What types of animations are there
Are you considering having an animation made? Then you have several types of animations to choose from. These animations differ from each other in terms of technique, visual representation and cost. Not sure yet which type is most suitable?
In this article, we will discuss the different types of animations you can choose from and what benefits they can offer.
Traditional animations
Traditionally, animations are drawn by hand. In this type of animation, each frame is drawn out by an artist. Think of the earlier Disney animations of Micky Mouse or Donald Duck. This can be done on paper, but nowadays it is also often done on a computer. This technique used to be very popular, but because it is quite labor-intensive (and there are now more efficient digital alternatives) it is little used today. Especially in marketing, this technique is actually hardly used anymore. In creative projects you do come across the technique more often; Disney, for example, still regularly uses traditional animation. However, most companies opt for more efficient techniques that do not require redrawing every frame. In that case, you quickly end up with 2D and 3D animations. 2D animations are also called explanatory animations.
Explanatory animation / 2D animation
Both 2D animations and 3D animations are created using software. An important advantage of both types of animations is that they are generally a lot easier to make than traditional animations. However, there are also important differences between them. 2D animation has been around a lot longer and also uses slightly older technology. With 2D animation, as the name suggests, two-dimensional images are created. This means that this type of animation feels a bit flatter than 3D animation does. A major advantage of 2D animations is that they take less time to develop, making them generally more cost-efficient than 3D animations. So if you like to have simple, budget-friendly animations created, these animations can be a good option.
Explanatory animation for TenCate Protective Fabrics
This 2D explainer animation explains the durable nature of TenCate's fabrics. There are so many elements and details that a 'simple' explanation is almost inconceivable. By means of this animation, the relevant USPs are highlighted and the sustainable life cycle character of the combined fabrics of Tecawork Ecogreen is explained simply and clearly.
3D Animation
This type of animation is even more modern than 2D animation. 3D animation uses special software that creates a realistic, three-dimensional image. So unlike 2D animations, 3D animations do not feel flat. These animations make use of depth and perspective. Therefore, these animations are great for people looking for a realistic, detailed representation of products or situations. For example, 3D animations are often used to present a product or to visualize construction projects that have not yet been realized, because this technique allows you to move around the object and its surroundings. Also, these 3D animations are popular in marketing because they stand out and hold viewers' attention well. On the other hand, they tend to be more time-intensive in development.
Stop Motion
Stop motion animations are somewhat similar to traditional animations. Namely, they also use still images, which are played back in rapid succession to create the illusion of motion. But where traditional animations use (digital) drawings, this technique uses photographs of objects. In each photo, the objects are moved slightly, allowing different images to be created. Of all the types of animation, this is the most labor-intensive kind. Therefore, this technique is not popular within the marketing world. Also, you cannot create a realistic representation with these animations, as it often produces a somewhat wooden image. Stop motion is therefore actually still mainly used for artistic projects. A very recognizable example of Stop Motion is the popular series Neighbor and Neighbor.
