1. Traditional Animation (2D, Hand-Drawn)
- How it works: Every frame is drawn by hand.
- Famous examples: Snow White, The Lion King (1994), Akira
- Tools used: Pencil & paper (classic), or software like TVPaint, Toon Boom Harmony.
- Strengths: Fluid motion, emotional expression, timeless aesthetic.
2. 2D Vector Animation (Digital Animation)
- How it works: Uses computer-generated vectors (lines and shapes); often rigged so you don’t have to redraw every frame.
- Famous examples: Rick and Morty, Adventure Time, Archer
- Tools used: Adobe Animate, Moho, Toon Boom Harmony
- Strengths: Faster production, great for web & TV, reusable assets.
3. 3D Animation (CGI – Computer-Generated Imagery)
- How it works: Characters and environments are built in 3D, then rigged and animated.
- Famous examples: Toy Story, Frozen, How to Train Your Dragon
- Tools used: Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D, Houdini
- Strengths: Realistic motion, dynamic camera angles, widely used in film/games.
4. Stop Motion Animation
- How it works: Physical objects (clay, puppets, LEGO) are moved frame by frame and photographed.
- Famous examples: Coraline, Wallace & Gromit, The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Tools used: Dragonframe, Stop Motion Studio
- Strengths: Unique tactile feel, great for experimental or quirky stories.
5. Motion Graphics
- How it works: Animated graphic design — typically used in explainer videos, intros, logos, UI animations.
- Famous examples: Title sequences (like James Bond intros), infographics, YouTube videos
- Tools used: Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D
- Strengths: Clean, professional, often used in branding and marketing.