35 Iconic 2D Animation Examples to Spark Your Creativity!
Shreshtra - October 14, 2025 - Leave your thoughts. 11 min read
Have you ever watched a 2D animation and thought, "How did they make that so cool?"
The catchy characters, the exaggerated facial expressions, and the creative storytelling - 2D animation has this unique ability to tug at our heartstrings and bring back that nostalgic feeling!
But WHAT is 2D animation?
2D animation is simply the art of creating movement in a two-dimensional space.
While 3D animation focuses on depth and realistic perspectives, 2D animation emphasizes shapes, lines, and vibrant visuals to tell compelling stories or convey ideas.
From traditional hand-drawn methods to modern digital techniques, the process has evolved significantly over the years.
Eager to see 2D animation at its finest?
We have handpicked 35 stunning 2D animation examples across different categories.
Movies
TV Shows
Games
Music Videos
- Billie Eilish - My Future
- The Weeknd - Snowchild
- Daft punk - One more time
- Childish Gambino - Feels like Summer
- Dua lipa - Levitate
Explainers/Commentary
- Kurzgesagt - Coronavirus Explained
- TedEd - How do cigarettes affect the body
- GMP Guidelines
- Tango - Built for Teams
- Andrea Terbea - How KSI saved Logan Paul’s career
Business promotions
Training Content
Ads
Let’s look at each one of these to understand what makes each of them so impactful.
Best 2D Animation Examples
Movies
1. Tarzan
Why is it Great?
Tarzan stands out for its innovative “Deep Canvas” technique, giving the jungle a stunning sense of depth and movement.
It takes the audience swinging through the jungle like never before, with trees and vines moving from breathtaking new perspectives.
2. 101 Dalmations
Why is it Great?
The film’s distinctive hand-drawn style, with bold lines and minimalist backgrounds, gives it a unique charm.
Plus, each puppy and character is full of personality, creating a captivating and immersive viewing experience.
3. The Lion King
Why is it Great?
The animation captures the African savannah with rich colors and expressive character movements.
Every frame feels cinematic, alive, and perfectly synchronized with a powerful, memorable soundtrack.
4. Spirited Away
Why is it Great?
The animated film is incredibly detailed, bringing the bathhouse, sprites and fantastical environments to life.
The scenes are filled with rich textures, intricate backgrounds, and subtle movement that draws viewers into its magical world.
5. Suzume
Why is it Great?
The film blends hand-drawn artistry with subtle digital enhancements, giving the landscapes and cityscapes depth and realism.
The environmental details, like falling debris or shifting skies, add depth and emotion, pulling the viewer deeper into the story.
TV Shows
6. Mr Bean - Pizza Bean
Why is it Great?
The cartoon captures Mr.Bean’s quirky humor with its over-the-top expressions and slapstick movements.
What’s truly remarkable is how the episode relies almost entirely on visual storytelling, with little-to-no dialogue.
7. Tom & Jerry
Why is it Great?
The classic animation excels at timing and motion, making chase sequences smooth and full of exaggerated energy.
Combined with fast-paced visuals and perfectly timed comedic sound effects, it keeps viewers thoroughly entertained and fully engaged.
8. Gravity Falls
Why is it Great?
The animation combines detailed backgrounds with fluid character movement to create a mysterious and immersive small-town setting.
Visual cues, lighting, and color palettes enhance the storytelling, giving the show a unique and memorable aesthetic.
9. Rick & Morty
Why is it Great?
The modern TV show balances simple character designs with wildly imaginative sci-fi worlds.
The rapid scene transitions and visual gags amplify the show’s chaotic humor and keep the action unpredictable and entertaining.
10. Jackie Chan Adventures
Why is it Great?
This TV show stands out for its sharp, well-timed martial arts choreography, capturing every kick and flip with precision, making each fight scene clear, fast-paced, and incredibly fun to watch.
Games
11. Hungry Hearts Diner Game
Why is it Great?
