Animation has been a part of cinema since its inception. From the days at the Nickelodeon theater to today's 3D animated blockbusters, there is no denying that animation is getting more and more popular. The explosion in demand for 2D cartoons comes from both its growing popularity among children and the desire of advertisers to get a younger demographic on their side.
2D cartoons have become more popular than ever before. The latest animated movie to make money is "Tangled." A 2010 poll by the Motion Picture Association of America revealed that 100% of children under 12 years old watched the film. In comparison to the other animated films that were released in 2010, "Tangled" came out on top with more than $300 million dollars made worldwide. "Tangled" is yet another film in the long list of animated films that feature characters in 2D. In fact, it is actually one of the first films to use modern CGI technology and cell animation together.
From its humble beginnings, 2D animation has grown into a great art form over the years. Two dimensional animation has always been a part of cinema since the very beginning. It was one of the very first forms of animation to ever be created and has remained with us since 1908. But do you know why 2D animation is still a part of the movie industry today ?
Before CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) became a reality, it was difficult to create Hollywood quality animated films. Animation studios turned to 2D because it was an affordable way to create animated films. In fact, its low running costs made it easier for studios such as Disney to produce animated films.
To create a 2D animated character, visual artists must draw every frame by hand. Each drawing is a detailed illustration and has to be created with such precision. This painstaking process is the main reason 2D animation was popular before CGI became widely available. It was significantly cheaper to produce than full CGI movies. In fact, the very first popular Hollywood cartoon that used 2D animation was "Steamboat Willie" (1928). The movie followed the nautical adventures of a steamboat captain named Mickey Mouse.
This method of animation was used again in the 1940s in "Pinocchio." The film was animated by hand and featured the character of Geppetto, who made an unlikely assistant named Jiminy Cricket. The characters were difficult to animate and each frame required the use of considerable detail that was painstaking to create.
With the onset of CGI technology, most 2D cartoons eventually switched over to this new technique. The demand for 2D animation has actually grown because it is cheaper to produce than full CGI animated features.
Rise of 2D Animation Studios
With the growth of computer technology, many 2D animation studios like EssenceCartoon started to appear. One of the reasons 2D animation still thrives is because it provides artistic freedom for the animators. In fact, 2D animation studios are more popular than ever before. It has become a global industry that is worth billions of dollars.
Recently, there have been many animated movies that have used both 3D and 4D CGI technology to create a fully immersive animated film experience on screen. The latest examples include "Monsters vs Aliens," "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole," and "How to Train Your Dragon."
In the past, 2D animation was primarily used in television shows such as "The Flintstones" and "The Jetsons." However, it is on feature length animated films that 2D truly thrived. Most animated movies are still created in this style because of the artistic freedom that hand drawn animation provides.
Final Words:
2D animation has helped to enhance the cinematic experience. It has been in demand thanks to its lower cost of production and artistic freedom. If you are an aspiring animator, it is probably a good idea to brush up on your drawing skills before you start using expensive 3D software. There is no doubt that 2D animation will continue to remain popular for many more years to come.
