How do you make a 2D animation?
The professional production of 2D animation to złożony i wysoce skomplikowany proces obejmujący kilka etapów, w ramach których wykonywane są różne czynności, a mianowicie:
- pre-production,
- production,
- post-production,
- distribution.
Pre-production
Thus, the work begins with pre-production, which involves preparing a preliminary outline of the story presented in the animation. At this stage it is necessary to consider various ideas and concepts for the realization of the material, in order to be able to choose the best one among them or create something new based on them. Pre-production is crucial to the results of the work, as it results in the creation of a story skeleton and a base animation, on the basis of which further production activities are performed.
One of the most important elements of pre-production is the creation of a script, which forms the basis for the storyline and outlines the events that follow in the animation. Care should be taken to ensure that they are arranged in a logical manner and that the plot is coherent and interesting at the same time. The script also consists of a description of the time and place of the action, the method of narration or the characters of the characters appearing on the screen.
The script is the basis for the preparation of the storyboard, which is a simplified in form, drawn plot presented in such a way as successive frames of animation are shown. The next step is to record the voice of the voice-over artist or characters, as adapting the images to them is easier than first creating the animation and only later applying the sounds. When the script and storyboard are ready, it’s time to make the animatic, which is a simplified animated graphic placed on the timeline, which is then turned into a full animation. Thanks to the animatic, there is no need to animate scenes that would have been discarded at the production stage, which would have unnecessarily consumed additional costs.
Production
When an animatic is accepted by the filmmakers or the client, it means the green light to move on to one of the most exciting stages of animated film production: the actual 2D animation production. The animatic, which is a simplified version of the film with key shots in sketch form, gives an overview of how the film will look and run. Its approval is crucial, because from this point on, all the elements of the animation begin to take final shape.
Starting the actual production of a 2D animation is a process that requires not only creativity, but also advanced technology and technical skills. Animators begin by preparing all the necessary visual elements that will be used in the film. Characters, backgrounds and other graphics are created with great precision, often using programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop, which allow the creation of both vector and raster graphics. These elements must be carefully designed so that they can be easily animated later.
Next comes the so-called character rigging. This is a process in which characters are added a “skeleton” that allows for more natural movements. In programs such as Toon Boom Harmony or Adobe After Effects, animators create a structure of bones and joints that allow the character’s movements to be controlled in a realistic manner. Rigging is a key step, as a well-designed character skeleton greatly facilitates later animation.
Once the characters are ready, animators move on to creating the actual movements. The process of frame animation involves creating keyframes, which represent the main positions and movements of the characters in a given shot, and intermediate frames (inbetweens), which ensure smooth transitions between keyframes. Toon Boom Harmony is particularly acclaimed for its advanced frame-based animation tools, which enable animators to achieve high-quality motion with high precision.
Adobe After Effects, while better known as a visual effects and compositing tool, also plays an important role in 2D animation. With its features, animators can add a variety of special effects, such as shadows, motion blurs, lighting effects and color changes. After Effects also allows animation of text and other graphic elements, which adds an extra dimension and dynamics to the video.
As the animation progresses, all the elements are combined into one cohesive movie. In summary, the acceptance of animatic is a watershed moment in the production of an animated film, opening the door to intensive and creative work on the actual animation. With advanced tools, animators can create complex, dynamic and visually stunning animations that meet the expectations of creators and viewers alike.
Postproduction
Post-production consists of making the final touches , which are intended to maximize visually or sonically the final appearance of the film. Animation post-production also consists of merging different layers, such as camera images with static graphics and computer-generated animation, into a single, coherent material.
Distribution
The final stage is the distribution of the already finished animation, the goal of which is to reach the largest possible audience with the material. It therefore has a form of promotion, and the way it is carried out depends on a number of external and internal factors, including, first and foremost, the specifics, and therefore the target audience, to which the 2D animation is directed. While some productions are shown at festivals and in theaters, the distribution of others is based on the use of online channels, so the most important thing is to precisely choose the methods of promotion best suited to a particular animation.