Set in a cozy, traditional Japanese diner, the game’s hand-drawn style creates a sense of warmth and simplicity.
The subtle character movements, like stirring a pot or enjoying a meal, feel natural and thoughtful.
This gentle, expressive animation draws players in emotionally, making it one of the best 2D animation examples of heartfelt storytelling.
12. Stardew Valley
Why is it Great?
The pixel art style beautifully captures the charm of quiet, small-town life, where every corner feels peaceful.
Each character has a distinct personality, and the everyday animations from planting crops to interacting with villagers feel deliberate and cozy.
13. Discounty
Why is it Great?
The game’s vibrant 2D animation lets players manage their own small-town supermarket while exploring the bustling community.
The cheerful art style, combined with smooth animation, makes every task fun and visually engaging.
14. Bear and Breakfast
Why is it Great?
The game’s soft, hand-drawn style and detailed animations create a whimsical, storybook-like world. In addition, the lush environments and engaging narrative make the experience feel cozy and inviting.
15. Good pizza, great pizza
Why is it Great?
The game’s clean 2D art style and satisfying animations make every step of pizza-making feel fun and immersive.
From spreading sauce to customer reactions, each movement is crisp and expressive. This playful animation style turns a simple task into a memorable gaming experience.
Music Videos
16. Billie Eilish - My Future
Why is it Great?
This animated music video takes on the anime aesthetic, blending soft backgrounds with a calming, ethereal color palette.
The animated Billie evolves throughout the video, symbolizing personal growth and transformation.
Initially depicted in a rain-soaked forest, the character transitions to a brighter, more vibrant environment, paralleling the journey from uncertainty to self-assurance.
With 2D animation, the video demonstrates how thoughtful visuals can add layers of meaning, creating a more impactful experience.
17. The Weeknd - Snowchild
Why is it Great?
The music video uses 2D animation with dark, moody visuals that reflect the introspective and haunting tone of the song.
Stylized backgrounds and dynamic character animations convey emotion and narrative without the need for dialogue.
18. Daft Punk - one more time
Why is it Great?
Even 16 years after its release, the video’s 2D animation remains bold, colorful, and futuristic.
The backgrounds are richly detailed, with neon cityscapes, cosmic scenes, and imaginative settings that create a sense of scale and excitement.
19. Childish Gambino - Feels like Summer
Why is it Great?
The music video uses 2D animation to capture the laid-back vibe of a summer day.
The relaxed, flowing animation style perfectly complements the mellow tone of the song, creating a visually engaging and emotionally resonant music video.
20. Dua lipa - Levitate
Why is it Great?
This music video uses sleek 2D animation to create a futuristic world that mirrors the upbeat energy of the song.
The expressive animation, vibrant palette, and playful visual storytelling make the music video both captivating and memorable.
Explainers/Commentary
21. Kurzgesagt - Coronavirus Explained
Why is it Great?
The video uses lively 2D animation to explain the virus and its impact in a clear, approachable way.
The bright yet calming color palette helps present a serious subject matter in a way that doesn’t feel overly intimidating.
Paired with witty narration, it turns complex information into an engaging and informative experience, proving how powerful 2D animation can be in simplifying difficult subjects.
22. TedEd - How do cigarettes affect the body
Why is it Great?
The animation adopts a doodle-like aesthetic, resembling hand-drawn sketches and illustrations.
This style makes the video feel approachable and less intimidating for a wide audience.
The video doesn’t just inform, but it captivates. It engages viewers in a way that encourages them to pause and reconsider the real impact of this habit on their health.
23. GMP Guidelines
Why is it Great?
The 2D animation used in the video highlights the safety protocols and best practices in an engaging manner without overwhelming the viewer with unnecessary details.
24. Tango - Built for Teams
Why is it Great?
The 2D animation clearly showcases the platform’s key features in a simple, engaging way.
The bright color gives it a user-friendly vibe, making the platform appear approachable even to those unfamiliar with similar software.
25. Andrea Terbea - How KSI saved Logan Paul’s career
Why is it Great?
