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Aspiring Animators Start Here!

animation articles and guides
Wait, if this is a website about video game design, why do you have animation articles on here as well?

It's simple, we love animation. Game design, development, art, and animation are all under the same umbrella we call digital design. These industries overlap so much that it would be silly for us to ignore animation when it plays such an important part in all digital design. Plus, we think animation is pretty cool.

Although we write far more articles on gaming, we'll keep producing new and helpful animation guides, so check back for more.

Some of our more popular animation articles include:

  • 100 Must-Watch Animated Movies | Ranked & Rated Instant Classics
  • The World's 70 Greatest Animation Schools, Colleges, and Training Programs!
  • The Worlds Greatest 50 Animation Companies (Choose Your Next Adventure)
  • Ranked and Reviewed! The 20 Most popular 2D Animation Software Options

How to Use Animation Storyboards

Animation Storyboard

Great things are created with a good plan, which is why any animation project must begin with a storyboard. Sometimes, it’s hard to figure out whether a story is a great idea. When you put the breadth of it on paper, it becomes more apparent if it will work. Having a plan to refer to […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on August 20, 2024

What is Cel Shading & How to Use It?

What is a cel shading?

You may have seen some 2D or 3D animated movies and video games that look like they were hand-drawn or have a cartoon-like style. Usually, Japanese anime films and video games feature this distinct look. This type or technique of animation is known as cel-shading animation. Some also refer to it as toon shading. Although […]

Written by Ghia - Updated on August 20, 2024

How to Start Keyframing in Animation

Keyframing Techniques

Terminology in the world of animation and video editing can stop you in your tracks. As you dip your toes in the industry, you will come across words like “keyframes,” which seemingly everyone talks about like they are immediately understandable. Every video has a keyframe. What exactly are they, and why are they so important […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on September 29, 2023

Dos and Dont’s of an Animation Portfolio Website

animation portfolio tips

Animation is not just about quirky or cartoonish images; it’s also about conveying a message, story, or narrative. Animation is a creative and effective way to tell a story, so much so that the global animation industry was worth $395 billion in 2022 according to a Yahoo! Finance report. While there’s certainly a market for […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on August 16, 2023

What is Cel Animation and How to Use It?

Cel animation tools and resources

If you’re of a certain age, there’s a good chance you grew up with a lot of classic cartoons, but you may have noticed that animated films these days just don’t look the same as they used to. You could chalk this up to nostalgia, but it also comes down to the classic techniques in […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on August 10, 2023

Who are The 10 Best Animators of All Time?

Greatest animators of all time

In this article, we are going to look at ten of the greatest animators in history and explore what makes them great as well as their impacts on the industry. What Makes a Great Animator? Though every animated film relies on a team of talented artists and technicians, few people have as much influence over […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on March 4, 2025

The Concept Artists Ultimate Guide

What is a concept artist?

If you’ve ever been blown away by the creatures, scenery, or items in a movie or video game, then you’ve seen the end result of a concept artist’s work without even knowing it. A concept artist is a designer who takes the design team’s ideas and turns them into an artwork guide for making the […]

Written by Jesse Jones-Read - Updated on March 5, 2025

The Ultimate Guide To Digital Illustration

Digital Illustration beginner's guide

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and no one knows this better than digital illustrators. They are one of the most common jobs sought out by artists, for one simple reason. Illustrators get to inspire imagination with the images they create and act as a storyteller to influence their favorite games, movies, […]

Written by Jesse Jones-Read - Updated on July 4, 2023

Synfig Studio: Free and Open-Source

Synfig Studio

Whether you’re making a hilarious cartoon for Youtube, the opening cutscene of a video game, or an artistic training video for a professional business, 2D animation can be a laborious process. Everything from tweening to layering can take up a frustrating amount of time. On top of that, animation software can be expensive, and it’s […]

Written by Jesse Jones-Read - Updated on July 17, 2023

Tweeining Definition and Animation Tutorial

Inbetweening

We’re pretty spoiled when it comes to great animation. For over one hundred years, we have been exposed to some of the most talented artists and most impressive works of animation in our history. What makes them so great? Some may say it’s the drawing skills of the artists. Others say things like the top-notch […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on July 28, 2023

Why Animators Love Pencil2d Software

Pencil2D

There has never been a better time to be an animator. Don’t believe me? First of all, how dare you. Second, there are tons of programs that help you out immensely. One of those programs is Pencil2D. Here we’ll introduce you to some background info, features, and Pencil2D tutorials to get your 2D animator career […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on July 28, 2023

Quick Start Guide to Animate in Krita

Krita: Tools and Techniques

Animation and 2D painting are fantastic ways to express creativity and pull viewers in. Let’s see how to start an education in animation, and most importantly, how to animate in Krita. How to Get Started With Animation How do I animate? You use tools like Krita! Other than that, animation is the process of taking […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on August 12, 2023

