Is 2D Harder than 3D Animation? Simple Analysis

When you step into the world of animation, one question tends to pop up frequently: Is 2D animation harder than 3D?

Or could it be the other way around?

It’s a tricky yet crucial question to answer, especially if you're trying to decide which path to pursue—2D or 3D animation—and what kind of challenges each will present.

While some might assume 2D animation is easier, is that really the case? Let’s dive into the details and explore this question thoroughly in our blog!

First, let’s get a basic understanding of what 2D and 3D animation are before we compare them to see which one is more challenging.

You’re probably familiar with 2D animation—after all, it's been around for a long time. In simple terms, 2D animation deals with two dimensions: length and width. It is like drawing on a flat surface, like paper.


For 2D animation, frames are created, which are individual images. Each one is slightly different from the other, akin to a prequel or sequel. These frames are played in rapid succession, and voilà! Now you have a smooth 2D animation.

This is one of the earliest forms of animation, and though seemingly simple, it requires the most careful planning and creativity to bring characters and stories to life within the confines of two dimensions.

On the other hand, 3D animation adds a third dimension: height, making it more like the world we live in. Just as objects around us have depth, 3D animation reenacts that realism by giving animated objects their three-dimensional space to exist in.

Unlike in 2D, where each frame is drawn individually, in 3D animation, we begin with an entire 3D environment. Next, 3D characters are modeled and animated to move within that environment. In this scenario, dynamic perspectives, realistic lighting, and more complicated movements can be obtained because the characters are interacting with the virtual world around them.

Sophisticated software gives 3D animation the potential to bring these characters and environments to life by mimicking the real world with great details of lifelikeness.

Let’s also discuss some basic differences between 2D and 3D animation to break them further and learn about their basic, process and technicality.

2D animation is more focused on artistic expression and requires a lot of manpower—it's about creativity, hand-drawn elements, and imagination.

In contrast, 3D animation leans heavily on technicality and mechanics, relying on software to create models, simulate environments, and move characters.

Although both types of animations are lengthy, 3D animation is much more time-consuming. Why? Because each activity generally has more steps involved: modeling, rigging, texturing, and rendering; whereas 2D animation primarily relies on creating the correct sequence of frames.

The animation tools that are used in 2D animation are relatively simpler, such as Adobe Animate or Toon Boom, and focus on drawing and frame adjustments.

The software for 3D animation is miles more complex. It utilizes tools such as Blender, Maya, or Cinema 4D to model, animate, and render 3D objects with a range of extra capabilities.

2D animation works in two dimensions: length and width. So, whatever is shown will be flat. Only one angle is available while creating the scenario.

3D animation introduces a third dimension: height, which defines depth. Realistic perspectives can be easily put and observed from various angles.

2D animation is somewhat rigid in asset reuse, requiring you to draw again for other angles or actions. Once you draw something, it's quite static.

This is not the same with 3D animation. Characters and environments are more versatile with 3D. It enables model reuse, changing camera angles, and the addition of light without redesigning from scratch. Therefore, it is more flexible for adjustment purposes.

Technically speaking (Plus, the differences above clearly show that), 3D animation is much more difficult than 2D, and it's not just because of the extra dimension-height. Complexity in creating realistic 3D models, lighting, and physics are what make it difficult, and take more time.

But that's not to say 2D animation is easy peasy! In fact, it can be equally taxing in different ways. Instead of wrestling with technical tools, a 2D animator relies so much on creativity and manpower - more frames, the right angles, and making sure every scene works correctly.

In a nutshell: both 2D and 3D animation have their own unique challenges. Bottom line, it really boils down to your skill set—you might find you do more with design, or be better at problem-solving. That aside, most people would agree that 3D animation is just a tougher nut to crack in the broad sense of things.

So, why is 3D animation considered harder than 2D? Let’s break down some of the key reasons behind this perception, one by one.

To begin with, is attitude and mindset. Frequently, the individual assumes that a particular concept is not easy to understand. A person who has difficulty with 3D animation may claim it is hard and others may take up the attitude without even trying it. It produces a mentality where 3D becomes cumbersome because it looks complicated to the naked eye.

In fact, people hear about this extra dimension, the 3D perspective, character rigging, and added technicality, and they can get really intimidated, think that is too tough to start before actually beginning. Yet, in some ways, this is more a matter of fear than facts.

We’ve already touched on the extra dimension—so, does it really make a difference? Absolutely YES!

In 2D animation, you just need to worry about the length and width of objects such as characters and backgrounds on a flat surface. That can be easier because you are only dealing with two aspects; you focus more on the details within those limits.

However, in 3D animation, the third dimension—height—is essential to making that look real. You're no longer drawing, but you are sculpting in a virtual space, bringing life to characters and objects, which move and live three-dimensionally. This aspect adds to complexity requiring much consideration of perspective, depth, and how objects interact in their surroundings.

