Not long ago, major studios were competing with one another to highlight works with computer-generated imagery. Fast forward to 2025, and hand-drawn animations are not merely surviving; but this old technique is currently flourishing.
The hand-drawn animations that one sees on the screen are distinct owing to the fluid, organic movements and the strokes of a pencil, which are a mark of creativity, unlike the use of a render engine.
You will come across hand-drawn animation videos from films and commercials to social media and explainer videos. This style of animation wins appeal and appreciation as well as nostalgia, which is loved by the people and creators.
We will explore its definition, history, styles, and examples, and why hand-drawn animation will continue to be an effective marketing and storytelling tool in 2025.
What is Hand-Drawn Animation?
In simpler terms, hand-drawn animations are images sketched by skilled animation creators frame by frame on a digital platform or paper. All movements are a series of images that are sequentially played to give the illusion of movement.
In history, traditional hand-drawn animation would draw onto sheets of plastic termed as cels, which would later be painted and photographed. Now, many artists use programs like Toon Boom and Adobe Animate, but the process is still a painstaking manual frame-by-frame process.
Although the process is quite manually intensive, this is what makes it attractive for many people. The skillful work that went into every shot captured is appreciated even more, especially considering the extraordinary effort that went into this meticulous process.
A Brief History of Hand-Drawn Animation
The history of hand-drawn animation dates back to the late 1800s with the introduction of celluloid film in 1888, which made animation far easier as it could now be filmed instead of hand-animated.
- 1890s–1920s: Early pioneers explored stop-motion, cutouts, and hand-painted frames.
- 1930s–1960s: Disney released it himself. This was the beginning of the golden era of animation and art in films, which continued after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937.
- 1970s–1990s: Following this, the animation market expanded into television with shows made specifically for children to watch cartoons on weekend mornings, and even imported Anime. It was more artistically adventurous during this time, as with the development of Studio Ghibli.
- 2000s–2010s: While the use of paper is slowly disappearing with the use of new technology, the popularity of animated films has not changed, and the demand for Japanese Anime and European animated films continues.
- 2020s–Today: Moreover, the need for hand-drawn animation, along with 3D and CGI, is intertwined. Work in animation for commercials, explainer videos, and even indie films is on the rise, creating demand for more modern hand-drawn animation.
Why Hand-Drawn Animations Still Matter in 2025
In an age where anything can be simulated in 3D, the appeal of hand-drawn work comes from its tactile quality. The lines aren’t mathematically perfect. Colors bleed slightly. Movements have character. This imperfection is exactly what makes it relatable.
The rise of hand-drawn content is now being used as a way to cut through the noise of a digital feed, as it signifies authentic craftsmanship, as well as a much deeper level of storytelling. In the case of animators, they can add unique traits that algorithms cannot add to the frames, allowing them to add personality to the characters.
Popular Use Cases of Hand-Drawn Animation in 2025
The use cases of hand-drawn animation today go far beyond Saturday morning cartoons. Here’s where you’ll see it most:
Animated Cartoons
Studios like Disney continue to blend the modern and the traditional; they use hand-drawn animation in films such as The Princess and the Frog and Moana, which blend modern technology with a warm, nostalgic feel.
Hand-Drawn Animated Films
The Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle animated films are hand-drawn animated films from Studio Ghibli. Wolfwalkers by Cartoon Saloon includes hand-drawn animation as well. These films showcase incredible achievements in the art of animation and narrative and advance the standard in the animation world.
Commercial and Promotional Videos
Marketers apply hand-drawn productions to tell a story and portray brand values and emotions, which is ideal for product launches, event promotions, and brand storytelling.
Explainer Videos for Apps and Websites
Using animated characters or diagrams to explain concepts is more effective. The use of hand-drawn visuals softens an approachable and warm tone, even to more technical subjects.
Typography Animations
Your brand can also use a fantastic hand-drawn animation style to transform the lettering of brand statements, product intros, and titles, making the information more attractive and artfully presented.
Educational Content
E-learning developers and teachers use animated diagrams and sketches to enrich lessons. Hand-drawn and painted cartoons can demystify intricate concepts for any age.
