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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

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 March 8, 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 8, 2023

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 3, 2023

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 March 8, 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 March 8, 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 February 27, 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 March 3, 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 March 19, 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 March 8, 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 March 13, 2023

Simple Tools to Make Animation Sprites

Sprites Animation

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 Traveler, you are already familiar with sprites in games. Creating and animating sprites allows game artists and […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on February 27, 2023

Visual Effects (VFX): Past, Present, Future (Transforming The Ordinary To Extraordinary)

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 February 27, 2023

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 February 27, 2023

What You Can Do With A Master’s In Animation: Education, Career Path, Schools To Attend

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 March 8, 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 March 8, 2023

How to Get Started With Pixel Art

3D Pixel Art

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 ultimately, full games. Artists and developers often use the process of ‘spriting’, which involves forming your creation […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on March 13, 2023

3D Animation ‘Power Tools’ for Beginner Animators

best free animation software for video games

It has never been easier to breakthrough into creating your animations. Whether these be games, humorous little animations like those of populating the internet over the past 20 years, or just playing around with the software and its capabilities, 3D development is right at your fingertips. If you are like me, you are always on […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on March 19, 2023

Explore the Best 2D Animation Software: Including Free and Paid Options

Top 2D Animation Software

Animation is a wild thing. From animated movies to Flash cartoons, animation has captivated the world for years. Specifically, 2D animation has roots in history going back to the advent of movies. This also ties into gaming as well. We all love games like Braid, Metroid, and Castlevania. However, it is one thing to sit […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on February 27, 2023

Animation Books Every Aspiring Animator Should Read

The Animators Survival Kit

GameDesigning.org is reader support. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More. Ever since watching Spirited Away in 2001 by Studio Ghibli, I was 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 […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on March 19, 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 March 13, 2023

Let’s Review the Most Popular Anime Films Ever

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 February 27, 2023

Animation Schools in Louisiana (Begin The Path Down Your Animation Career)

top louisiana animation colleges

Louisiana may not be the first state that comes to mind when considering the best places to earn respectable degrees in Animation. However, there are plenty of well-established college institutions and universities that are offering Animation courses in the state of Louisiana, allowing students in the area to branch out and begin their paths down […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on June 23, 2021

Study in Connecticut Animation Colleges

best animation schools in connecticut

If you are looking to study in Connecticut with a major in Animation, there are plenty of options available. Animation is one of the fastest growing industries, and Connecticut can provide you with the schools and universities to help you achieve your dream in the animation industry. Here are the best schools with animation related […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on March 8, 2023

7 Maryland Animation College Programs

animation schools in maryland

As any art patron would notice, traditional forms of visual art have been completely transformed by modern-day technology. Anyone who’s seen a special effects movie from this century would probably marvel at the amazing graphics and animation work of these projects. As more artists realize the potential of the animation industry, it’s no wonder why […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on March 8, 2023

7 Animation Schools in Massachusetts (Which One Is Right For You?)

massachusetts top animation colleges

With the advent of modern technology, more and more young minds are pursuing alternative versions of art. What was once paint on canvas is now digital art to be imported into a fictional world. With the steady rise of video games and animated movies in popularity, there’s no doubt that the animation industry will continue […]

Written by Bryan Wirtz - Updated on June 22, 2021

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