2D animation is the artistic and graphical method of creating movement or motion in a two (2) dimensional plain in other words, it is defined as drawing a character or object frame by frame to create a sense of movement or perception of motion. examples of 2d animated movies/clips/series are tom and Jerry, Naruto, area cartoon, Disney cartoons like Cinderella, beauty and the beast, Tarzan and thousands of others.
There are two main types of 2d animation namely
1. Frame by Frame/traditional: this simply means drawing different postures and poses of a character to get a particular movement of that character. Just like using maybe a 10page paper to draw and drawing different poses on each page of the paper so that when you flip through it, the drawings on each page will seem as if they're moving. Images of frame by frame animation is shown on the image below.

2. Cutout style: This method uses the principle of puppet style, in other words it requires drawing the different body pieces of a single character i.e the the wrist, forearm, upperarm, head, facial features, leg parts, torso, attaching them together with their joints just like you have in the body in a process called rigging, and manipulating the different parts (puppet) to create an animation.
The software packages we'll be using for our journey'll be Photoshop, and toonboom and a little after effects (compositing and special effects) premiere pro (editing our animated video), audition (editing our sound and sound effects), and audacity (recording sound) if the need arises. it's recommended you have an intermediate knowledge on the first two softwares. you should also get a graphics tablet (use google to research more on this) if you're serious about computer graphics. You can commence with your questions so that we can move further, Thanks.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv_INwOfnTE?si=d1gDzBvfOgvG9XFO

@CHUBBYSWIT: Cool thread,definitely gonna learn something here & contribute. Just modify some apps you spoke about. ToonBoom has different apps for 2D Animation,the popular ones are Harmony,Animate Pro(similar to Harmony) and StoryBoard Pro(for sequential art). Adobe AfterEffects & SoundBooth are part of the workflow.

@DerrickM thanks bro, actually storyboard pro is off. Photoshop can be used for all our scene planning, as for after effects, i might decide to chip it in if it'll be needed for compositing and other special effects but toon boom harmony can handle all the 2d needs even some part of 3d also like importing 3d assets as fbx from maya to use as environment in a 2d animation, avatar the last air bender is a good example

Interesting! But those software u mentioned,i ve no knwledge of dem o.

Polarbite:
Interesting! But those software u mentioned,i ve no knwledge of dem o.

it's not much of a problem bro, you can follow the thread to learn if you're determined. I recommend you start by looking for a way to get atleast toonboom software, you can start with studio for easy learning curve, i'll be giving extensive tutorials on those programs as we move along. A good artist and animator always start by drawing his ideas on paper and then refining and adding movement to them on the computer to create an animation.

chubbyswit:
it's not much of a problem bro, you can follow the thread to learn if you're determined. I recommend you start by looking for a way to get atleast toonboom software, you can start with studio for easy learning curve, i'll be giving extensive tutorials on those programs as we move along. A good artist and animator always start by drawing his ideas on paper and then refining and adding movement to them on the computer to create an animation.

*scratching my head* Wahala deeyyy oo! OK NA.

Remember for you to become very good in what you do, u must be creative, passionate and hardworking. Animation is not easy (that is why an animated movie usually have so many people involved in the production process) and can be frustrating most times especially for example when you're not getting exactly a particular movement you have in mind, So you must possess the three virtues up there in order to scale through this wonderful, funfilled and lucrative profession. now some of us might eventually ask what a graphic tablet is, well simply put, its a device that have a surface and a pen which functions as a traditional paper and pencil for writing, drawing and painting on the computer screen, use google to do an extensive research on this device, the most popular brand is wacom although there're other good brands.

Polarbite:
*scratching my head* Wahala deeyyy oo! OK NA.

lolz wahala no go dey bro, just continue to follow the thread, also invite your friends that're interested, i believe we'll all understand better with time.

Different strokes for different folks. Photoshop is good but StoryBoard Pro has its own benefits. Just keep the field open & let those interested in this thread try out the standard apps & make their decisions themselves not streamline them so soon. Am aware of ToonBoom Harmony's ability to import fbx as well as obj.
Reviews from Animation World Network(AWN) are from the best of best in animation so here you see the Review of StoryBoard Pro Vs Photoshop...

http://www.awn.com/animationworld/toonbooms-storyboard-pro-best-storyboard-program-ever

chubbyswit:
@DerrickM thanks bro, actually storyboard pro is off. Photoshop can be used for all our scene planning, as for after effects, i might decide to chip it in if it'll be needed for compositing and other special effects but toon boom harmony can handle all the 2d needs even some part of 3d also like importing 3d assets as fbx from maya to use as environment in a 2d animation, avatar the last air bender is a good example