Traditional Hand-Drawn Animation vs. Digital Animation
Both have their strengths, but they deliver different experiences:
| Aspect | Traditional Hand-Drawn Animation | Digital Animation |
| Creation Process | Artists draw on paper or cels, painted, and photographed. | Artists draw or model directly in software. |
| Cost & Time | More labor-intensive and time-consuming. | Faster production with easier edits. |
| Physical Artwork | Tangible originals with collectible value. | Entirely virtual; stored digitally. |
| Error Fixing | Redrawing is required for corrections. | Instant adjustments in software. |
| Realism | Natural, expressive style; less photorealistic. | Can achieve photorealistic renders. |
| Reuse | Harder to modify existing assets. | Easy to repurpose and adapt. |
Different forms of animation have their respective uses. For emotional storytelling, nothing beats traditional hand-drawn animation. Nevertheless, for quick performers and photorealism, digital techniques would serve best.
8 Styles of 2D Hand-Drawn Animation You’ll See in 2025
Not all hand-drawn work looks the same. Here are the styles of 2D hand-drawn animation making an impact right now:
1. Whiteboard Animation
Drawings appear as if sketched in real time, often paired with narration. Perfect for educational and business content.
2. Kinetic Typography
Animated text that moves, bends, and changes to emphasize messages — great for promotions and social media.
3. Stop Motion Animation
Still images played in sequence to animate objects. Labor-intensive, but creates a unique tactile effect.
4. Frame-by-Frame Animation
Every frame is drawn individually. Allows for highly detailed motion but results in larger file sizes.
5. Shape Animation
Geometric shapes morph and move fluidly, adding dynamism to designs.
6. Cut-Out Animation
Uses layered pieces (paper, photos), moved in sequence. South Park is a famous example.
7. Rotoscoping
This technique can be described as realistic motion capturing, where artists draw over live-action footage. It can be found in classics like Snow White and more modern experimental films like A Scanner Darkly.
8. Pinscreen Animation
This method constitutes a rare and intricate style that combines thousands of movable pins to create shadows and textures, resulting in a striking monochrome effect.
Hand-Drawn Animation Examples Worth Studying
Looking for inspiration? Here are some hand-drawn animation examples that show the range of this art form:
- The Princess and the Frog
- Spirited Away
- Wolfwalkers
- A Scanner Darkly
- South Park
These examples of hand-drawn animation as a medium do not universally conform to a singular style. It can be whimsical, minimalist, and everything in between.
The Future of Hand-Drawn Animation
Artists have always found new ways of creating art, and in this case, the ease of animation tablets, styluses, and software has made the age of hand-drawn frames far more capable of intricate looks.
This means productions can keep the warmth and personality of traditional hand-drawn animation while modernizing the pace. The merging of 2D drawings and frames with 3D settings, motion graphics, or visual effects is far simple, making the pace of animation quicker.
Some trends shaping the future of hand-drawn animation include:
- Hybrid Projects – Combining hand-drawn and digital animation to get the best of both worlds.
- Interactive Media – Integrating animation into AR/VR experiences, web apps, and games.
- Short-Form Storytelling – Bite-sized animated clips made for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts.
- Niche Artistic Projects – Indie films and art installations using hand-crafted frames for a distinctive identity.
Look for modern hand-drawn animation paired with high-tech enhancements, as many creators and brands search for new ways to contact their audiences.
Why Businesses Are Investing in Hand-Drawn Content
Disney is not the only one to explore the hand-drawn style. The marketing industry has embraced it as a powerful industry tool.
- Memorability: Stock footage is totally outdone by hand-drawn visuals with a personal touch.
- Versatility: This is effective for explainer videos, advertisements, product demos, and even training materials.
- Emotional Pull: Appears to be more personal and not like mass media.
- Brand Differentiation: Helps a business stand out from competitors who rely on templates.
The use of hand-drawn animation watercolors gives brands a chance to appear gentle and inviting, welcoming a deeply human, creative handshake.
How to Create a Hand-Drawn Animation
Traditional hand-drawn animation is a labor-intensive workflow, yet rewarding. Even today, the processes resemble the older techniques:
- Concept Development: Establishing the storyline, the mood, and the visuals.
