Are you interested in 2D animation for your next project and want to know how long 2D animation takes? Then you have come to the right place! Trust us, after finishing the blog, you’ll have all the info you need.
2D animation has attracted and charmed viewers for ages by bringing the hand-drawn characters and the storyline into the audience’s view and interaction with every motion. However, a common question pops up: how long does 2D animation take? Well, the timeline can really vary.
Creating 2D animation can take anywhere from 2 months to several years, depending on your work, whether it’s a trivial 30-second advert, a full-length feature, or episodes in a series. This is definitely not a simple and straight answer because the duration of time it takes to animate depends on many aspects.
If you are wondering how long it takes to animate one minute or how to animate faster, it is all to be uncovered, but with a feeling of excitement. So, let’s get into it!
The Length of Your 2D Animation Films Matter
As far as 2D animation is concerned, one of the most important aspects is the length of your project, as it determines how fast the work will be done.
For a quick 30-second animation, the rough estimate of the work you might be looking at is 2 to 4 months. This could be a good commercial, a short explanatory video, or a lively title sequence.
To answer your question about how long does it take to animate 1 minute clip, four to six months should be dedicated to that activity. This is usually sufficient time to develop a rather complex storyline or an explanatory video with several characters and settings.
For a 90-second animation, you’re stepping into a more extensive assignment lasting 6 to 9 months or more. This could be the first episode of an animation series, an expansive music video, or even an elaborated marketing footage for a product.
So how long does it take to prepare an animated episode to the last stage or even a movie? It all comes down to the degree of detail and the duration of the story.
Now that you have the short answer, it’s time to dig deeper and find the longer and more detailed answers regarding 2D animation.
What is 2D Animation?
2D animation does not have a 3-dimensional aspect. Instead, it focuses on creating the action or the feel of movement through images that are only composed of width and height. It came to be known as 2D animation in that it uses only two dimensions—height and breadth.
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For those interested in watching 2D animation films or for those who might think, ‘What is a 2D film?’, this is where it all begins.
There are many ways to approach 2D animation, but basically, there are two main types into which they can be subdivided.
Traditional Animation
Also known as hand-drawn or classical animation, it is a technique in which each frame is drawn with a pencil on paper. It is the first method of making short animation films, but it takes more effort and so has its own beauty.
Modern Animation
On the other hand, today’s 2D animation or modern 2D animation, involves the use of gadgets for easier and much quicker processes. With kinds of software for 2D animation accessible, it became quite easier to draw characters, draw backgrounds and animate them.
For those who want to cut the longer hours of hand-drawing 2D animation, wonder what the simple way out is, or even what it takes to animate in 1 minute, it is apparent that modern tools assist in 2D animation more rapidly.
Have you ever asked yourself, “When did animation start?” or “Is 2D animation more expensive?”Answered differently, but it is for sure that the transition from traditional methods to modern ways has dramatically changed the game.
Be it animated shorts made in 2024 or classical 2D animation films, interest in this art form does not fade away.
How Does 2D Animation Differ From 3D Animation?
With a first random look, 2D and 3D Animation can be said to be similar. This is so because even if you are working on 2D animated movies or 3D projects, the first phases, such as design, storyboarding, and scene composition, are more or less similar.
Both take time and a good deal of preparation, including recruiting people, signing contracts, creating budgets, and creating schedules—all these constitute the animation production process.
It is only during the actual production that one begins to notice the differences with regard to the type of animation.
2D animation mostly focuses on the artists’ use of traditional or digital tools to create characters and scenes. In contrast, 3D animation is largely computer-animated. Are you into 3D animation but don’t know how to do it yourself? Worry not. Get affordable 3D animation services today from a reputable animation studio.
The pipeline of 3D animation consists of creating models for 3D digital characters, properties, and scenes first and then proceeding to the processes of rendering, 3D modeling, and texturing.
So, what takes longer to animate: 2D or 3D? The answer to this question is quite relative, especially when looking at the project’s complexity and style. When considering “Will 2D animated movies make a comeback?” or “Is animation hard?”, it is crucial to understand these differences.
