2D Animation
2D animation is animation produced on a flat plane, including hand-drawn frame-by-frame work, vector puppet rigs, and digital cel techniques used in TV, advertising, and explainers.
It allows for immense stylistic variety, from gritty artistic textures to clean, modern infographics. Myth Studio is a London-based 2D animation studio producing hand-drawn, vector, and cel animation for brands including ITV, Social Security Scotland, and LADbible.
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Sources
Academic papers, recognised industry standards, and canonical industry texts that back up claims in this entry.
- The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation. Thomas, F.; Johnston, O., Walt Disney Productions, 1981Supports: hand-drawn frame-by-frame work
- The Animator's Survival Kit. Williams, R., Faber & Faber, 2001Supports: stylistic variety in 2D animation
- Computer Animation: Algorithms and Techniques. Parent, R. E., Morgan Kaufmann, 2002Supports: digital cel techniques in 2D
- Unified Animation Pipeline for 2D and 3D Content. Barbieri, S., Bournemouth University, 2020Supports: 2D animation pipelines in production
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between hand-drawn and vector 2D animation?
Hand-drawn 2D is animated frame by frame, usually in software like Toon Boom or TVPaint. Each frame is a unique drawing. Vector 2D uses rigged puppets in After Effects or similar, with one set of artwork moved by controllers. Hand-drawn carries more life and texture; vector is faster, cleaner, and easier to revise. Most 2D studios use both depending on the brief.
How long does a minute of 2D animation take to make?
On a small team, three to six weeks for a minute of motion design or vector 2D, and six to twelve weeks for a minute of hand-drawn 2D at TV-quality. Pre-production is usually a third of that. The exact number flexes by character count, complexity, and how many languages or aspect ratios you need at the end.
Can AI generate 2D animation?
AI can generate short 2D clips and individual frames, useful for animatics and reference. It is not yet reliable for character consistency over a longer film, lip-sync, or matching a specific brand style across many shots. Our AI-assisted animation workflow uses AI for clean-up, in-between generation, and reference, with human animators owning performance.