Animation isn’t limited to films and cartoons.
It’s a versatile medium that businesses can use to promote products, tell brand stories, and connect with viewers.
But before you decide to venture out to get an animated video made for your company, you should know about your options.
In this post, we’ll take a look at the most popular animation styles so you can make the best decision for your next marketing video.
15 types of animation styles
1. 2D motion graphics
When it comes to 2D animation styles, there are plenty of possibilities.
If you like minimal design, then you’ll love 2D motion graphics because It involves simple elements that move.
This type of animation is perfect if you want to create a demo, an explainer, or a promo for your business.
Here’s a short 2D motion graphics video we made for a client.
Like what you see? Then feel free to hit us up. Our video strategists would love to help you achieve your business goals with result-oriented videos.
Want a video for your business?
2. 2D character animation
If you want to convey your message with an array of relatable animated characters, then this style of animation will work well for you.
The characters will be able to move in a 2-dimensional space.
Exploring character design for a video like this is very important because there is a lot to consider, such as your brand identity and the message you’re trying to convey.
So, it’s necessary to sort the details out before moving ahead.
In this video, we collaborated with our client and designed characters to tell a story; presenting the company’s offering as the solution to the bride’s woes.
3. Isometric or 2.5D animation style
Isometric animation looks 3D but is actually 2D. A tilted perspective makes this illusion possible.
In this video, we’ve incorporated isometric techniques to show the movement of a fleet of trucks.
4. 3D animation
Objects and characters in 3D can move along the x, y, and z-axis.
These types of videos are a three-phase undertaking: modeling, layout and animation, and rendering.
When done right, 3D animation can add oomph to visual storytelling.
Here’s a video from Buck that we love:
5. Kinetic typography
Kinetic typography uses a combination of text and motion to get a message across. The resulting visuals can be minimalistic yet powerful.
While keeping text at the forefront, this video showcases IBM’s visual language, typeface, and tools beautifully.
Read more: 11 Best Kinetic Typography Videos to Fire up Your Artistry
6. Whiteboard animation
In this style, digital illustrations and software emulate drawings on a whiteboard.
This medium of animation is ideal for storytelling and explaining a concept because it can transport viewers back into a classroom setting; encouraging a learning mindset.
Check out this whiteboard animation video. We think it’s pretty great.
7. Stop motion animation
Before CGI took over, stop motion was a popular art form. And though you might think that this style of animation must have gone extinct, that’s not the case.
Because of its aesthetic appeal, stop motion—and its various types—live on in a niche category.
In stop-motion animation, static objects are moved in small increments and photographed. All of the images are then run in a sequence to give the illusion of movement.
A seamless shot is tricky to film because the environment must be consistent.
Clay figures, puppets, paper, and a range of other objects can be used to create a stop-motion video. Here’s one with Legos:
Read more: 10 Unique Stop Motion Animated Videos You’ll Love
8. Paper animation
Paper animation is a sub-category of stop motion. It uses flat paper cutouts or 3D paper models to create an animated sequence.
We love Bill Carter’s “Anything Made of Paper” music video. Brandon Bay directed and animated this stirring work of art, and if you want to learn more about his projects, you can check out this interview.
The song was written as a present for Damien Echols and is a reminder of how important it is to have hope in the wake of injustice.
9. Claymation
Claymation or clay animation is another popular sub-category of stop motion. Malleable material, such as clay or plasticine, is used to sculpt objects for shots. These are then arranged on set and prepared for each sequential frame.
This technique can be laborious, especially considering that normal film runs at 24 frames per second. That’s a lot of individual takes!
But this fact didn’t stop a community of artists on HitRecord to complete Octopus Mom.
This one’s a tear-jerker!
10. Traditional animation
The advent of computers has almost wiped out traditional animation. Some of your favorite childhood movies, such as Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, and Spirited Away were hand-drawn, frame-by-frame.
This type of animation was labor-intensive and required large teams to execute. Though technology has changed the industry landscape since the early days, the basic technique of drawing animation persists.
11. 2D + 3D + cel animation
We talked about quite a few different styles of animation, and with technological advancements, hybrids have become popular.
Now, you can find animated videos that combine several animation styles and techniques into one Frankenstein-esque art form.
Check out this visually stunning video from Giant Ant that uses a 2D animation style along with 3D and cel animation.
12. Rotoscope animation
Rotoscope animation is a technique of animating a sequence of live-action footage by tracing over each image to create a series of animations.
This technique was first developed in the early days of animation, and it has since been used in many different forms of media, including feature films, music videos, and television shows.
Rotoscoping is often used to create realistic movements and gestures in animated characters or to add special effects to live-action footage.
Rotoscope animation can be a time-consuming process, but it can also produce highly detailed and nuanced animation that is difficult to achieve through other techniques.
It can also be combined with other animation methods, such as computer-generated imagery (CGI), to create hybrid styles of animation.
13. Cut-out animation
Cut-out animation style involves the use of paper, cardstock, or other flat materials.
These cut-outs are placed on a flat surface and manipulated frame-by-frame to create the illusion of movement.
In cut-out animation, the characters and objects are made up of individual pieces that can be moved independently, such as arms, legs, and heads. This technique is often used in television shows, commercials, and educational videos.
In modern times, the process is typically digital, where the cut-out pieces are scanned into a computer and manipulated using animation software. This method allows for more precise control over the movements and actions of the characters.
It has been used in many famous animated shows and films, including South Park.
14. Pinscreen animation
Pinscreen animation style is a type of stop-motion animation that uses a device called a pinscreen, which is a screen made up of thousands of pins that can be moved independently.
The pins are set on a flat surface and can be pushed or pulled to create images with depth and texture.
In pinscreen animation, the pins are arranged in a grid pattern, and each pin represents a pixel of the image. The pins can be pushed or pulled in different directions to create shadows and highlights, which can give the image a three-dimensional appearance.
The pinscreen can be used to create a wide range of images, from simple geometric shapes to complex portraits and landscapes.
Despite limitations, pinscreen animation has been used to create some notable works of animation, including the short film The Nose by Russian animator Alexander Alexeieff and his wife Claire Parker.
The pinscreen has also been used in experimental and avant-garde animation, as well as in scientific visualization and data analysis.
15. Augmented reality animation
Augmented reality animation is a type of animation that combines computer-generated graphics with live video footage to create an interactive and immersive experience for the viewer.
Augmented reality (AR) technology overlays digital images onto the real world, creating a mixed-reality environment where digital and physical elements coexist.
In augmented reality animation, the viewer uses a device such as a smartphone, tablet, or AR headset to see the digital elements superimposed onto the real world.
The animation can be triggered by specific objects or markers in the physical environment, or it can be controlled by the user’s movements and interactions.
AR animation can be used in a variety of contexts, from entertainment and gaming to education and marketing.
For example, an AR animation might allow users to explore a virtual museum exhibit or interact with a character from a favorite movie or video game.
That’s a wrap
That covers some of the most popular animation styles of our time. And now that you’re aware of your options, you’ll be able to make the best decision about which type would be suitable for your business.
If you’re still not sure about what’s right for you, you can get in touch.
We’d love to help you flesh out your ideas!
If you’re still not sure about what’s right for you, you can get in touch.
We’d love to help you flesh out your ideas!
Want a video for your business?
