Looking to bring your creativity to life with a career in animation or illustration? Why not both? You might consider learning animated illustration as a means of diversifying your skill set. Today, animated illustrations are used in a vast range of applications, from digital marketing and advertising to educational content and beyond.
Before you dive into the exciting world of animated illustration, however, it’s important to understand what this unique area of illustration entails as well as some industry trends and best practices that are paving the way for the next generation of artists .
The Basics of Animated Illustrations
What exactly is animated illustration, and what does this kind of work entail? If you are even remotely considering a career in illustration, you’ll want to understand the basics — along with the common tools and software that illustrators use in their daily work. However, let’s dive into what animated illustration is first.
Defining Animated Illustrations
Animated illustrations refer to any series of images that are meant to be played in sequence. When played in the proper sequence, these illustrations create the illusion of movement.
If you’ve ever used a physical flip book, this same concept can be useful when thinking of animated illustration. With illustrations played rapidly and in sequence, the slight variations between each slide “trick” the brain into seeing movement.
When defining the concept of animated illustration, it’s key to look at both parts separately. Animation, on the one hand, refers to the process of creating the illusion of movement in any type of media. Popular examples of animation types include:
- Stop motion animation
- 3D animation
- Motion capture
Meanwhile, illustration simply refers to the act of crafting an image, often through drawing. Combining illustration with animation, you end up with a unique type of animation that tells stories through moving pictures.
Tools and Software for Creating Animated Illustrations
There are currently more tools and software programs available than ever before that can help artists create stunning animated illustrations with greater precision and ease. Several of the most popular platforms animators leverage today include:
- Pencil2D
- Blender
- Adobe After Effects and Adobe Character Animator
Over the years, animated illustration software has also come a long way when it comes to accessibility. No longer is this software only affordable for professionals using powerful computers. Nowadays, beginner illustrators and even hobbyists can experiment with animated illustration software not just from their home computers but also from mobile devices, like tablets and smartphones as well. In fact, some software is even designed to integrate on iPads and other tablets where artists can use a stylus to draw directly on a touchscreen — so these are all useful considerations in your animation software comparison.
Applications of Animated Illustrations
Animated illustrations continue to be used in a wide range of applications and industries. What does this mean for you as an aspiring illustrator? Essentially, you can put your talents to use in a number of ways. Likewise, consider that the job outlook for special effects artists and animators is projected to grow by 8% between 2022 and 2032 alone in the United States (based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data). This is faster than the national average for all occupations.
Many people tend to associate illustration and animation with the entertainment industry — and (more specifically) movies, television and video games. Although it’s true that these are popular applications for animated illustrations, entertainment is far from its only use.
Digital Marketing and Advertising
Today, many businesses are seeking motion graphics for marketing and advertising purposes as a means of capturing an audience’s attention while engaging potential customers. Businesses can use animated illustrations in email campaigns, social media marketing and beyond to explain how products and services work, tell a story or explain other concepts. Plus, when a consistent illustration style is used in each animation, brands can build recognition and awareness through this unique form of marketing.
Educational Content and E-Learning
In recent years, the power of animated illustration has also helped create educational and e-learning content. Most often, visual storytelling techniques are used to communicate and explain highly complex educational topics in a way that is more accessible and easier for students to understand. Animated illustrations in education can be catered to any audience, ranging from the youngest of elementary learners to college students and beyond.
Design Techniques and Tips
If you’re interested in creating animated illustrations, first keep in mind that not all animated illustration software is of equal quality. Take time to conduct your own animation software comparison to determine which option will have the features you need at a price you can reasonably afford. From there, consider some key principles and best practices as you sharpen your skills.
In addition, storyboarding for animation is a crucial visual storytelling technique, especially when it comes to forming logical progressions through illustration. By taking the time to storyboard thoroughly, artists can avoid mistakes that could send them back to the drawing board while ensuring that their messages are communicated as clearly as possible through storyboarding for animation.
Key Principles of Motion Design
As an aspiring animated illustrator, it is critical to remember the principles of motion design. Generally speaking, there are 10 principles to keep in mind as you brainstorm and develop your designs from initial concept to finished product. You can read in-depth about these principles, but a few of the most essential include:
- Anticipation – Prepare the audience for what is about to happen in your animation.
- Simplicity – Keep animations minimal with messages that are easy to understand.
- Easing – Create a sense of continuity as objects move and change.
Creating Seamless Transitions
Among the biggest challenges in creating animated illustrations (particularly for beginners) is that of creating seamless transitions. Without the proper easing, transitions and movement can appear choppy — so the goal is to create a sense of continuity that makes the animation look believable to viewers.