DerrickM:
Different strokes for different folks. Photoshop is good but StoryBoard Pro has its own benefits. Just keep the field open & let those interested in this thread try out the standard apps & make their decisions themselves not streamline them so soon. Am aware of ToonBoom Harmony's ability to import fbx as well as obj.
Reviews from Animation World Network(AWN) are from the best of best in animation so here you see the Review of StoryBoard Pro Vs Photoshop...

http://www.awn.com/animationworld/toonbooms-storyboard-pro-best-storyboard-program-ever

storyboard is nice but its tailored towards the big industries that consists of many animators. It has almost an endless possibilities to what you can do with it, infact it can almost be used as a substitution for animation software but photoshop is able to handle all our needs perfectly at this level, so that we'll understand better, besides i dont want to add too many softwares so as not task people's brain too much, although anyone can indicate if they're interested in other softwares not listed above so other animators who're good in them can help them. you're free to also tutor us extensively on ur own workflow as time goes on.

thanks for this tutorial @ chubbyswit

please what version of Adobe Photoshop is advisable to download and what's the system requirements. thanks

Sign me up!

Kunle106:
thanks for this tutorial @ chubbyswit

please what version of Adobe Photoshop is advisable to download and what's the system requirements. thanks

i recommend cs6 or cc version also make sure to get atleast toon boom studio or toon boom animate pro. I'll discuss on system requirements shortly, u're highly welcome

Dolemite:
Sign me up!

just follow this thread and learn extensively thats all for now

Recommendations on the softwares that should be used for this journey are as follows: adobe photoshop cs6 or cc, toonboom studio, animate pro or harmony (preferably harmony). It'll be an advantage if you also have the cs6 or cc version of other softwares listed on my first post up above apart from audacity which is not an adobe software.

chubbyswit:
lolz wahala no go dey bro, just continue to follow the thread, also invite your friends that're interested, i believe we'll all understand better with time.

Alryt sir,am following u bumper 2 bumper.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENT: computer graphics is a profession that embodies all forms of graphic design, visual effects(vfx) digital drawing and painting, compositing, video and audio editing, 2d or 3d production etc, and all these processes no matter the aspect u decide to venture into are very tasking on the computer system and therefore needs one or more high end computer systems depending on how professional you decide to go. The following specifications is reccomended for a smooth workflow as regards 2d. PROCESSOR: an intel or Amd with two or more cores and a speed of 2.0ghz and above. Intel is better because it doesnt heat up like an AMD RAM SIZE:4GB of ram and above HarDDisk: 500GB and above the last and most important requirement is the dedicated video memory which is needed to drastically speed up all your realtime processing and rendering in any of these softwares and it should be 512mb and above for 2d production and atleast 1GB and above for 3d production

ToonBoom apps are tailored towards both small,indie & big industries. At the moment; the apps aren't too much to get a wholistic of 2D Animation,bro. So far ToonBoom apps(Harmony,Animate Pro,Studio) with Adobe Apps(Photoshop,Premiere Pro,AfterEffects,Audition,SoundBooth). If you have a youtube or vimeo channel you do a basic intro video into it. What do you think?!!

chubbyswit:
storyboard is nice but its tailored towards the big industries that consists of many animators. It has almost an endless possibilities to what you can do with it, infact it can almost be used as a substitution for animation software but photoshop is able to handle all our needs perfectly at this level, so that we'll understand better, besides i dont want to add too many softwares so as not task people's brain too much, although anyone can indicate if they're interested in other softwares not listed above so other animators who're good in them can help them. you're free to also tutor us extensively on ur own workflow as time goes on.

DerrickM:
ToonBoom apps are tailored towards both small,indie & big industries. At the moment; the apps aren't too much to get a wholistic of 2D Animation,bro. So far ToonBoom apps(Harmony,Animate Pro,Studio) with Adobe Apps(Photoshop,Premiere Pro,AfterEffects,Audition,SoundBooth). If you have a youtube or vimeo channel you do a basic intro video into it. What do you think?!!

do u knw dat a professional 2d animation can be created with just toonboom harmony premiere pro and audition not minding the other apps u just mentioned? It all boils down to how creative u're. I actually have a youtube channel and working on an animation which i'll upload there this wk. I'll discuss my workflows that led to the creation of any animation i upload on youtube starting from this week, people'll also understand the basics as they tag along with the thread

@CHUBBYSWIT: If this is an open discussion like you said streamlining the thread just to your personal app workflow wouldn't be fair. I put all the popular options out there. You keep asking me whether I know over & over again*lwkmd*lol*Yes,am aware,brov. I don't contest what you know,bro,all am doing is contributing...okay*winks winks*Looking forward to learning from your youtube upload.

