CARTOON ANIMATION
Have more time to create with cartoon animation software
Have more time to create with cartoon animation software
Cartoon animation has been around nearly as long as cinema itself, but new technology has enabled the craft to advance and evolve in remarkable ways.
Image courtesy of Chris Cragg.
An octopus holds a ring in the animated short film Taking the Plunge. Image courtesy of Elizabeth Ku-Herrero.What is cartoon animation?
What is cartoon animation?
Cartoon animation is the art of bringing static drawings to life and transforming still images into a vibrant, moving story. The process turns lines and colors into characters and worlds that capture hearts and spark imaginations.Â
3D animation cartoons take the craft further, fusing artistic principles with new technologies so you can watch the past and future of animation dance together on screen.Â
While traditional animators painstakingly crafted each frame by hand, modern 3D cartoon animation uses sophisticated software to create fluid motion and automatically render lifelike transitions.
Cartoon animation is the art of bringing static drawings to life and transforming still images into a vibrant, moving story. The process turns lines and colors into characters and worlds that capture hearts and spark imaginations.Â
3D animation cartoons take the craft further, fusing artistic principles with new technologies so you can watch the past and future of animation dance together on screen.Â
While traditional animators painstakingly crafted each frame by hand, modern 3D cartoon animation uses sophisticated software to create fluid motion and automatically render lifelike transitions.
The cartoon animation process
Explore how cartoon animation transforms an idea into an incredible character and story.
Explore how cartoon animation transforms an idea into an incredible character and story.
Developing the idea
Developing the idea
Where imagination takes flight. Animators brainstorm character movements, expressions, and actions that tell the story. You sketch animations called ‘thumbnails’ to visualize the flow of movement, deciding how your characters will move through the world to express emotions and drive the plot forward.
Where imagination takes flight. Animators brainstorm character movements, expressions, and actions that tell the story. You sketch animations called ‘thumbnails’ to visualize the flow of movement, deciding how your characters will move through the world to express emotions and drive the plot forward.
Creating a skeleton
Creating a skeleton
Next, it’s time to build the bones of your animation. For 2D cartoon animation, this means drawing key poses that define the major points of an action. 3D animation cartoons are about building a digital ‘rig’ that allows the character to move. This skeleton is the foundation of your animation, determining how flexible and expressive your character can be.
Next, it’s time to build the bones of your animation. For 2D cartoon animation, this means drawing key poses that define the major points of an action. 3D animation cartoons are about building a digital ‘rig’ that allows the character to move. This skeleton is the foundation of your animation, determining how flexible and expressive your character can be.
Animating the character
Animating the character
Now the real magic begins. Animation brings your character to life, creating smooth movements between those key poses. In traditional cartoon animation, you’d draw lots of in-between frames. For 3D, you instead manipulate the character’s rig to effortlessly create motion. Timing and spacing are crucial here to give your character its unique personality and energy.
Now the real magic begins. Animation brings your character to life, creating smooth movements between those key poses. In traditional cartoon animation, you’d draw lots of in-between frames. For 3D, you instead manipulate the character’s rig to effortlessly create motion. Timing and spacing are crucial here to give your character its unique personality and energy.
Adding style
Adding style
This final polish involves making your character your own. Everything from textures and fine details to hair movement and cloth physics, this is where you convey meaning and emotion. A 3D animation cartoon might include fine-tuning deformations or adding dynamic simulations for extra realism.
This final polish involves making your character your own. Everything from textures and fine details to hair movement and cloth physics, this is where you convey meaning and emotion. A 3D animation cartoon might include fine-tuning deformations or adding dynamic simulations for extra realism.
An animated little dragon sits atop a mountain. Image courtesy of Gabriel Richaud.Cartoon animation meets software
Cartoon animation meets software
From hand-drawn flip books to rendered digital universes, cartoon animation has come a long way.Â
Pioneering work by Disney and Warner Bros. between the 1920s and 1940s established the techniques of cartoon animation. These early methods saw artists draw or paint every frame to be made into short loops or entire feature films.Â
But artists (along with software engineers) later realized that computers can do the same thing.Â
Pixar spearheaded taking character rigs and programming simple instructions about movement, camera angles, and light levels. Computer animation then exploded onto the scene. We were given breathtaking 3D stories, including Toy Story (1995) and Shrek (2001).
Today, almost every major 3D cartoon animation project has CGI elements and post-production. The 2012 Disney short, Paperman, shows the lines between 2D and 3D blur as animators mix techniques to create unique visual styles that continue to push the art form's boundaries.
From hand-drawn flip books to rendered digital universes, cartoon animation has come a long way.Â
Pioneering work by Disney and Warner Bros. between the 1920s and 1940s established the techniques of cartoon animation. These early methods saw artists draw or paint every frame to be made into short loops or entire feature films.Â
But artists (along with software engineers) later realized that computers can do the same thing.Â
Pixar spearheaded taking character rigs and programming simple instructions about movement, camera angles, and light levels. Computer animation then exploded onto the scene. We were given breathtaking 3D stories, including Toy Story (1995) and Shrek (2001).
Today, almost every major 3D cartoon animation project has CGI elements and post-production. The 2012 Disney short, Paperman, shows the lines between 2D and 3D blur as animators mix techniques to create unique visual styles that continue to push the art form's boundaries.
Modern 3D cartoon animation uses software to generate transitions between individually drawn frame states. Image courtesy of Erica Liu.Transform your ideas into animated reality
Transform your ideas into animated reality
From stormy seas to windswept hair, Autdoesk’s cartoon animation software lets you explore your scenes from any angle imaginable. With Maya, 3ds Max, and MotionBuilder, you can automate the simulation of these complicated elements and place your virtual camera anywhere inside your animated environment.Â
Build your setting within the software to shift perspectives and completely change a scene’s emotional context. Advanced pipeline management can also help make production management, asset, and milestone tracking seamless.