All styles have difficulties, and they are time-consuming, but let’s be real here. Such lifelike animation is very appealing to the audience.
Getting interested in the animation process is both interesting and educational for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of how to animate 2D or working patterns in the animation industry.
What Are the Various Types of 2D Animations?
2D animation is not only used to amuse the audience but also has a building market because of its diverse applications, affordable cost, and appeal to many people. Let us look at the marketing aspect of animation.
Computer Animation
Computer animation, or CGI, refers to the animated effect on images produced by a computer.
There are two types of it: one is known as computer-aided animation, which is merely an electronic version of classical animation, and another is full-fledged computer animation, where everything is crafted in animation and 3D graphics software.
Such methodologies always assist in producing animation and enhancing realism in animations.
Stop Motion
Stop-motion, or stop-frame animation, is an animation technique in which objects are physically manipulated in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement.
When these images are viewed in succession, the object appears to move. Stop-motion is a creative way of 2D animation and gives the task quite a practical feel.
Motion Graphics
At times, brands need simple graphics and text for the audience, including the message, and don’t necessarily rely on character-driven stories. Motion graphics are intended for animated logos, explainers and titles.
In contrast to other fields of animation, the production of motion graphics requires a skill set that is more design-focused than body movements and performance.
Motion graphics also contain an important component in the context of video production for a particular product.
Whiteboard Animation
Whiteboard animations typically have black lines on a white background illustrating various concepts or ideas. They have gained a lot of popularity owing to their ability to communicate difficult ideas with minimal audience drop-off.
Their clarity in presentation style makes them a go-to technique for animation production that would like to be effective.
Infographics
An animated infographic will suit the purpose of clear and effective communication within a limited timeframe. They are especially useful for breaking down complicated topics and data visualization with moving pictures, including presentation slides, pictures, or diagrams.
When communicating a complex idea, infographic animation is effective in capturing the audience’s attention, considering the short length required.
In response to the question, “Is animation hard?” The answer can be yes, but with some effort and the right tools, it is possible to produce 2D animated movies or any other 2D animation with much ease.
Production timelines vary depending on the style and complexity of the animation, but each type of animation has a unique role in promotion and advertising.
Breaking Down the Workflow of 2D Animation
The thought of how a 2D animation is produced can be scary at first but fear not. Everything is just a matter of how you go about it.
Remember that every other animated film or animated series is created in a different style since different techniques and tools are used.
There is no right way when it comes to the process of 2D animation. Sometimes, people prefer to vary the whole process. Here’s how you can begin learning about 2D animation production in a few steps.
1. Scriptwriting
The scripting process comes before shaping and creating the animated characters. The scripting process is the most important structural framework of any animation.
Let’s compare the script to the project planning so you know how many scenes there are and prepare the transitions sufficiently so that no jumps in the timeline occur.
When starting, most people have a problem not knowing how to write a script but do not worry. Sample scripts can help you, too.
As you may have noticed, the duration of your video is determined by the length of the script. For instance, 200-250 words on the script will produce a video lasting 80-90 seconds. Thus, make it short and to the point!
2. Voiceover
Particularly for 2D animation, voiceovers are very important since they bring the entire animation to the next level. They facilitate the delivery of your message and are also ideal for making your video more interesting.
To do a voiceover, it helps to first outline or script what you will include in your narration. Next, voice-over with appropriate voice-over software should also allow for voice-over recording, editing and synchronizing the voice over with the animation.
The sound effects and background music would add more spice to the narration. Finally, combine the voiceover with visuals so your audience will feel that every word and every picture fits perfectly.
3. Storyboarding
Creating beautiful designs always comes at the end, when the voice-over and the script are ready. There comes a time when you visually represent each element written down. If you can draw, you can draw your scenes on a piece of paper or present them using drawing software.
That’s why different types of storyboards are designed to show the sequence of how the scenes of your 2D animation progress. Just as any idea needs a rough draft, the rough sketch here is the basic idea that only requires a few strokes.
Make sure to include movement and the facial expressions of the characters once more details are given. Lastly, adding the dialogue and arranging the various scenes will help visualize the entire animation.
Visualization
It’s time to take your animated pictures to the next level through depth and colors. A lot of people have started augmented reality as a way of animating 2D planes; this allows for more customization.
At this stage, super bright colors and backdrops can be added so that the video you have created remains appealing to the eyes as well as enhances your characters.
A character that looks real will make your video more attractive, instead of the boring-looking figures on the screen. Therefore, it is necessary to choose colors and backgrounds you will be using with the story and the visuals.
Animation
This is the point you have been waiting for all along – the animation stage. It is at this place where everything comes together. Voiceover is matched with illustrations, and movements are made in a way that makes sense.
Animation requires time, patience and creativity, so it is wise to be ready. At the initial point, it is smart to decide to animate small snippets of the video, approve them and then go on animating the whole video.
Upon completion of the video, and if you think it will be useful, add music to it. If you wish to spice things up a bit more, then adding animated text would be one option for achieving a more interesting and lively video.
Well, how long does 2D animation take? The one-word answer to that question is – project. You might ask how long it takes to animate an episode, how much will be needed for a movie, or even just one minute. The answer to that is you need to put in the time and effort for them all.
Whether you need 2-minute-long animation shorts or are working on a 90-minute 2D animation feature, knowing the service and following the procedure will ensure a quicker turnaround in animating 2D projects.
Examples of how long does 2D animation take
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Production Time: 3 years
Movie Length: 135 minutes
The Lion King (1994)
Production Time: 3.5 years
Movie Length: 150 minutes
2D Animation Production Timeline
To create a 5-minute long 2D animation, here is a typical timeline for the main components of the process:
Pre-Production
– Story Development and Concept Art: 2-4 weeks
– Scriptwriting: 1-2 weeks
– Storyboarding: 3-6 weeks
– Character Design and Visual Development: 2-4 weeks
– Asset Creation: 1-2 weeks
Production
– Layout and Scene Staging: 2-4 weeks
– Animation (Rough and Final): 6-10 weeks
– Background Painting: 3-6 weeks
– Effects Animation: 2-4 weeks
– Ink and Paint (Digital or Traditional): 3-6 weeks
Post-Production
– Editing and Compositing: 1-3 weeks
– Sound Design and Music Scoring: 1-2 weeks
– Final Adjustments and Print Mastering: 1 week
The time taken for a 5-minute animation is usually 4 to 6 months at a minimum. Still, it varies according to the project’s scale, the dimensions of the working team, and the animation’s particular features.
8 Factors Affecting The Timelines Of 2D Animation
Project Length
A 2D animation clip would take less time to create than a feature 2D animated film. More scenes and details mean longer production time.
Number of Frames
Additional frames and shots, especially in action-oriented scenes, slow the process further. Less frames mean quick animation.
Visual Style
Realistic animation, where angles and movements are done with much more detail, will take longer than less detailed styles, affecting the overall timeline.
Team Size
The bigger the team, the more work gets done. In contrast, with a smaller team, each member has more responsibilities, increasing the production timeline.
Reuse of Assets
Availing the modern version of design graphics is good. Nevertheless, this may extend the time frame for renewing designs. Using pre-created designs and moving backgrounds tends to cut down production time.
Experience Level
Skilled animators are quite fast compared to novice artists, improving how long animation production takes.
Animation Technique
While hand-drawn techniques are fun, they are more time-consuming than other methods, such as motion capture.
Revisions
Too many changes extend the production timeline. To tackle this, a well-thought-out plan is crucial.
Final Words
The timeline for 2D animation can vary widely depending on the length of the project, the number of frames, the visual style, and the size of the team.
It does not matter if one is working on a short commercial or a full-length motion picture; knowing these things will help you assess the time you require and all the other aspects accordingly.
Each phase, from script writing to editing, is important in forming the final product. Considering these factors, you can control your project, and the entire development stage will be more efficient.
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