functionality. Compared to more conventional methods, these tools enable the creation, editing, and sequencing of drawings into fluid, flawless animations, speeding up and improving efficiency.

In animation, keyframes are the main frames that indicate where a particular movement or action begins and ends. They record an object or persona in motion in its most crucial positions or poses. To provide clean transitions, extra frames—referred to as inbetweens—are inserted in between these keyframes. In both 2D and 3D animation, keyframes are crucial because they set the animation’s timing and structure, giving animators control over the movement’s pace and flow.