What is Animation? Definition, Types, and How It Works

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Published: April 7, 2025 | Last Updated: April 11, 2025

How animation works

When you see a character move in animation, you watch a series of images change slightly from frame to frame. Because the human brain can retain an image for about 1/10th of a second, showing multiple images quickly creates the illusion of motion.

Traditionally, animation is “shot on twos”—meaning each image appears twice across 24 frames per second. That’s 12 drawings per second. Today’s digital animation often runs at 24fps (or more) for smoother movement, but stylistic choices (like anime) may use fewer frames for effect.

Major types of animation

Today, there are many types of animation techniques. Here’s a short breakdown of the most common:

Traditional Animation (2D Cel animation)

In traditional cel animation, each frame is drawn by hand, often on transparent sheets layered over backgrounds. This was the industry standard through the mid-20th century. Films like Aladdin (1992) and The Lion King (1994) show Disney’s peak in 2D craftsmanship.

See also the chronological timeline of the history of film and animation and how they intertwine.

Rotoscoping

Rotoscope animation involves tracing over live-action footage frame by frame. Early examples include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). More stylized versions appear in Richard Linklater’s Waking Life (2001).

Stop Motion

Using real-world objects (clay, puppets, paper), stop motion captures still frames of small movements to simulate animation. Each still frame is then played back, for example, at 12 frames per second. It’s tactile and labor-intensive. Coraline (2009), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) are examples.

CGI

CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) is the use of computer software to create images, which could be still images or animations. CGI can include 2D computer-generated effects, 3D animation, motion graphics, VFX (visual effects for movies), and still images (like CGI backgrounds or textures).

3D Animation

3D animation is the animation of 3D models, typically with rigging and posing techniques, to create movement over time. 3D animation can be viewed as a specific form of CGI where three-dimensional models and environments are created and animated within a digital space. Pixar’s Toy Story (1995) was the first feature film created entirely in 3D animation.

Here’s a video that shows how far Pixar has come since the first Toy Story movie:

Motion Graphics

Used in titles, commercials, explainer videos, motion graphics, animated text, shapes, and logos instead of characters. It’s a key part of video editing, branding, and creating informational content today.

See my illustrated guide on how to add, edit, & animate text in Premiere Pro.

Cutout & Vector Animation

Vector-based animation lets you move pre-drawn components around instead of redrawing them for every frame. This method powers tools like Adobe Animate, educational content, and social video apps.

Historical context

The earliest form of animation dates back to zoetropes and flip books.

By the early 1900s, studios like Disney, Fleischer, and Warner Bros. were refining cel animation for mass entertainment. By the 1980s, digital workflows started replacing hand-painted cells. Pixar’s 1995 release of Toy Story cemented CGI as the new industry standard.

Today, animation spans everything from children’s media to experimental shorts and prestige adult series. It’s no longer tied to one format or demographic. It’s a whole cinematic language.

Summing up

Animation is the art of moving still images—frame by frame—to create life, emotion, and narrative. Whether hand-drawn, computer-generated, or sculpted in clay, the technique depends on timing, visual rhythm, and persistence of vision. It’s not just for kids. It’s cinema—just built one frame at a time.

Read Next: See how to create Motion Graphics Templates in After Effects.