Despite its name, 2D animation is anything but flat. While you may think of two-dimensional (2D) animation as the “traditional” animation style, it’s become a contemporary marketing tool with powerful capabilities.
In its simples form, 2D animation creates movement in a two-dimensional space—you probably don’t realize how much of it is already in your life. If you’ve ever seen an animated logo (The Google doodle, the startup screen on your smartphone), walked past an ATM prompting you to push a button for cash, or ridden in an elevator with a screen interface, you’ve interacted with 2D animation!
People often assume that 3D animation is automatically more badass than 2D animation, but this is not the case *at all*—it really comes down to the type of video you’re trying to create. One style is not inherently better than the other, and we can guide you on what works best to showcase your brand or product.
2D animation is perfect for simplifying complex topics, making things easier for your audience to understand. If your story is a little hard to explain, 2D animation can break it down with a visual simplicity that highlights only what’s most important. It can also help distill larger-than-life topics—like explaining the microbiology of Covid-19, or illustrating complex data trends from an industrial plant.
Marketing your brand, product, or service is all about story. At Motion Giraffx, our 2D animation process starts with sketching by hand, and the final video is created using professional software to bring your concept to life. Let’s break it down:
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- We start with a kickoff meeting. This can happen virtually, over the phone, or in person. We’ll come ready with questions to better understand your vision and your message, and we’ll make suggestions on how a 2D approach can make them shine.
- Time to write a script. Whether you need full voiceover, on-screen text, or both, we’ll put together a script document to guide the structure and messaging of the final piece.
- We’ll create a storyboard. Our storyboards are hand-sketched and walk you through the full visual story. In this phase, we’ll also select music options and record voiceover.
- Illustration begins. This is where we digitally create every single element of your story.
- Time to review a style frame. We’ll give you one complete digital frame to review so you can see exactly what the final animation looks like.
- Animation happens! We bring our illustrated assets to life to tell your story.
- Post-production begins. We’ll add sound and smooth everything over until it’s perfect. You can impress your friends by telling them your latest marketing asset is “in post.”
Naturally, creating an animation is an iterative process, so we’ll be communicating and sharing with you throughout the process to ensure we’re all aligned and you have clear opportunities to request revisions well before the final product is finished.
Remember, next time you’re watching the jumbotron at a sports game, interact with a kiosk at a restaurant or retailer, or watch a whiteboard or explainer video—you’re receiving a message from 2D animation. Let us help you find the perfect look and feel for your next animation project!
