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What is the Difference Between Hand Drawn Animation and CGI?

Key Takeaways:
  • Hand drawn animation offers a timeless, artistic charm
  • CGI provides faster production and versatility across mediums
  • Both techniques have unique strengths for different animation needs
  • The choice between hand drawn and CGI depends on project goals and resources
Years back, those early flip books to the highly real computer-generated imagery of today-the art of breathing life into still images have captivated successive generations. But as technology gives way to how the improvement goes on, the great debate rages on: hand-drawn animation versus CGI which one is the better way?
Let us delve into the vibrant world of animation and study their distinctive features regarding these two industry giants.

The Magic of Hand-Drawn Animation

Hand-drawn animation-the granddaddy of them all-can be called traditional or 2D animation. It was born into the scene and gave us time-honored classics, from Mickey Mouse to Bugs Bunny, and hundreds of other lovable characters who never faded away. The Process Creating hand-drawn animation is a labor of love. Here's a quick breakdown of the process:
  1. Storyboarding
  2. Character design
  3. Key frame drawing
  4. In-between frame creation
  5. Inking and painting
  6. Background art
  7. Camera work and final composition
Each second of footage requires multiple drawings - typically 12 to 24 frames per second. That's a lot of drawings! Fact #1: Disney's 1994 hand-drawn classic "The Lion King" required a staggering 1,197,000 drawings to complete its 88-minute runtime.
IMage - Hand-drawn animator's desk

The Charm of Hand-Drawn Animation

What is special about hand-drawn animation? Let's look at a few of its special qualities:
  • Artistic output:
    • Every shot of animation is an artistic endeavour and reflects the animator's own creative expression.
  • Timelessness:
    • Hand-drawn animation also tends to age well, whereas CGI usually doesn't.
  • Emotional appeal:
    • The flaws and "human feel" can be a better emotional connection with the audience.

The Challenges in Hand-Drawn Animation

Of course, hand-drawn animation also has its challenges:
  • Time:
    • Drawing thousands of images in order to create one project would consume much time and effort. Expensive: Hand-drawn animation, in general, is labor-intensive and hence expensive to produce.
  • Low flexibility:
    • When a scene is drawn, change is very tedious in itself. The Rise of CGI Animation Bursting on the scene with the masterly "Toy Story" from Pixar back in mid-1990s, computer-generated imagery, or CGI, changed the face of animation and more ever since it was first conceived.
Fact #2: The global 3D animation market size was valued at USD 16.64 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 40.78 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 11.7% from 2021 to 2028.

The CGI Process

While still complex, CGI animation follows a different workflow:
  1. 3D modeling
  2. Rigging
  3. Texturing
  4. Animation
  5. Lighting
  6. Rendering
Image - Modern CGI Animation Studio

Advantages of CGI

CGI is so trendy that it has quickly surpassed the hand-drawn as most animators and studios have switched to it. Here's why:
  • It is easier to make changes and modifications than in hand drawn animation.
  • It creates realistic and stylized images.
  • It superbly merges live-action footage with special effects.

Disadvantages of CGI

However, CGI is not without its foes:
  • Less "soul". Some believe that it lacks the warmth and personality that hand-drawn animation possesses.
  • It is also dependent on technology: The more advanced the software becomes, the faster the older CGI will date.
  • Learning Curve: Technical skill in mastering CGI software is required.

