2D Animation vs 3D Animation: The Battle of Dimensions

The animation is usually presented in two broad styles: 2D and 3D. But which one is better for your marketing needs? You will need to consider the pros and cons of both. The best 2D animation studios in London can provide you with all the details for an optimal choice.

2D animation is the more traditional variety, having a much longer history than 3D. Although 3D is a relative newcomer, it is now increasing in popularity. Ever since the 90s, 3D animation is being increasingly used for feature films, advertising, and gaming among various purposes. That being said, 2D still has a solid support base and it is unlikely to go away any time soon.

Here are the 2D animation pros and cons that you should be aware of.

2D Animation Pros

Ø Cost Saving Benefit

Overall, 2D animation can be much more economical than 3D animation. This is partly due to software advancements as a result of which you do not need to draw everything frame by frame. Since 2D animation is easier and quicker to produce, users can realize cost savings and benefits from 2D.

Ø Software and Hardware

The software used for 2D animation is not as demanding as 3D animation software. Although having a high-performance computer system can help to quicken the process, it is not strictly necessary for 2D animation. However, you need high-end systems complete with powerful graphics cards for 3D animation rendering.

Ø Quick and Effective

Making 2D animation is much faster than 3D animation. Hence, it can help you to get your marketing campaign up and running in a much shorter time span. 3D animation on the other hand, is far more painstaking. You may have heard how some of the most renowned animated films have taken years to complete. 3D animation requires an immense amount of hard work, time, and effort due to which it can take some time for it to be complete. 2D animation is quicker in comparison.

Ø Long History

2D animation has its roots in the early years of the twentieth century. Hence it has a long tradition and wide recognition. These factors combined with cost-effectiveness and rapid project completion rate mean that 2D animation is here to stay.

Although 3D animation is becoming more and more popular with each passing year, 2D animation will continue to have a niche of its own thanks to its long history and benefits outlined above.

Ø Simplicity

One major con of 2D animation is it has an inherently shallower depth of detail than 3D. Scenes are far more static and objects have far less detail. This can ironically prove to be a major strength of 2D animation. For greater simplicity and minimalism can mean greater peace of mind and less overstimulation for the stressed mind.

Fewer details mean that there is less information for the brain to process and hence greater simplicity and tranquility for the human mind.

2D Animation Cons

o   Quality

2D animation is not as dynamic and vivid as 3D animation. When comparing 2D animation with 3D animation, you might feel that 2D animation does not have the same level of depth and richness as 3D animation.

o   Less Efficient At Times

There are times when 2D animation can prove to be more labor-intensive than 3D animation. In 3D animation, you can simply use software to illustrate basic motion for instance, a ball rolling. But with 2D animation, you will have to draw the same rolling object frame by frame. You cannot render motion through software commands alone.

3D Animation Pros

· Rising Demand

There is nothing quite like 3D animation to grab the attention of your target audience. Even the simplest of stories and messages can take on a much deeper meaning and command much higher interest thanks to the greater depth, realism, and meticulous detail that only 3D animation can purvey.

· Dynamic Movement

Since your 3D characters are made in a 3D environment, there is much greater room for dynamic camera work and motion. You just have to change the viewing angle and define the camera motion in 3D software instead of drawing each new frame from scratch for instance, when the camera is panning a landscape.

3D motion gives you much greater flexibility for great viewing angles and camera movement which can greatly increase entertainment and bring in the wow factor. Thus you have dynamic viewing angles and camera motion in 3D animation while 2D animation is more static in comparison.

· Incredible Depth of Detail

The depth of detail, rich textures, and near the realistic quality of 3D animation makes it highly immersive and engrossing. Photorealistic effects mean that 3D animation is now bordering on reality making it harder to differentiate between 3D rendering and real-life films. This is most visible in graphic-intensive video games where 3D animation is getting closer and closer to reality both in terms of motion and visual detail.

· Better Action

The software can help you to render more realistic motion in 3D. For instance, if you want to create a car crash, you can do it very accurately using the right software that simulates material deformation according to the laws of physics. With 2D animation, you have far fewer opportunities for such realistic modeling and simulation.

· Reuse

Once you create a model in 3D, you can reapply it in an infinite array of scenes, themes, and environments. You do not have to recreate the model from scratch. 2D animation is not that flexible and hence there can be a great amount of rework.

Increasing Efficiency

You may know that certain animated films took years to produce and that 3D animation takes a lot of time to be created. This is now changing rapidly. You can produce 3D films much more quickly in the present era as compared to the nineties when they were first introduced. The time taken for 3D animation to complete is getting shorter with advancements in graphics hardware and software.

Still undecided which mode of animation will suit you best? We can help you to choose between 2D and 3D animation based on your budget, time constraints, film quality and other key requirements.

Contact the premier design agency in London today.

Author Bio:

Richard Kearsey is a digital designer at Emerald Colour – a creative design agency in London that offers various services, like website design, animation, bespoke exhibition stand design, etc. He loves creativity and enjoys experimenting with various design techniques for both web and print. He also enjoys sharing his thought on the latest design trends and upcoming marketing ideas.