While 2D animation is more artistic and a creative source of manpower, 3D animation is really a technical job. Of course, it does need artistry and creativity, but to translate them to life in a functional animation demands a whole new technical expertise.

In comparison to 2D, 3D animators are required to be highly skilled in a multitude of advanced software and tools, including modeling and rigging, physics simulations, lighting setups, and rendering. The workflow is far more technical and therefore much more complex and demanding compared to 2D.

In 2D animation, you create a series of frames and then play the film at such a rapid pace that it will appear in motion. Easy peasy, right? Well, in 3D animation, it's an entirely different ball game. To animate something, you must first create a model of the object or character in three-dimensional space and then apply rigging. Rigging is essentially giving the character a skeleton complete with bones and joints for the head, legs, hands, waist, and all the rest.

At this stage of rigging, the parts are variable and you can make any kind of motion. However, creating a rigged model doesn't take a step in the park. You will need special tools, advanced skills, time, and also manpower to end up with a perfect, fully functioning model. And for this, you need a good, perfect understanding of how your character is structured and how it moves. Although rigging is utilized in 2D animation as well, it is not nearly as universally adopted or in practice as it is with 3D. Complexity remains the biggest challenge when it comes to 3D rigging.

In 2D animation, movement is relatively simple—you just draw the character in different poses, frame by frame, to create the illusion of motion. Want them to jump or dance? Just draw it! There's more creative freedom, as you’re not bound by the physical laws of the real world.

But with 3D animation, it becomes another really different kind of game. It involves work within a 3D space, so you must be moving your character in all directions—up, down, forward, and sideways. It therefore requires an understanding of motion and laws of physics.

Things like gravity, weight distribution, and inertia do their work in order for movements to feel natural and realistic. Animation is not only about the movement of a character but also about putting every motion into practice as according to real-world physics rules.

Now, within 2D, you are almost static in one position and you just give one kind of consistent view from which to work, and it just makes lighting and angles easier because you're working in a 2D space.

With 3D animation, you can literally place the camera anywhere in a 3D environment, far away, or from any angle you might ever imagine. While this is great for creative possibilities, it requires much deeper knowledge of angles, camera placement, and lighting mechanics.

All these considerations are null and void in 3D because light behaves very differently there you have to think about angles and distances for the camera, shadows made by it and the strength of the light at different points in your scene. And because of that added dimension, you have to really master lighting setups to get the right amount of mood, depth and realities for your animation.

It is post-production and finally, that we are left with. Post-production work-including editing, addition of sound effects, and final tweaking of frames-is no big deal usually in 2D animation.

That's quite different in 3D animation, however, where post-production is a whole beast: multiple technical steps of rendering, compositing, and adding visual effects make the process quite intense.

With the fine-tuning of lighting, texture, and additive layers of effects, 3D post-production is much more of a technical marathon compared to 2D. Because a computer has to process every single frame, rendering alone can take hours or even days depending on the complexity.

Based on all these differences and reasons we've discussed, it's clear that 3D animation is a lot more complex.

With another added dimension, the entire process with animators becomes much more complicated. This time, apart from the technical skills applied in rigging, rendering, and physics, the entire process gets much more complicated. And, of course, post-production in 3D is notoriously demanding; it takes weeks, months, or even years to be perfect.

Art and creativity, however, are the two main challenges of 2D animation. Said this way, though it's much more accessible and may even be achieved in fewer technical steps than 3D.

That is to say, even though each is very demanding to master, 3D animation typically requires considerably more technical know-how and is harder to learn than old-fashioned animation.

1. Should I learn 2D or 3D animation first?
Ans - It’s easier to start with 2D animation as it helps you grasp basic principles, but you can dive straight in if you’re more interested in 3D.

2. Is 3D animation hard to learn?
Ans - Yes, 3D animation can be challenging due to its technical complexity, but with the right tools and practice, it’s definitely learnable.

3. Is 3D animation cheaper than 2D?
Ans - No, 3D animation is typically more expensive due to the need for advanced software, longer production times, and technical expertise.

4. What is the salary of a 2D animator in India?
Ans - The salary of a 2D animator in India typically ranges from ₹2 to ₹6 lakhs per year, depending on experience and the company.

5. Are anime 2D or 3D?
Ans - Most anime is traditionally 2D, but modern anime often incorporates 3D elements for certain scenes or effects.

There, now you have it -- your answer! I hope this clears all things in the air for you. But if you're still confused, just let me be very clear: I am not taking sides, here. 2D and 3D can be very complex, depending on the individual. All the points I mentioned above are a general view about how people have essentially perceived difficulty. And finally, it depends on what kind of skills you have, what's your interest, and what you prefer.