What is 2D Animation? The Art That Continues to Evolve!
Shreshtra - March 19, 2025 - Leave your thoughts. 8 min read
Think back to your childhood - curled up on the couch, eyes glued to the TV, completely lost in the magic of Saturday morning cartoons.
The quiet hum of the TV, the first few notes of a theme song you still recognize, and the animated world that felt like home.
That magic? That’s 2D animation in action. It’s what brought your favorite characters to life, frame by frame, making them jump, dance, and tell unforgettable stories.
And the best part? That charm is still alive today.
In this article, we’ll dive into -
Let's get started!
What is 2D Animation?
In simple terms, 2D animation is the art of making characters, objects, and backgrounds move in a two-dimensional space.
Traditionally, this meant drawing each frame by hand. Minor changes were made to every frame to create the illusion of movement when played in sequence, like in early Disney films.
It was a time-consuming process but gave animation its signature charm.
But today? The process has evolved.
Modern 2D animation software makes the process faster. You can create animations with just a few clicks without drawing every frame.
(with Animaker’s 2D Animation Software)
Essentially, this is what 2D animation is.
Now, let’s see how it has evolved over the years to appreciate past efforts and technological advancements to this day.
Evolution of 2D Animation
The Beginnings - Hand-Drawn Animation
Way back in the early 1900s, artists began experimenting with sequential drawings to create the illusion of motion.
One of the earliest pioneers, Émile Cohl, created Fantasmagorie (1908), often regarded as the first fully animated film.
Here’s how he did it.
Cohl drew each frame on an illuminated glass plate, tracing over the previous drawing with minor changes. He repeated this 700 times (yes, 700!) to create the illusion of movement.
To make it look like a chalk drawing, he filmed black ink on white paper and flipped the colors in post-production.
The result? A trippy, hand-drawn animation that looked like it was coming to life on a chalkboard.
Then, by the 1920s, animation had gained significant popularity, with studios like Disney and Fleischer Studios pushing the boundaries of what was possible.
Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie (1928), featuring Mickey Mouse, was a game-changer as it synchronized sound with animation, setting the stage for the golden age of cartoons.
We all know this iconic clip from this video - Mickey Mouse cheerfully whistling at the helm of a steamboat.
The playful tune and Mickey’s bouncy movements made it an unforgettable scene that continues to be recognized worldwide.
Even today, Disney pays tribute to this legacy by featuring the whistling Mickey clip in the opening logo of their animated films.
Meanwhile, Fleischer Studios gave life to iconic cartoon characters like Betty Boop, Popeye, and Superman, making them feel more dynamic and expressive.
Take a peek behind the scenes at how the Popeye cartoons were brought to life.
The Rise of Cel Animation
By the 1950s, Cel Animation had become the standard for making cartoons.
Instead of redrawing every frame, this process involved animators painting characters on transparent sheets called “cels” and placing them over static backgrounds.
This allowed animators to reuse backgrounds and focus on animating only the moving parts of a scene, making production faster and more detailed.
This is when things shake up. Disney came with its 1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs film. It wasn’t just the first cel-animated feature but also the first full-color animated film!
Other studios quickly hopped on board.
Warner Bros. gave us Looney Tunes with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. Hanna-Barbera kept Saturday mornings alive with classics like Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, and Scooby-Doo.
These cartoons are great examples of how 2D animation can be both entertaining and commercially successful.
The Television Boom & Limited Animation
As television became more widespread in the 1950s and 1960s, the demand for animated content skyrocketed.
To meet this growing need, animators developed a technique known as limited animation, which greatly reduced the number of frames used per second.
Instead of animating every single movement, only essential actions were animated, while backgrounds and character poses were reused.
This approach allowed studios like Hanna-Barbera to produce multiple animated shows like Yogi Bear quickly and affordably, making 2D animation more accessible to television audiences.
While this style was less fluid than traditional hand-drawn animation, it became a defining characteristic of many beloved animated series.
The Digital Beginning - Flash & Computer Animation
Then, during the late 20th century, there was a major shift from hand-drawn animation to digital animation.
With the rise of computers, animators could now create, edit, and animate directly on digital platforms, reducing the need for physical cels and time-consuming frame-by-frame drawing.
Software like Adobe Flash revolutionized 2D animation, allowing independent creators to produce animations quickly and affordably.