From stormy seas to windswept hair, Autdoesk’s cartoon animation software lets you explore your scenes from any angle imaginable. With Maya, 3ds Max, and MotionBuilder, you can automate the simulation of these complicated elements and place your virtual camera anywhere inside your animated environment.Â
Build your setting within the software to shift perspectives and completely change a scene’s emotional context. Advanced pipeline management can also help make production management, asset, and milestone tracking seamless.
Autodesk software for 3D cartoon animation
Maya
3ds Max
Media & Entertainment collection
Autodesk Flow Studio
Cartoon animation in action
See how top studios create fantastical worlds and lovable characters using cartoon animation.
See how top studios create fantastical worlds and lovable characters using cartoon animation.
Creating a short film, Andy: A Dog’s Tale
Creating a short film, Andy: A Dog’s Tale
Director Jamy Wheless offers a behind-the-scenes look at how a global team of creatives joined forces to produce a heart-warming, animated short film.
Director Jamy Wheless offers a behind-the-scenes look at how a global team of creatives joined forces to produce a heart-warming, animated short film.
Populating New York streets with Golaem
Populating New York streets with Golaem
The animation studio’s first project to receive an Academy Award reimagines the classic children’s tale through stunning stop motion.
The animation studio’s first project to receive an Academy Award reimagines the classic children’s tale through stunning stop motion.
Breaking into 3D animation with Ricky Baba
Breaking into 3D animation with Ricky Baba
After teaching himself 3D animation, Ricky Baba broke into the animated film industry and went on to work on projects for companies like DreamWorks, as well as in video games.
After teaching himself 3D animation, Ricky Baba broke into the animated film industry and went on to work on projects for companies like DreamWorks, as well as in video games.
Unlock educational access to Autodesk software
Unlock educational access to Autodesk software
Autodesk is committed to helping educate tomorrow’s leaders. Get free access to our entire portfolio of products with the Autodesk Education plan.
Future-proof your cartoon animation
Future-proof your cartoon animation
As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) become more advanced, so too does the creative process of cartoon animation. You can now focus more on storytelling and less on tedious tasks, letting your ideas take the lead.Â
With interactive experiences, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) blending with traditional cartoon animation techniques, the stories of tomorrow will be told in ways we can only begin to imagine.
Tools like MotionMaker use AI to generate character motion for you to work off so you can focus on crafting and iterating an incredible performance.
As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) become more advanced, so too does the creative process of cartoon animation. You can now focus more on storytelling and less on tedious tasks, letting your ideas take the lead.Â
With interactive experiences, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) blending with traditional cartoon animation techniques, the stories of tomorrow will be told in ways we can only begin to imagine.
Tools like MotionMaker use AI to generate character motion for you to work off so you can focus on crafting and iterating an incredible performance.
3D cartoon animation resources
Explore additional Autodesk resources for cartoon animation software.
Explore additional Autodesk resources for cartoon animation software.
Autodesk Media & Entertainment YouTube Channel
Find exclusive animation learning content, get visionary industry insights, and go behind the scenes into a world of realistic 3D characters, exceptional effects, and expansive worlds.
Find exclusive animation learning content, get visionary industry insights, and go behind the scenes into a world of realistic 3D characters, exceptional effects, and expansive worlds.
Autodesk Media & Entertainment blog
Get industry insights, news, and trends in animation, visual effects, games, visualization and production, as well as case studies from studios and companies using Autodesk tools
Get industry insights, news, and trends in animation, visual effects, games, visualization and production, as well as case studies from studios and companies using Autodesk tools
Pioneering a virtual animation studio
Learn how director Cinzia Angelini recruited 350 collaborators from across the world to work remotely on her animated short film Mila (2021).
Learn how director Cinzia Angelini recruited 350 collaborators from across the world to work remotely on her animated short film Mila (2021).
Maya YouTube learning channel
From beginner- to experienced-level tutorials, find free learning videos about Maya, animation, and beyond.
From beginner- to experienced-level tutorials, find free learning videos about Maya, animation, and beyond.
Animation resource guide
Explore animation organizations, education options, events, networking forums, and more tools to help you get ahead in your animation career.
Explore animation organizations, education options, events, networking forums, and more tools to help you get ahead in your animation career.
Create storyboard and animated video
Create Infraworks storyboards to feature full-motion animations with titles and captions to better communicate the design and intent of your project.
Create Infraworks storyboards to feature full-motion animations with titles and captions to better communicate the design and intent of your project.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) on cartoon animation
Like traditional handmade animation, CGI cartoon animation works by designing your world and the characters who will inhabit it—all with a style of their own.
Rather than hand-sketching or sequentially painting every frame, cartoon animation is the process of using motion, lighting, and camera-position parameters and rules in software. The computer then automatically renders each frame, breaking motion down into changes between frame states.
There are many advantages of using cartoon animation software. Here are just a few of the ways you can work smarter:
Create anything you can imagine without limits
Iterate endlessly until the shot is perfect
Save time during expensive shooting
Retroactively change a character or object design
In basic terms, 3D adds depth to a scene or frame. Traditional animation comprised flat, two-dimensional drawings, with drawn background elements providing the illusion of depth behind foreground elements. 3D cartoon animation software builds a 3D space in which to situate characters, landscapes, backgrounds, and other elements that are necessary to build the story of a scene. Those elements are positioned in the space, and viewers’ eyes respond to those 3D spaces the same way they do in the real world.