Anyone ask us "How do you make a 2D or 3D animation for your website or video?" So we decided to write a small guide covering several topics that you might need to know if you are asking how to make animation and create your own masterpiece at home.

Here we will talk about the basic steps and where to start when making animation. This information is for people who read a lot and who are frustrated by what they do not understand. We'll start with the difference between 2D and 3D, how to get started making animation today and even write some of the best books about animation.

The start is quick, but the road is long to mastery

Today it is very easy to start animation and make even at home. There are many different programs with which you can create animations, and many of them are inexpensive and easy to use. Today, many people own a computer that can easily handle computer animation.

You can start making animation after a few seconds of reading this article, but you should know that it will take a long time to become a teacher.

Here's some good news about the animation industry

If you want to make great and exciting animation, you don't need to be a Disney or Sony Animation animator. First, you don't have to paint like an artist. Second, you can create your own cartoon style.

How to make 2D and 3D animation

There are many differences between 2D and 3D animation, but you should understand that animation in 3D space is more complicated due to one other dimension. Otherwise, it can give more dynamic and impressive pictures.

Let's talk about where to start and what you'll need:

If you are a beginner and want to learn how to make 2D web animation or mini 2D animation, you should start with Photoshop or Flash. It is fairly inexpensive and easy to use. All software from Adobe includes free trial insights, so you can get started with this. Here is some information about these programs:

Adobe Photoshop: It is for more traditional animation, as you can draw each frame separately and it has the best drawing tools among others. You can find lots of tutorials on how to create animations using Photoshop. Plus, it has layers that can give tremendous freedom to your creations.

Adobe Flash: Many people use this type of software to animate characters. Additionally, you can find many tutorials on the Internet. It will give you a quick start in animation. With this software, you can create funny cartoons with just a few clicks.

Hardware level for 2D animation

If you want to work in Photoshop or Flash, you don't need a very powerful computer, so if you have a good computer, that will be enough for your animation.

You have to use tablet to create cute animation because using mouse will never give you a good drawing. For example, I am using a Wacom tablet. They have a good selection of products with a wide price range so you can find one in your budget.

A bibliography of how 2D animation works

These books will help you learn how animation works from basics to complex things:

The Illusions of Life By Frank Thomas and Ole Johnston: Nowadays this book is an encyclopedia of how animation works, but it starts just like a guide. This book was written by two Disney animators. They are two of the nine parents who created all of Disney's cartoon styles. This book will show you many tips and tricks on how to make animations fun and memorable.

The Animator’s Survival Kit by Richard Williams: This is the Holy Grail for anyone who wants to know how to make an animation. In this book (you can even find a video series), you'll find all the basic techniques and methods such as spacing, crossover, prediction, gait, running, weight, timing, etc. You should start your journey with animation from this book, just like you did a few years ago.

Animation Preston Blair: This is the source of many great resources that you can use in your own projects for making cartoonish animations. It will help you to create and develop your character which contains characters, movements, gestures and action scenes.

You should know that 3D animation is a more complex subject to study than 2D animation. Here you'll find some steps to get started on your own.

If you want to create an eye-catching video, you need to learn more skills (composition, lighting, display, and even modeling).

Software for 3D animation

If you really should know how animation works, then you need software in which you animate characters. Some are high-end and some are affordable and have free versions.

Autodesk Maya: best animation software; This is the industry standard. If you have a good budget, you can purchase a full copy or if you are just starting out and want to learn, you can download a free, non-commercial version for students. You should focus on this program.

Maxon Cinema 4D: This program is much cheaper and easy to learn, and you can even get a free copy if you are to buy Adobe After Effects. These two types of software are used more for motion graphics, but cinema can be used more.

Blender: It's free and if you want to start it's a good choice. This program has less functionality than other programs, but with time it works better. You can also find a great deal of tutorials on the Internet.

Hardware level for 3D animation

Your computer must be powerful. In 3D we have a rule: "more capacity - better", so your computer must have a serious processor (for example, I have 4 processors with 6 cores each), tons of memory and a high-end video card. The price for this monster starts from two thousand dollars to ten thousand.

Books on how to make 3D animation

All classic books in this genre of 2D animation will be useful for 3D animators. However, if you want to know exactly how to create 3D animations in a specific program, search for titles like, "How to create and animate special characters in Maya."