Becoming A 3D Animator: The Ultimate Guide For A Future Creative Career

3D Animator

The Job of a 3D Animator The job of a 3D animator and designer isn’t all glamour and creating Pixar movies. Well, some of it definitely is, but not without hard work. Let’s take a deep dive into 3D animator as a career choice, what you need to succeed, and how to land a job. […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on June 18, 2023

Quick, Easy Steps To Animate A Character in the Unity Engine

Animating Characters in Unity

Unity is one of the premier game engines of the modern age. While perhaps not as powerful as the celebrated Unreal Engine, Unity has been the toolset for thousands of talented game developers and is officially the most popular third-party game development software. Games like Hollow Knight, Cuphead, Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, Escape from […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on July 24, 2023

Simple Tools to Make Animation Sprites

Sprites Animation

We are reader-supported. Purchases made through links on our site may earn us a commission. Learn More. What is Sprite Animation in Multimedia? Sprite images are 2D bitmap graphics found in several games and other media. If you have ever played 2D games like Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, and the more recent title, Octopath […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on March 1, 2025

Visual Effects (VFX): Past, Present, Future

Visual Effects

We see the magic of visual effects everywhere. The chances are good that some of your favorite movies or TV shows have some impressive visual effects added in. Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s take a step back and see just how visual effects, or VFX, have transformed storytelling in some of our favorite […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on March 6, 2025

Learn How to Draw the 4 Basic Anime Poses: Running, Ballet, Punching, Throwing

Anime Drawing Techniques

I was perusing the Internet as I often do, and I found a video of the talented team of animators who were in charge of creating environments and stills for the 1988 movie, Akira. If you haven’t seen Akira, it takes place in an unfriendly and foreboding urban, post-apocalyptic Tokyo, (named ‘Neo-Tokyo’), populated by biker […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on March 1, 2025

What You Can Do With A Master’s In Animation

Master's in Animation

There is a lot to consider when setting out to achieve a degree in any field. Everyone knows it’s somewhat of a Herculean task to get a law degree or medical degree. Maybe you’d be surprised to find out that getting a master’s in a field like animation is also nothing to turn your nose […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on July 17, 2023

Use Character Creator Games To Improve Your Skills

How to develop your character creator skills

What Is A Character Creator Game? A character creator game is not like a role-playing game that emphasizes character creation before you start playing. Instead, character creation games emphasize the actual creation and art of characters. This is something I am definitely into, as I am known to really spend hours tweaking and perfecting the […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on July 28, 2023

How to Get Started With Pixel Art

3D Pixel Art

We are reader-supported. Purchases made through links on our site may earn us a commission. Learn More. Anyone familiar with any classic games like Final Fantasy Tactics and Earthbound understands the overall look and feel of pixel art. Pixel art uses the aesthetic and properties of 8-bit and 16-bit graphics to create worlds, characters, and […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on March 1, 2025

Free 3D Animation Tools We Love

best free animation software for video games

We are reader-supported. Purchases made through links on our site may earn us a commission. Learn More. It has never been easier to break through into creating animation. Free 3D Animation options make getting started easier than ever. But which 3D animation tool is best for you? We’ll examine the best free 3D animation software […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on March 4, 2025

20 Best 2D Animation Software: Free or Paid

Top 2D Animation Software

We are reader-supported. Purchases made through links on our site may earn us a commission. Learn More. Animation has evolved immensely in the last decade. 2D animation is used in games, ads, educational resources, and traditional media. It’s one of the most popular ways to enhance any design. Moreover, its ease of use is excellent […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on March 3, 2025

Animation Books for Every Aspiring Animator

The Animators Survival Kit

We are reader-supported. Purchases made through links on our site may earn us a commission. Learn More. Ever since watching Spirited Away in 2001 by Studio Ghibli, I have been enchanted by animation. And I’m sure I’m not the only one. You may ask yourself, how do I begin to even match that style or […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on September 22, 2023

The Animation Pipeline, From Start to Finish

animation pipeline introduction

What are the steps to completing a successful animation? Obviously, it takes a lot of time, skill, planning, and plain expertise. The animation pipeline is a detailed game plan for your project. When considering the ‘animation pipeline’, you should have a good idea as to what step of your project you’re on. The main steps […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on July 24, 2023

The Most Popular Anime Films of All-Time

best anime movies of all time

Anime movies are some of the most breathtaking spectacles in film. The painstaking attention to detail and the mix of drama, action, romance, and other genres really sets them apart as a tour de force when it comes to the art form. Directors like Hayao Miyazaki have enchanted audiences for decades with his work. If […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on November 3, 2024

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