In our Today’s blog discussion we will understand the basic difference between 2d & 3d animation.

1. 2D VS 3D ANIMATION
The word animation means the state of being full of life or vigor i.e. liveliness. In
simple words it can be said that it is a technique to photograph successive
drawings or position of models to create an illusion of movement when the
complete film is shown as a sequence. In our Today’s blog discussion we will
understand the basic difference between 2d and 3d animation.
Animation as defined is a process of making the illusion of motion and the illusion
of change by means of rapid display of a sequence of images with minimum
difference from each other. Animation can be captured with analogue media, a
flip book, motion picture film, video tape and digital media.
The first animated screening was held in France by Charles Emile Reynaud. He
created the Praxinoscope in the year 1877 and the Theatre Optique in December
1888. Reynaud projected the first animation in public, Pauvre Pierrot at the
Musee Grevin in Paris.
There are basically 5 methods of creating animation. They are as follows:
1. Traditional Animator - 2D, Cel, Hand drawn

2. 2. 2D Animation – Vector Based
3. 3D Animation – CGI, Computer Animation
4. Motion graphics – Typography, Animated Logos
5. Stop Motion – Claymation , Cut-outs
Traditional animation had a lengthy procedure. Thousands of pictures were
drawn on acetate sheets or cels by hand.
Each cel used to be different from the previous cel. The difference used to be very
less. Every cel used to be photographed on a separate frame of film.
When the reel was played the animation moved.
Computer technology brought a revolution in the world of animation. Computer
animation is much faster compared to traditional animation.
Moreover it is more controllable. Though computer animation is there since
1960s, animators started to use it along with traditional animation from 1990.
2D and 3D animation comes under Computer Animation. Here the animation is
created digitally on a computer.

3. The main focus of 2D Animation is manipulation of image. While with 3D
Animation technique a virtual world can be created. In that virtual world
characters and objects move as well as interact which make them “real” or “alive”
to the viewer.
2D animation characters can be created or edited on the computer using 2D Bit
Map Graphics.
It is also can be created or edited by using 2D Vector Graphics. 2D animations are
created by using software’s like Adobe Photoshop, Flash, After Effects and Encore.
2D animation has many applications which include analog computer animation,
Flash animation and Power Point animation.
Digital 2D animation can use different layers to build up pictures. It can show
anything from background and landscapes to multiple characters and crowd.
Digital 2D animation is not used as such for artistic purposes any more due to lack
of depth. But it is still used in advertising and desktop Publishing.
The software’s for 2D animations are follows:
Anime Studio
Syn Fig 3

4. Pencil 2D
TVPaint Animation
Toonz
Crazy Talk
Tupi
3D animation is a type of animation which uses computer generated images to
create animated scenes.
It is a process of generating 3 dimensional moving images in a digital
environment. Careful use of 3D models or objects is carried out within 3D
software for exporting image sequences giving them the illusion of animation or
movement.
Compared to 2D animation or traditional animation, 3D has much more depth
and it looks much more realistic. It uses programs like Maya to create animation
with more depth.
The procedure of generating 3D is categorized into 3 main sections .They are
modeling, layout and animation and rendering.
The first phase Modelling describes the technique of generating 3D objects
within a certain scene.

5. The layout and animation phase - describes the process followed by positioning
and animating the objects within a particular scene.
The process of production is successfully completed with careful combination of
the sections mentioned and some other sub sections. The market is filled with
different software.
The software’s used for 3D animation is as follows:
Autodesk Maya
Autodesk 3ds MAX
Blender
Modo
K-3D
Carrara
3D Movie Maker
Massive
Pov Roy
AD3D Edge Plus is a 3D animation course which gives an individual the required
skill to become job ready.

6. This course covers the process of animation film making from pre production and
production to post production stages of film making.
Importance is given to aspects of story boarding, stop motion, 3D design and
modeling.
Topics covered by MAAC are:
Pre Production
Story Boarding
Cinematography
Stop Motion
Video Editing
Digital Design
Sound Editing
3D Design Modelling
Digital Sculpting
Look Development
Lighting and Rendering
Fluid, Hair and Cloth FX
Character set up and Skinning
Character animation

7. Software learnt by a student in this course are :
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Premiere
Adobe Audition
Adobe Audition
Autodesk 3ds Max
Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Mudbox
Black Magic Fusion
Autodesk Motion Builder
Arnold
New Age Software
Job role offered to a professional with the above mentioned skill are:
Modeling Artist
Lighting Artist
Texture Artis
Render Artist
Character Animator
Layout Artist
Digital Sculptor.
Rigging Atist
Video Editor
Motion Graphics Artist
FX Artist
Game Artist
3D Generalist
The difference of 3D animation and 2D animation lies in the process of creation
and the end outcome as well.3D animation produces characters which are more
realistic. They are represented in all three dimensions as in height, width and

8. depth. 3D animation is preferred more over 2D animation because of the ability
to create more lifelike characters, more realistic.
2D movies which deserve special mention are the following:
1. Lion King 1994
2.Siprited Away 200
3.Alladin 1992
4.The Iron Giant 1991
5.Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1937
6.The Little Mermaid 1989
7.Beauty the Beast 1991
8.Fantasia 1940
9.Bambi 1942
10.The Princess and the frog 2009
11.Toy Story 1995
3D movies which deserve special mention are the following:

9. 1How To train your Dragon 2010
2.Toy Story 4
3.Sherlock Gnomes
4.Coco
5.The LEGO Ninjago Movie
6. Despicable me 3
7.UP 2009
8.Kung Fu Panda
9.Beowulf
10.Cars
We welcome you to Maac Animation Kolkata. Here we have Best training faculty team, industry expert, and
best infrastructure for learning animation and VFX.
We have various bouquets of courses to suit your need and passion. Call us for a free counselling session at
the below mention contact number or write us about your query.
Our official website: - http://www.animationkolkata.com
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