Thankfully, animation software is making it easier and faster than ever to create additional drawings and frames that improve easing and make transitions more seamless without adding to the artist’s workload.
Case Studies in Animated Illustrations: Successful Projects
Ready to be inspired? Let’s explore a few successful animated illustration projects that showcase the potential of combining artistry and animation.
Industry Examples
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) is a groundbreaking example of animated illustration that pushes the boundaries of traditional animation. The film’s unique style blends 2D comic book aesthetics with 3D animation, creating a visually stunning world that feels as if it were lifted straight from the pages of a comic. This innovative approach includes techniques like frame modulation, where different characters are animated at different frame rates to reflect their unique personalities and backgrounds.
One of the film’s most notable features is its use of vibrant color schemes, comic book-style textures, and hand-drawn elements, all of which contribute to a dynamic, layered look. The combination of these techniques creates a distinct visual language that captures the energy of the Spider-Man universe while also breaking new ground in animated storytelling.
The film’s success, both critically and commercially, demonstrates how animation can be used to explore new artistic territories while resonating deeply with audiences. Its Academy Award for Best Animated Feature cemented Into the Spider-Verse as a milestone in modern animation, making it a prime example of how animated illustrations can evolve beyond the confines of traditional methods.
Hair Love (2019) is a powerful animated short film that tells the touching story of an African American father learning to style his daughter’s natural hair for a special occasion. Directed by Matthew A. Cherry, the film highlights themes of self-love, representation, and the bonds between fathers and daughters. What makes Hair Love particularly compelling is its use of animation to capture the emotional nuances of everyday moments, like a father overcoming his insecurities to help his daughter feel beautiful.
The animation, while simple, is highly effective in conveying the versatility and beauty of African American hair, celebrating its “kinks, coils, and curls.” The film’s digital illustration style, along with its vibrant color palette, adds warmth and emotional depth to the story. Hair Love not only won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2020 but also garnered widespread praise for its positive portrayal of Black fatherhood and for challenging stereotypes about Black hair.
These projects emphasize the continuing relevance of both hand-drawn and digital animation techniques, and how illustrators can use their skills to tell powerful stories in a visually compelling way.
Behind the Scenes
Where do animation illustrators work? Some are freelancers who work out of their own home offices, taking on private clients to fill their schedules on a per-project basis. Other animators may be employed part or full time by animation studios. Part of the appeal of this kind of work is that there are diverse paths you can take to pursue your interests and passions.
To get a better picture of the actual animation process, take a peek behind the scenes of the making of the title sequence for the television series “All Creatures Great and Small,” where the animators talk with PBS about their creative methodologies. The 30-second intro shows a scenic journey across rolling hills and farmland.
The Future of Animated Illustrations
We can predict a lot about the future of animated illustrations by looking at innovations and trends in motion graphics that have already begun to emerge in related industries. As an illustrator, staying on top of the latest trends and technologies in the field will help you remain relevant and competitive.
Trends and Innovations
Technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) are already being integrated into illustration animation as a means of creating more immersive experiences for viewers. Thanks to the growing availability and accessibility of these trends in motion graphics, viewers can use VR and AR software and tools to actually experience animations. This can lead to increased engagement and immersion as a result.
Integrating New Technologies
Meanwhile, AI and machine learning are being applied to the field of illustration in fresh ways. Specifically, AI and machine learning can be used to automate some of the more repetitive and time-consuming tasks that illustrators and animators face. This, in turn, frees up more of their valuable time to focus their efforts on creativity and innovation.
Ready to Learn More About Animated Illustration Techniques?
Whether you strive to work in creating marketing, educational or entertainment content, knowing how to animate your illustrations can open doors to some exciting opportunities in your career. And although some techniques and best practices in animated illustration can be self-taught, the reality is that having a degree in a related field can set you apart from other illustrators while optimizing your skill sets.
At Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, we offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration that is available both on-campus and online to suit students’ needs and schedules. This comprehensive program covers core areas of the field, such as storytelling, self-promotion, composition, animation and much more. During your time in this program, you’ll also have the ability to build a robust portfolio that can help you prepare to enter this competitive field.
Interested in learning more about RMCAD’s illustration program or any of the other programs we have to offer (like our animation programs)? RMCAD offers several exciting animation program paths, including 2D and 3D animation, character design, and motion graphics. These programs are designed to equip students with both traditional and digital animation skills, preparing them for a dynamic career in the industry. Reach out today or get started with your online application to take the first step toward your creative future!
