It is not obvious? Well, apparently not entirely, when you consider how many people are still struggling with this issue.

The first concept you need to understand is that 3D means 3 dimensions and 2D means 2 dimensions. Now, before you think I’m stating the obvious, let me go on to say that 3D and 2D in animation refer to the dimension in which the animation was created. Ahhhh The plot gets complicated huh?

For 2D animation, everything happens on a two-dimensional platform. The images are flat, without depth and offer a single perspective. Objects and characters are usually drawn without the subtle soft shadows we see in real life, and colors have little variation in hue. In 3D animation, everything happens on a three-dimensional platform. The images have depth and offer multiple perspectives just like in real life and have soft, subtle shadows that are cast on the objects and characters within.

In 2D, the characters look cartoonish and unrealistic. In 3D, the characters can look cartoonish yet realistic at the same time.

Another way to think about this is to think in terms of a painting and a sculpture. 2D is a painting and 3D is a sculpture. 3D introduces “depth perspective”, so we don’t just see a rectangle (2D) but a CUBE (3D). You can also think of it as the difference between a photograph of a glass of water (2D) and being able to reach out and pick up the glass of water (3D).

2D usually involves “drawing” or moving, for example, on a flat surface (drawing pad, etc.) or in the vertical and horizontal planes. 3D involves “modeling”, that is, the creation of 3-dimensional objects using computer software, residing in an expansive virtual environment, complete with lights, reflections, other objects, shadows, etc.

You could start training yourself by comparing a cartoon like Bugs Bunny, Aladdin, Lion King (2D) with “Toy Story 1, 2 and 3”, “Finding Nemo” and “Incredibles” (3D). If you haven’t seen any of these great cartoons, you should grab one right away or be branded a Neanderthal forever!