This was when web cartoons exploded, with viral hits like Happy Tree Friends taking over the internet.
Modern 2D Animation - Advanced Software & AI Integration
From the 2010s onward, 2-dimensional animation has evolved rapidly, becoming more accessible to creators, businesses, educators, and marketers.
The biggest game-changer? AI animation tools.
AI now automates tedious tasks like character movements, lip-syncing, and background generation, allowing animators to focus on creativity rather than manual labor - a massive leap from traditional frame-by-frame animation.
Creating high-quality 2D animation is no longer reserved for professionals with years of training.
Online animation tools have simplified animation, allowing anyone with a creative vision to bring their ideas to life.
One of the most powerful tools leading this shift is Animaker’s 2D Animation Software.
With 150M+ rich assets, pre-animated characters, and AI voiceovers, Animaker simplifies storytelling through animation.
Its AI voice generator offers 2,000+ voices in 200+ languages, while its instant subtitle generation in 130+ languages ensures accessibility.
AI also automatically syncs character lip movements, eliminating the need for manual adjustments.
And now, Animaker’s advanced AI can generate entire 2D animated videos from just a simple text prompt, allowing users to tweak and refine their generated animations with ease.
If you want a step-by-step guide on how to make 2d animation, then check out the link provided.
Finally, let’s see where 2D animation is used.
Applications of 2D Animation
1. Films & Shows
This is a classic and one of the most iconic applications of 2D animation.
From timeless cartoons like Tom and Jerry to modern animated series such as Rick and Morty, this medium has captivated audiences of all ages with its humor and artistic style.
Beyond television, 2D animated visuals has also left an incredible mark on cinema.
A standout example is Spirited Away, the Academy Award-winning masterpiece by Studio Ghibli.
With its breathtaking hand-drawn visuals and deeply immersive story, the movie pulls viewers into a magical world that leaves a lasting impression, no matter where they’re from.
Whether it’s childhood nostalgia or powerful cinematic moments, 2D animation continues to shape the way we experience stories on screen.
2. Animated Explainers
2D animation is a powerful medium for explainer content, helping to simplify current events, scientific discoveries, and global trends in an engaging and accessible way.
Kurzgesagt, a popular YouTube channel, uses vibrant 2D animated visuals to explain scientific concepts in an engaging and easy-to-understand way.
Their videos cover a wide range of topics, from black holes and the immune system to climate change and economic policies.
By combining stunning animation with insightful narration, Kurzgesagt proves how 2D animation can turn even the most complicated ideas into digestible content.
3. Music Videos
Musicians and artists frequently use 2D animation to create visually stunning music videos and artistic projects.
Artists like Gorillaz, a virtual band, have built an entire visual identity around animated characters, blending music and animation into a cohesive artistic experience.
Their iconic music video, Clint Eastwood, uses 2D animation to create a visually immersive world. It features eerie, stylized characters that perfectly complement the song’s beat and lyrics.
4. Training Video Courses
2D animation has become a game-changer in corporate training, making learning more engaging, interactive, and accessible.
By using animation, companies can simplify complex topics, visualize abstract ideas, and boost retention and understanding.
In corporate settings, businesses leverage animated training videos from compliance training and employee onboarding to product training and skill development.
Moreover, with the rise of microlearning and mobile learning, short, animated training videos are becoming even more popular, delivering bite-sized, easily digestible content on demand.
5. Gaming Industry
The gaming industry relies heavily on 2D animation, especially mobile and indie games.
Popular games such as Hollow Knight and Good Pizza Great Pizza have demonstrated the artistic potential of 2D animation in gaming.
From character design and environmental art to cutscenes and interactive storytelling, animation enhances the overall gaming experience.
These are just some of the many industries using 2D animation. Check out the link for more 2D animation examples.
***
From this article, I’m sure you now know about 2D animation and how it has evolved over the years.
What once required painstaking frame-by-frame hand-drawing has now been simplified by technology, making animation faster with just a few clicks.
With the right 2D animation software, anyone can bring their ideas to life - whether it's an animated course, a product demo, or a simple story.
The versatility of 2D animation makes it a great medium for brands across industries to connect with their audience.
Ready to create your own 2D animated masterpiece?
Then, head over to the best 2D animation software and start building your animation!
