What Kinds of Classic Animation Are There?

To me, classic animation (or classical animation) means any animation in which the animator creates each frame individually. Cartoon animation is just one variety of classic animation. There are many more varieties already in existence, and yet more waiting to be invented. Here's my list of the different kinds of animation, split into categories by technique and general appearance.

Cartoon (Cel) Animation

Cartoon animation is the most common type of animation. For many people, cartoons are the definition of an animated movie - drawings that move. (And they use the word "cartoon" to describe every kind of animation.) But I prefer Norman McLaren's characterization: "Animation is not drawings that move, but movement that is drawn." Click on the robot or the button to learn more!

Stop Motion (Model) Animation

All animation can be regarded as stop motion animation; the subjects - drawings, clay, sand, puppets, paintings, or people - are all stopped in their motion and photographed one frame at a time. Stop motion animation, though, conventionally means animation with dimensional models, armatures, or real, 3 dimensional objects.

Direct (Cameraless, Scratch) Animation

Artists noticed right away that film was a surface you could draw and paint on - even though the pictures were small. They rose to the challenge and made movies that way. The technique was first known as "cameraless" because the artwork wasn't photographed with an animation camera. I prefer to call it direct animation because I work "directly" on the film. And put the animation "directly" into the projector.

Cutout Animation

Cutout animation can get you animating quickly - you don't have to redraw your art for each frame but can concentrate on the motion you want to create.

Progressive (Painted) Animation

Progressive (painted) animation also lets you wring more out of your artwork. One drawing can be a complete movie - or you can work in media that usually aren't associated with graphic art.

Pixillation (Pixillated Animation)

For something completely different, pixillation takes living things and turns them into stop motion models. Some of them even take direction well. It's all cinema magic - or a cheap cinematic trick.

Pikapika (Lightning Doodle) Animation

Artists are playful - no two ways about it. There's something about bringing things that don't really exist to (apparent) life that appeals to animators. PikaPika is a new style of art and of animation that hasn't produced any masterpieces yet (to my knowledge) - but just give it time.

Powerful, effective and emotionally moving art can be created with any of these techniques. Choose what you want to explore and dive in!