Is 2D really dying?

CIU111 - Your Income and Your Art

Scene from Hullabaloo (Paur, 2014)

In the lecture “Your Income and Your Art”, we discussed whether the 2D animation industry is slowly dying opposed to the rise in 3D animations (SAE, 2018). The overwhelming response from the class made it seem like SAE’s passionate animators don’t want this to become a reality. Neither do I.

Over the years, I have noticed that 2D animations are diminishing while 3D and CGI animations are taking on the rise. However, what I really meant when I agreed to this fact was that traditional methods of hand-drawing animations frame-by-frame are declining. From what I know, animation schools are investing more of their resources into 3D techniques rather than 2D, such as SAE Institute Dubai. This is because, the industry is currently propelling into this direction (MyNewsDesk, 2017, p.1). In my opinion, more people (audiences) are interested in watching high quality, three-dimensional environments and characters that give off a realistic appeal than 2D animations. This is not something I personally like to admit, but is true.

Nevertheless, 2D animations are still alive and well. 2D is used mainly in mobile games, television series (for kids and adults) or in commercials these days (Bloop, 2018, p.1). The future of 2D animations still look promising according to Bloop Animation Studios.

However, the last of Disney’s 2D animation movies was Winnie The Pooh in 2011 (Brigante, 2014, p.1) while the actual hand-drawn cell-animated film was Oliver and Company in 1988 (Rosemark, 2017, p.1). In order to still keep the art of 2D animation alive, Disney animator, James Lopez pitched his idea about Hullabaloo, which is a “2D (hand-drawn) animated steampunk film” featuring two female lead roles in their ecstasy to find one of the scientist’s missing father (Brigante, 2014, p.1). The video below explains who James Lopez is, his work experience with Disney and his plans for his projected short film.

James Lopez Animation (2014, August 27). Hullabaloo Steampunk Animation Campaign video Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33NMLaTy7y4

Moreover, Disney’s Paperman (2012) was a hybrid animation that won an Oscar and an Annie Award for best animated short film (Oatley, 2013). Check out my previous blog post on how hand-drawn versus computerized animations have evolved (Fernandes, 2018)

Hybrid Animation is a combination of using 2D and 3D animation techniques. (Oakley, 2013)

Therefore, 3D animations are on the rise primarily because of younger generations’ interest in watching more realistic content. 2D however, is still alive and working in smaller productions for a niche market. Although 3D gains the industry a higher box office revenue, millennials and teenagers my age prefer the nostalgic 2D animations.

References:

Bloop Animation Studios (2018). Why we’re seeing less 2D Animated movies and why they probably won’t make a comeback [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.bloopanimation.com/why-were-seeing-less-2d-animated-movies-and-why-they-wont-make-a-comeback/

Brigante, R. (2014, September 1). Disney animators aim to revive 2D hand-drawn animation with “Hullabaloo”, an independent animated steampunk film. Retrieved from https://insidethemagic.net/2014/09/disney-animators-aim-to-revive-2d-hand-drawn-animation-with-hullabaloo-an-independent-animated-steampunk-film/

Fernandes, L. (2018, March 8). Hand-drawn animation versus Computerized animation. Retrieved from https://leighannefernandes.wixsite.com/leighanimation-blog/blog/hand-drawn-animation-versus-computerized-animation

James Lopez Animation (2014, August 27). Hullabaloo Steampunk Animation Campaign video [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33NMLaTy7y4

Lasseter, J. & Reed, K. (producers) & Kahrs, J. (Director). (2012). Paperman [Motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures.

MyNewsDesk (2017, January 18). 3D Animation Industry 2017 Future Trends and Scope Analysis by 2025 [press release]. Retrieved from http://www.mynewsdesk.com/in/pressreleases/3d-animation-industry-2017-future-trends-and-scope-analysis-by-2025-1751983

Oatley, C. (2013). The Making of ‘Paperman’ and The Future of Disney Animation. Retrieved from https://chrisoatley.com/making-of-paperman/

Paur, J. (2014). Disney 2D Animation Veterans Team up for Steampunk Project HULLABALOO [image]. Retrieved from https://geektyrant.com/news/disney-2d-animation-veterans-team-up-for-steampunk-project-hullabaloo

Rosemark, D. (2017, July 22). What was the last hand drawn animated movie? https://www.quora.com/What-was-the-last-hand-drawn-animated-Disney-movie

SAE Creative Institute (2018, August). Week 2 CIU111 – Your Income and Your Art [pptx]. Retrieved from https://moodle-dubai.axis.navitas.com/mod/folder/view.php?id=36053

Scribner, G. (Director). (1988). Oliver and Company [Motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures.

Vecho, P. D. & Spencer, C. (producers) & Hall, D. & Anderson, S. J. (directors). (2011). Winnie The Pooh [motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures.