Is 2D Animation Dead? The Surprising Truth Revealed

Quick Takeaways:

• 2D is not dead, it is evolving and thriving in the new spaces
• Online platforms and crowd-funding are breathing new life into 2D
• Hybrid techniques blur 2D and 3D and bring exciting possibilities.

This is a question that's been circulating in the industry for the past couple of years now. You've probably heard the whispers, read the articles, and maybe even started believing it yourself. But hold onto your pencils, folks, because I'm here to tell you that 2D animation is not only alive but kicking and screaming into an entirely new era.

Let's step back a bit. Do you recall 2009? That was the year "The Princess and the Frog" hit theaters. It would appear to be the dying last gasp of old-fashioned Disney 2D animation. And then the tsunami of 3D hits: "Tangled," "Frozen," and suddenly, the animation world was dimension-crazy.
When Disney themselves declared 2D animation dead, well, that was pretty much the final nail in the coffin. But here's the kicker: "The Princess and the Frog" actually turned a tidy profit. Sure, "Tangled" made double, but since when is making money a sign of being dead?
Fun Fact: "The Princess and the Frog" grossed over $267 million worldwide against a budget of $105 million. Not too shabby for a "dying" art form!

While Hollywood might have turned its back on 2D for the big screen, the art form is far from extinct. In fact, we might just be in the middle of a 2D renaissance. Here's where it's thriving:

1. Europe: The continent is still pumping out gorgeous 2D films like "The Day of the Crows" (2012).
2. Japan: Studio Ghibli, anyone? Miyazaki's works continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
3. Television: Animated series are keeping the 2D flag flying high.
4. Online: This is where the real action is happening.

The thing is, though, that this isn't about technique; it's about the story. A bad story in 3D is simply a bad story, but a great story in 2D? Evergreen.

Today, the online world is a playpen of 2D animators. With YouTube and others alike, they suddenly are able to reach out at their fingertips to all audiences around the world. And it's not about views- but cold, hard cash.
Crowd-funding is just a game-changer. Take "Hullabaloo," for instance. This Disney veterans-led project raised over $400,000 at Indiegogo. That's some serious dough for a 2D project!
And of course, who forgets Patreon? The artists are making a living off the pledges of their fans. It is kind of like having your own private art patron – minus the powdered wig.

Well, let's see where things are really getting interesting. We see a mix of 2D and 3D techniques creating something altogether new. Remember that John Lewis Christmas ad in 2013, "The Bear and the Hare"? Beautiful marriage of 2D and 3D animation.
Disney's "Paperman" and "Feast", both of these Oscar-winning shorts utilized a technique that wed together hand-drawn animation with CG. But did that not result in a marvelous organic texture with all the oomph of 3D?
Fact Check: It was that "Paperman" did indeed go home with the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2013, thus proving that innovative 2D techniques can capture both hearts and accolades.

Just when you thought 2D animation was finished for good, here it comes again, popping up in the most unlikely of places. Take a tour of surprising arenas where 2D isn't just surviving, but thriving:

Remember those times when video games were about pushing polygons? Well, as it turns out, all things come full circle. We can now observe a seductive return of 2D animation in the gaming world.

• Indie Darlings: Two entities like "Cuphead" and "Hollow Knight" now capture the gaming sphere with absolutely breathtaking 2D visuals. "Cuphead," in particular, amazing everybody for its 1930s cartoon-inspired hand-drawn animation.
• Big Studios Take Notice: Not even the biggest house of games can afford to overlook this trend. Ubisoft's "Child of Light" and "Rayman Legends" are simply masterpieces of elegant 2D art, compared with even the best 3D blitz.
• True Story: "Cuphead" managed to score more than 6 million sales by 2020 and demonstrated that 2D animation can drive gigantic commercial success in the gaming world.

They've always been meant to be, but there is a true renaissance in animated music videos.

• Dua Lipa's "Hallucinate": Creepy, trippy 2D animatics that planted the video everywhere across the internet-proving, once and for all, that 2D is both cutting-edge and nostalgic, all at once.
• Billie Eilish's "My Future": The hand-drawn aesthetic complements the song's reflective mood perfectly. These videos are not just eye candy but raking up millions of views and bringing along fresh audiences to the world of magic in 2D animation.

In a world of slick 3D commercials, 2D animation is making a comeback in advertising. Why? Because it stands out.

• Simplicity Sells: complex ideas take simple and memorable shapes. Remember those explainer videos on social media? Many of them use 2D animation to break down complicated ideas.
• Nostalgia: Brands are leveraging the nostalgia that 2D animation possesses as a means to create emotional connections. Now, remember that warm McDonald's Christmas commercial? Pure 2D magic.
  

Educational content has a super powerful ally in 2D animation. Simple 2D animations are applied to complex topics in the digestible and engaging form of YouTube explainer videos and full-fledged e-learning courses.

• Khan Academy: From algebra to art history, everything gets its compelling explanation with such simple 2D animations.
• TED-Ed: Animated videos that tastefully combine education and entertainment prove learning can be viscerally beautiful.
  Did You Know? TED-Ed has more than 13 million subscribers on YouTube, which says a lot about the vast appetite for educational 2D animation.

Mind blown? That's right. 2D animation is now virtual reality. Artists and developers can now bring 2D characters and environments into 3D spaces for unique hybrid experiences.

• Google's Tilt Brush: This virtual painting tool allows artists to create 3D spaces with 2D brushstrokes, almost merging the dimensions.
• "Anime Cameo": In this VR experience, you step into 2D anime-style environments. Demonstrate how 2D art can create immersive worlds in 3D.

2D animation is not dead-it's just moved house. It has taken up a new set of homes on the Web, in hybrid techniques, and in the hearts of creators and fans refusing to let this beautiful art form fade away.
So the next time someone tells you 2D animation is dead, smile knowingly. For you know the truth-2D isn't just alive, it's morphing into something even more exciting. Now that you're ready, get out those pencils (or styluses) and start creating. The future of 2D is now in your hands!