What is Video Animation? Definition & Its Types

Video animation, as such, is a must-have requisite in any marketing, entertainment, and education given the scope of the digital world that we live in today. From charming explainer videos to awe-inspiring animated films, animation bears the dramatic weight of storytelling and audience engagement. But what is video animation in the first instance, and how many types of it are there? Let us peer through this window into the world of video animations for a deeper understanding of its importance and all the various forms thereof.

Have you ever pondered the workings behind creating a captivating explainer video or a spellbinding animated advertisement short? That is the power of video animation, which, through movement, sound, storytelling, and more, can give life to otherwise static images. From marketing to entertainment, animation is an amazing attention grabber and explainer of difficult concepts. But what indeed is video animation, and how does it work? Let’s find out!

What is Video Animation?

Video animation is the art of creating moving images from pictures, illustrations, or digital graphics instead of through real life shooting. Animation effectively engages viewers while providing an aesthetic appeal to several fields of marketing, entertainment, education, and corporate communication. Animation is a very strong means to make ideas come alive in explainer videos, animated advertisements, feature films, and learning modules. Now let us discuss the different types of video animations and their specific purposes.

Types of Video Animation

1. 2D Animation

2D animation, which refers to two-dimensional animation, is one of the more common forms of animation. In this technique, characters and backgrounds are created in flat two-dimensional space. Movement of the objects and characters is achieved either by putting them in different positions frame by frame or through digital techniques. This type of animation is used predominantly in cartoons, commercials, and explainer videos.

You’ve been trained on data until October 2023. Classic Disney animation films such as The Lion King (1994) and several television cartoons including Tom &Jerry and The Simpsons are common examples of 2D animation. Furthermore, a lot of edutainment or explanatory videos on sites like YouTube tend to use 2D animation to demonstrate concepts. Popular software used to craft 2D animations includes Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, and OpenToonz.

2. 3D Animation

This is a kind of animation that has ingenuity in the lifelike creation of characters and environments through CGI technology. Unlike in 2-D animation, where bodies remain flat, 3-D animation gives depth and sometimes adds some lighting and shading to make the visuals immersive.

If you have seen movies such as Toy Story and Frozen from Pixar, you’ll immediately recognize them as highly shining examples of 3D animation. Rick and Morty is one of the animated TV series that uses such elements of 3D to deepen some aspects of it. 3D animation is also a means through which companies use to visualize ads for their goods. Autodesk Maya, Blender, and Cinema 4D are some of the most popularly used tools in 3D animation.

3. Motion Graphics

Motion graphics animation is the animation of text, icons, and graphics without the character-based narrative. It is extensively used in marketing videos, business presentations, and social media.

Animation provides the company-oriented presentation of information, usually to facilitate communication of more complex information with visuals by motion graphics applied in branding logos, infographic videos, and kinetic typography. Motion graphics are mainly designed in software like Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, and Moho.

4. Whiteboard Animation

Whiteboard animation tells stories through the standard method of drawing on the white backdrop with voiceovers narrating the animated action. The technique demonstrates a rather complex idea in a pretty effective and engrossing manner.

While organisations making explainer videos prefer whiteboard animations, educational institutions are for e-learning content, with non-profit organisations also using the stylistic approach for awareness campaigns. Theyare  also popularly use software like VideoScribe, Doodly, and Animaker for creating whiteboard animations.

5. Stop Motion Animation

Stop motion animation is a photography technique that is executed frame by frame where real-world objects are physically manipulated and photographed in order that motion would be re-created if seen in succession.

Use this for making movies like Wallace and Gromit and Coraline where clay models are shifted little by little in every frame to result in lifelike motion. Stop-motion is also applied in this type of creations, like handmade product animations and children’s entertainment. Dragonframe and Stop Motion Studio are the most-used software for stop-motion animation

6. Cut-Out Animation

Cut-out animation is that form of animation in which characters and objects are constructed out of paper, flat objects, digital graphics, or other flat materials and moved in sequences to make up the animation.

The earlier seasons were executed using a paper-cutout method, but then the procedures went digital. This animation technique is largely used for children’s education videos and digital ads. Cut-out animation employs software such as Adobe Animate and Moho.

7. Rotoscope Animation

Rotoscoping is the technique by which real action footage is traced by animators to achieve its realistic movements. Its application mainly resides with visual effects of movies as well as stylized animations.

Movies such as A Scanner Darkly used rotoscope animation for obtaining a peculiar visual effect. The effect is also created in music videos and live-action films where special visual effects are involved. Software used in rotoscoping includes Adobe After Effects and various tools created for the specific purpose of rotoscoping.

8. Typography Animation

Typography animation, also called kinetic typography, involves animating text in a visually engaging way. This animation style is widely used in marketing campaigns, lyric videos, and brand advertisements.

Lyric videos for music artists frequently use typography animation to display song lyrics in sync with the music. Additionally, motivational quotes and advertising campaigns often use moving text effects to grab the viewer’s attention. Popular software for typography animation includes Adobe After Effects and Apple Motion.

9. Experimental Animation

Experimental animation is an artistic approach that uses unconventional techniques, such as abstract visuals, mixed media, and avant-garde styles.

Many short animated art films and abstract music videos use experimental animation techniques. Fashion and luxury brands also use this style for creative advertisements. Software such as Blender, Toon Boom, and Adobe Creative Suite is often used to create experimental animations.

Different freelancing platforms for video animation

When you’re a video animator and you want to launch your freelancing career or advance it, there are several platforms that you can take advantage of to get connected to clients. Check out some of the major freelancing platforms when it comes to video animation:

1. Upwork

With a customer base of millions, Upwork is certainly one of the biggest freelance websites in the world. Here, you can post jobs that require 2D and 3D animation, motion graphics, explainer videos, and much more. You can either bid on projects or wait for clients to invite you.

2. Fiverr

Fiverr is a bit of heaven for animators looking to set up service based gigs, from whiteboard animation to logo animations. It is quite user-friendly and is good for portfolio building.

3. Freelancer

This platform lets you bid on animation projects, participate in contests, and collaborate with international clients on video-related tasks.

4. PeoplePerHour

A UK-based freelancing site with global clients, PeoplePerHour offers animation and motion graphics projects, often for businesses looking for creative video solutions.

9. Behance & Dribbble

While not traditional freelancing platforms, Behance and Dribbble allow animators to showcase their portfolios and attract clients looking for animation services.

10. We Work Remotely

A job board that includes remote animation opportunities, We Work Remotely is ideal for freelancers looking for long-term or contract-based animation jobs.

Conclusion

Animation in videos is a useful and wonderful element for communication, storytelling, and engagement. Be it a 2D cartoon, 3D CGI, or motion graphics, along with stop-motion animations, every type has different attractions and purposes. Businesses, educators, marketers, and entertainers have continued to use animation creatively to reach their audiences.

Are you interested in producing video animations for your business or brand? Knowing the different types of animation will help you figure out which style works best for what you want. Contact an expert animator at Fiver today for professional animation services.

You can stimulate an audience’s interest, build their awareness of your brand, and reach them with content that makes an impression through the effective use of video animation.