- Character Design: Designing model sheets to maintain uniformity in looks and motion.
- Storyboarding: Designing the storyboard with important actions and changes.
- Rough Animation: Sketching the key actions to set the pacing and structure.
- Clean-Up: Polishing the illustrations for presentation.
- Background Art: Digitally rendering or painting sophisticated backgrounds.
- Coloring: Coloring characters and objects, traditionally or digitally.
- Compositing: Integrating characters, backgrounds, digitally animated objects, and visual effects into a single final composition.
- Sound Design: Voices, sound effects, and music are incorporated into the animation.
Each step demands attention to detail, but the payoff is an animation that feels alive.
Strengths and Limitations of Hand-Drawn Animation
Like any medium, hand-drawn animated films and videos have pros and cons.
Strengths:
- Timeless visual appeal.
- Flexibility in style, from realistic to abstract.
- Strong emotional connection with audiences.
Limitations:
- Labor-intensive, requiring more hours per second of footage.
- Larger budgets for long-form projects.
- Difficult to revise after the final drawings are complete.
For many projects, these challenges are worth it for the unique artistic value the style delivers.
Key Styles That Will Stay Relevant
Some fantastic hand-drawn animation styles stand out as especially valuable for creators and businesses in 2025:
- Kinetic Typography: Highly shareable and perfect for branding.
- Cut-Out Animation: Fast to produce but visually distinct.
- Shape Animation: Adds energy to motion graphics and explainer content.
These styles are adaptable across industries — from education and marketing to entertainment and product design.
Why 2D Still Beats 3D in Some Cases
While 3D animation services have dominated big-budget films and games, there are scenarios where hand-drawn and painted cartoons outperform:
- Quick Turnaround Marketing: Lighter production requirements for short clips.
- Character-Driven Stories: Facial expressions and body language feel more stylized.
- Brand Personality: Drawings suggest artistry, craft, and originality.
Audiences don’t always want hyper-realistic visuals. Sometimes, they want charm, humor, and artistry — things 2D excels at.
Hand-Drawn Animation for Social Media
Social media has become a goldmine for hand-drawn content. Short, looping animations are perfect for:
- Product teasers.
- Animated logos and intros.
- Quick explainer clips.
- Event announcements.
Brands that consistently post unique, animated posts see higher engagement rates. With algorithm-driven feeds favoring visually striking content, modern hand-drawn animation is a smart choice for standing out.
The Business Case for Hand-Drawn Animated Films
Investing in a hand-drawn animated film can pay off beyond the initial release. Studios and brands can:
- Repurpose scenes for social media.
- Sell merchandise featuring character art.
- Use segments in presentations and ads.
The return isn’t just in direct sales — it’s in long-term brand equity and fan loyalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hand-drawn animation still used today?
Despite the prevalence of 3D animation in the film, television, and advertising industries, there is still a warm place reserved for hand-drawn styles.
How long does it take to create a hand-drawn animation?
A feature-length film could take years. A promotional clip’s short length and simplicity could take days.
Can hand-drawn animation be done digitally?
Absolutely. Modern-day artists make use of tablets and software to draw each frame, allowing them to retain a semblance of the traditional techniques.
Why do some brands prefer hand-drawn content over CGI?
It’s genuine, and for many people, more relatable, particularly for brands that incorporate artistry and elements of nostalgia into their visual identity.
What are some famous examples of hand-drawn animation?
Spirited Away, The Princess and the Frog, and even the more recent South Park and Adventure Time.
Final Word
In the year 2025, it is prevalent to assume new age audiences and tools would encapture the artistry and emotional impact of hand-drawn animations. These would remain aloof, unchallenged, as no means of automation can come close to their craftsmanship.
If you possess a story, a product, or even an idea to represent beyond typical animation, templates, reach out to Prolific Studio, one of the best animation studios in Massachusetts.
Our hand-drawn animation production begins with a concept and ends with a polished frame, as we blend traditional to modern tools to resonate and stand out from your brand. With us, let us design your next animation and make it unforgettable.
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