The video uses expressive 2D animation and clever visual metaphors to capture the rivalry between KSI and Logan Paul.
Animated boxing rings and face-offs amplify the drama, while Andrea Terbea’s witty narration adds personality, making the story both sharp and entertaining.
Business promotions
26. Duolingo
Why is it Great?
Duolingo’s 2D animation shines through its iconic mascot, Duo the owl - a perfect example of how animation can define a brand.
This playful character-driven animation makes the brand instantly recognizable and emotionally engaging.
27. Animaker
Why is it Great?
Animaker’s promo video blends multiple animation styles - typographic animation, 2D cartoon, and whiteboard animation - to showcase its new AI features in a fun and dynamic way.
It cleverly uses its own platform capabilities and signature characters, proving its power as a complete video creation tool.
28. Slack
Why is it Great?
Slack uses minimal 2D animation to explain how the platform streamlines team communication.
It blends animated icons, interface mockups, and flow animations to visually guide viewers through how Slack works in real scenarios.
29. Mailchimp
Why is it Great?
Mailchimp’s video uses modern 2D animation to make marketing automation feel effortless.
Multiple characters, fluid transitions, and the strategic use of brand colors keep the visuals engaging while staying on-brand.
The slightly slower pacing ensures new users can easily follow along, making the software feel approachable and easy to understand.
30. Dropbox
Why is it Great?
Dropbox uses 2D animation to present its company culture in a warm and engaging way.
The subtle animations of diverse, multi-ethnic characters reflect an inclusive work environment, while the consistent use of bright blue throughout reinforces the brand identity
Training Content
31. Interactive Animated Course
(Animations created using Animaker)
Why is it Great?
By incorporating storytelling and interactive elements, these modules make learning engaging and impactful.
One of the standout features of animated courses is their ability to use characters and situations that mirror real-world challenges employees might face.
This not only helps learners better understand the consequences of their decisions but also fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
32. Workplace bullying
Why is it Great?
This short animated video shows the different forms of bullying and their impact in an engaging way.
Using relatable characters and real-life scenarios in animated videos can help employees identify bullying, understand the importance of stepping in, and learn how to report harassment.
Ads
33. Grammarly - Send with Confidence
Why is it Great?
Grammarly’s ad uses crisp, modern 2D animation to make everyday communication feel simple and approachable.
Relatable and diverse animated characters represent everyday people tackling common communication challenges, making the message universally appealing.
34. Lyft - Life is Better When You Share the Ride
Why is it Great?
Lyft’s campaign uses heartfelt 2D animation to highlight the simple yet profound connections that happen during shared rides.
The characters are relatable, the visuals are vibrant, and the video feels like a warm hug, reminding us that life’s little joys are often found in shared experiences.
This animation is one of the best 2D animation examples, showcasing how storytelling can evoke emotion and inspire action in just a few minutes.
35. Swiggy food delivery
Why is it Great?
The commercial's simple 2D animation, combined with the subtle use of Swiggy’s signature colors, highlights the ease of placing an order and receiving food within minutes.
The clear voiceover complements the visuals perfectly, ensuring that the viewer understands each step of the process without feeling overwhelmed.
Despite the short duration, the commercial effectively communicates Swiggy’s service, proving that with the right animation and narration, even short content can leave a lasting impression.
Why 2D Animation Works So Well Today?
2D animation continues to captivate audiences because of its versatility, charm, and ability to convey stories and ideas in a visually engaging way.
Unlike other formats, 2D animation allows creators to emphasize emotion, exaggerate movement, and highlight details that might be difficult to capture in live-action or 3D.
From classic films like The Lion King to modern music videos, explainer content, games, and business promotions, 2D animation examples showcase how diverse this medium can be.
It can simplify complex ideas, make learning enjoyable, and bring personality to brands through mascots, playful characters, or stylized visuals.
Whether hand-drawn or digitally illustrated, 2D animation remains a timeless, accessible, and highly effective way to tell stories that resonate.