chubbyswit:
do u knw dat a professional 2d animation can be created with just toonboom harmony premiere pro and audition not minding the other apps u just mentioned? It all boils down to how creative u're. I actually have a youtube channel and working on an animation which i'll upload there this wk. I'll discuss my workflows that led to the creation of any animation i upload on youtube starting from this week, people'll also understand the basics as they tag along with the thread

DerrickM:
@CHUBBYSWIT: If this is an open discussion like you said streamlining the thread just to your personal app workflow wouldn't be fair. I put all the popular options out there. You keep asking me whether I know over & over again*lwkmd*lol*Yes,am aware,brov. I don't contest what you know,bro,all am doing is contributing...okay*winks winks*Looking forward to learning from your youtube upload.

noooooo bro, lwkmd, i didnt mean it that way, please you're very free to discuss your own workflows like i indicated in one of my quotes to you up above, i was just trying to show you the possibilities of achieving an animation goal with less apps involved. I just care for those who might get confused if alot of apps gets involved. We have hundreds of them out there you know. But then feel free to introduce yours, we're all learning lolz. This thread is much open for brainstorming like you typed. I'm sure i'll also learn much from you.

chubbyswit:
i recommend cs6 or cc version also make sure to get atleast toon boom studio or toon boom animate pro. I'll discuss on system requirements shortly, u're highly welcome

thanks bro, d only issue am having is that my system's processor is less than 2ghz... but anyway keep d tutorial coming bro

This is going to be interesting...I knw DerrickM musto show up here..lol...Polarbite, I see you too.

Kunle106:
thanks bro, d only issue am having is that my system's processor is less than 2ghz... but anyway keep d tutorial coming bro

ur processor been less than that wont be much of a problem bro

Thanks for creating this tread. I am a die hard fan of traditional frame by frame animation and I hardly see 2d tread on nairaland . I will be dropping some tips here too. Check out some of my old works below. I use flash 8 for my animations. Chubbyswit please where can I buy toon boom animate in Lagos.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95jtJwlVWbA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jURS-EVFrUc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4B1M_aqMVk

Na so na,make we help this thread reach frontpage sharpenly*winks winks*Comics & animation are the new #tag team. If anyone can use this workflow,more superhero flicks will come about for sure in Naija...

rotlan:
This is going to be interesting...I knw DerrickM musto show up here..lol...Polarbite, I see you too.

Lovely recommendation. For the sake of those whose pcs aren't 6-8GB & above with a dedicated graphics card etc or 2Ghz CPU speed. Lower the range for Photoshop to CS4 to include CS5 we both know versions CS6 & CC 2014-2015 takes a lot of resources*winks winks*Didn't see the former comments before. In short time people jumped on in*hehehe*Good stuff...

chubbyswit:
Recommendations on the softwares that should be used for this journey are as follows: adobe photoshop cs6 or cc, toonboom studio, animate pro or harmony (preferably harmony). It'll be an advantage if you also have the cs6 or cc version of other softwares listed on my first post up above apart from audacity which is not an adobe software.

You can check Computer Village or download it via torrent sites. If you want the original license visit www.toonboom.com more info. It's not so cheap to buy it if you want.

naijatoonz:
Thanks for creating this tread. I am a die hard fan of traditional frame by frame animation and I hardly see 2d tread on nairaland . I will be dropping some tips here too. Check out some of my old works below. I use flash 8 for my animations. Chubbyswit please where can I buy toon boom animate in Lagos.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95jtJwlVWbA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jURS-EVFrUc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4B1M_aqMVk

DerrickM:
Lovely recommendation. For the sake of those whose pcs aren't 6-8GB & above with a dedicated graphics card etc or 2Ghz CPU speed. Lower the range for Photoshop to CS4 to include CS5 we both know versions CS6 & CC 2014-2015 takes a lot of resources*winks winks*Didn't see the former comments before. In short time people jumped on in*hehehe*Good stuff...

. Other lower versions ofcourse are included the reason i recommended most recent version is because of updated tools that might not be available in those earlier versions

Wow Naijatoonz i'm impressed with the images will sure check out these beautiful videos tomorrow. You're highly welcome to tutor us on your own workflows including adobe flash for those that'll surely need them. Follow DerrickM's advice on how to get toonboom software i recommend you get harmony. You can easily get it via torrent if the other methods prove abortive.

DerrickM:
Na so na,make we help this thread reach frontpage sharpenly*winks winks*Comics & animation are the new #tag team. If anyone can use this workflow,more superhero flicks will come about for sure in Naija...

you're on point bro, i see our local animation industry competing with those ones abroad in the near future, and more creative minds're needed for that dream to come true. Imagine our own comic stories blossoming into popular lucrative ventures. But we must atleast try and tutor as many people that're willing to learn on the basics of this wonderful industry.