Hand Drawn vs. CGI: A Side-by-Side Comparison

To better understand the differences, let's compare these two animation techniques:
Aspect Hand Drawn Animation CGI Animation
Creation Process Manual drawing of each frame Computer modeling and animation
Time to Produce Longer production time Generally faster production
Cost Often more expensive Can be more cost-effective
Style Typically 2D, artistic 2D or 3D, wide range of styles
Editing Flexibility Limited, requires redrawing Easier to make changes
Emotional Impact Often perceived as warmer, more personal Can feel more polished, sometimes less personal
Fact #3: The average CGI-animated film takes about 4 years to complete, from concept to final render. In contrast, Disney's hand-drawn "The Little Mermaid" (1989) took over 6 years to produce.
Image - hand-drawn animation vs CGI animation comparision

Selection of Proper Animation Style

Which type of animation is best suited for you? It depends really on your requirements. Here are some guidelines.
  • Budget:
    • If you're really really strapped, CGI is likely to be cheaper.
  • Timeline:
    • Hurry up and wait? CGI is generally quicker.
  • Artistic vision:
    • For a look that's really handmade, traditional animation might be the ticket.
  • Target audience:
    • Which style will speak to your viewers?
So, CGI is better used for more complex 3D environments and realistic effects.

The Future of Animation: A Hybrid Combination?

As it is happening, we have increasingly more projects blending hand-drawn and CGI techniques. It gives animators the opportunity to blend the best of both worlds, creating truly visual attractions to emotionally engage. Some notable examples of this hybrid style include:
  • Disney's "Paperman" (2012)

  • Studio Ghibli's "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" (2013)

  • Netflix's "Klaus" (2019)
These films showcase how traditional artistic sensibilities can be enhanced with modern technology, pointing to an exciting future for animation.
Fact #4: The 2019 film "Klaus" used a ground-breaking 2D/3D hybrid technique, combining traditional hand-drawn animation with innovative lighting and texturing tools. This approach allowed the team to create 4.6 terabytes of animation data and render 297,602 frames for the final cut.

Wrapping Up: The Beauty of Choice

Ultimately, therefore, the hand-drawn vs. CGI argument is not over who wins. It's just about giving due respect to the several select qualities each brings to the table. Be you impressed by the laborate artistry of the hand-drawn animation frames or by the all-out, potentially infinite prospects CGI offers, both have their own appropriate claims to a share in the colorful space of animation.
As technology keeps advancing, and artists keep on dreaming of new ways to push the boundaries, we'll just be holding our collective breath for even more of new and stunning animations coming down the pike in the years ahead. The real prize? That's us, the patrons who get to enjoy these amazing works of art.
Image of hybrid animation studio

FAQ

  1. Is hand-drawn animation dead?
    2. No, hand-drawn animation is very much still alive. Although not nearly as common these days in mainstream films, it is still currently used in television shows and in some indie productions or artistic projects.
  2. Is CGI animation easier than hand-drawn animation?
    3. While CGI can be in many ways more efficient, it also requires its own whole set of complex skills. Neither technique is necessarily "easier" – they simply require different skill sets.
  3. Can you use a combination of hand-drawn and CGI animation?
    4. Most of the new animation mixes two styles. Traditional meets digital, which produces a totally new style for images.
  4. Which would be more expensive: hand-drawn animation or CGI animation?
    5. Hand-drawn is always more expensive as it heavily depends on much labor. However, the size and complexity of the project scope would determine the bigger price difference.
  5. Do you need to know how to draw well to make CGI animation?
    6. While the level of drawing skills will be a boon, they're not necessary in the least for an animation rendered through CGI. A good grasp of movement, composition, and visual storytelling would greatly benefit them in any case.
  6. How long does it take to make a hand-drawn animated film compared to a CGI?
    7. Production times are quite long for hand-drawn animated films compared to the same length and complexity of a CGI film.
  7. Do you know of any world-famous animators who still prefer hand-drawn animation?
    8. Yes, some world-famous animators still support hand-drawn techniques like Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli, and also independent animators like Don Hertzfeldt.
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About Author
Established in 2019, Amazdraw is a pioneering animation studio in Delhi NCR. We offer top-quality animations, visual effects, motion designs, and more. Our specialties include various techniques such as traditional, 2D animation, whiteboard animation, and illustrations. We have a team of industry experts and focus on providing high-quality services. Amazdraw is now recognized as one of the best animation companies in North India.

AmazDraw Animation Studio

Since 10 May 2024

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