How to Become a 2d Animator

What is 2D Animation?

2D animation is a bold and expressive art form that brings characters and stories to life using just height and width. Unlike its 3D counterpart, which leans into realism and depth, 2D animation thrives on stylized movement, striking visuals, and artistic freedom. It’s the driving force behind the slapstick chaos of Tom and Jerry and the quirky charm of Adventure Time, captivating audiences with its unique flair.

Whether sketched by hand or crafted with digital tools, 2D animation carries a timeless appeal. Its simplicity is its strength, and its style knows no bounds. It doesn’t just tell stories—it paints them in motion. With every frame, 2D animation captures imagination, emotion, and wonder, making it a beloved medium for all ages.

Essential Skills as a 2D animator

Artistic Skills

Drawing is the foundation of 2D animation, where every frame starts. A solid understanding of anatomy, perspective, and shading allows animators to bring characters to life with just a few carefully placed strokes.

In skilled hands, each line conveys motion, emotion, and personality, transforming simple drawings into living, breathing characters that captivate audiences.

Storytelling: Animation, at its core, is not an issue of motion; rather, it is an act of storytelling. If done well, animation conveys emotion and tells a story in a very detail-oriented way, enabling static images to be dynamic and engaging.

Technical Skills

Software Proficiency

Modern 2D animation thrives on digital tools, making software skills crucial. Mastery of industry-standard programs like Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, and Clip Studio Paint streamlines the animation process, offering precision, flexibility, and efficiency. These tools empower animators to add intricate details, maintain consistency, and bring complex scenes to life effortlessly.

Understanding Motion

At the heart of great animation is a deep understanding of movement. Animators study how living beings move, applying core principles like a, Anticipation, and Follow-Through to bring weight, emotion, and realism to their characters. These techniques make every action feel fluid and believable.

Whether you're an aspiring animator or hiring one, mastering these fundamentals is key. Recognizing the importance of technical expertise and motion mastery ensures your project is handled with creativity and precision, resulting in a final product that resonates with audiences and stands out.

Different Types of Animation

Animation comes in many forms, each with its style and purpose:

1. 2D Animation – Flat, two-dimensional visuals created by hand or digitally. Seen in traditional cartoons and web animations.
2. 3D Animation – Uses computer-generated models for realistic movement. Common in films, games, and VR.
3. Stop Motion – Physical objects are moved frame by frame. Includes claymation and puppet animation.
4. Motion Graphics – Animated text and graphics, often used in videos, ads, and presentations to convey information clearly.

Learning the Basics of Animation

The 12 Principles of Animation

These timeless techniques, developed by Disney animators, are essential for creating believable and engaging motion:

1. Squash and Stretch – Give objects weight and flexibility, like a ball compressing on impact or stretching in motion.
2. Anticipation – Prepares viewers for an action, such as a wind-up before a punch or a crouch before a jump.
3. Staging – Focuses attention on the most important elements through composition, movement, and timing.
4. Straight Ahead vs. Pose to Pose – Two animation styles: fluid and spontaneous (straight ahead) or planned with key poses (pose to pose).
5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action – Adds realism by letting parts of the body continue moving after the main action (like hair or clothing).
6. Slow In and Slow Out– Smooth's motion by adding more frames at the start and end of an action.
7. Arcs – Natural motion follows curved paths; arcs make movements feel more lifelike.
8. Secondary Action – Small, supportive motions (like blinking or shifting weight) that enrich the main action.
9. Timing – Controls the speed of movement to convey weight, emotion, and intention.
10. Exaggeration – Amplifies motion or emotion to make scenes more expressive and entertaining.
11. Solid Drawing – A strong understanding of form, anatomy, and perspective gives 2D characters a sense of volume.
12. Appeal – Characters should be visually engaging and emotionally interesting, whether they're a hero or a villain.

Is animation hard to learn?

Let’s be honest—animation can feel overwhelming at first. If you're new to drawing or animation software, it’s normal to feel stuck. But here's the good news: it’s not as tough as it seems.

Think of animation as learning a new language. It’s tricky at first, but with practice, it starts to click. Once you master the basics—drawing lines, understanding perspective, and getting motion right—the rest will fall into place.

So, don’t stress about perfection. Keep practicing, and you'll be amazed at how fast you improve.