Animation comes in many forms. The most familiar style is the animated cartoon: was traditionally drawn on transparant sheets called ‘cells’ and coloured in on the backside. Using multiple layers and elaborate backgrounds this technique reached maturity in the 1940’s – and in some respects also its peak, because the process was labour-intensive and hence costly. Therefore it was simplified during the 1960’s (‘limited animation’) especially with the coming of mass-produced TV cartoons.
The advanced of digital technology not only produced 3D animation but also revolutionarised 2D animation, eliminating the elaborate ‘tweening’ (drawing all the in-between frames to create the suggestion of motion) using software like Flash or Anime Studio.
The thumbnails below link to several 2D animation projects: some commissioned, and some free work.