● Traditional Animation (2D, Cel, Hand Drawn)

Traditional animation (or classical animation, cel animation or hand-drawn animation) is an animation
technique in which each frame is drawn by hand on a physical medium. The technique was the
dominant form of animation in cinema until the advent of computer animation.

● Cell Animation
Cel animation is the art of creating 2D animation by hand on sheets of transparent plastic called “cels”.
Following a planning process, animators transfer draft drawings onto transparent sheets of plastic called
cels.

● 2D Animation (Vector-Based)
2D animation focuses on creating characters, storyboards, and backgrounds in two-dimensional
environments. ... 2D animation uses bitmap and vector graphics to create and edit the animated images
and is created using computers and software programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, Flash, After Effects,
and Encore.

● 2.5D Animation
Two-and-a-half-dimensional animation, (2.5D) is the technical term used to describe a technique that
focuses on making a 2D space or image appear to have 3D qualities. Animators achieve this look by
strategically manipulating scenes with tools such as layering, shadowing, perspective adjustments, and
morphing.

● 3D Animation (CGI, Computer Animation)

Animating objects that appear in a three-dimensional space. They can be rotated and moved like real
objects. 3D animation is at the heart of games and virtual reality, but it may also be used in presentation
graphics to add flair to the visuals.

● Stop-motion Animation (Claymation, Cut-Outs)

Stop motion is an animated filmmaking technique in which objects are physically manipulated in small
increments between individually photographed frames so that they will appear to exhibit independent
motion when the series of frames is played back as a slow sequence. Objects with movable joints or clay
figures are often used in stop motion for their ease of repositioning. Stop-motion animation using
plasticine figures is called clay animation or "clay-mation". Not all stop motion, however, requires
figures or models: stop-motion films can also be made using humans, household appliances, and other
objects, usually for comedic effect. Stop motion using humans is sometimes referred to as pixilation.
 ● Motion Graphics (Typography, Animated Logos)
Motion graphics is a new term for a specific genre of animation that has been around for a while.
Motion graphics are the crossroad between animation and graphic design. Usually, these are purpose-
driven pieces with the goal of presenting information to the viewer through the use of animated text or
graphics.

● Motion Capturing
Motion capture transfers the movement of an actor to a digital character. ... Optical systems work by
tracking position markers or features in 3D and assembling the data into an approximation of the actor's
motion.

● Rotoscope Animation
Rotoscoping is an animation technique that animators use to trace over motion picture footage, frame
by frame, to produce realistic action. Originally, animators projected photographed live-action movie
images onto a glass panel and traced over the image. This projection equipment is referred to as a
rotoscope, developed by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. This device was eventually replaced
by computers, but the process is still called rotoscoping.

In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping is the technique of manually creating a matte for an element
on a live-action plate so it may be composited over another background.