FX Blog - What Makes 2D FX Animation Appealing? - Introduction

I’m going to be looking at hand drawn 2D fx animation, investigating what makes it appealing. There is a wealth of information and debate about general 2D animation, however 2D fx remains more in the shadows hidden behind the spotlight of character animation, Tina O’Hailey (2010, p.119) saying “It is a worthy topic that is more than often left out of animation discussions”. The bulk of fx information for animation relates to the 3D world, talking about the mathematical physics and particle generation rather than the actual art of the medium. Personally, what drew me to 2D fx animation and what makes it shine is the energy behind it, the exaggeration you so often see in character animation and the way it expands upon reality rather than merely copying it.

This project will delve into the world of 2D fx animation, looking at the fundamentals of it and really searching for what makes good fx standout. To do this, I will research the work of professional 2D fx animators, studying their own animations as well as learning from and applying their advice and tutorials to my own practice as a beginner. A huge resource for me will be Joseph Gilland’s Elemental Magic book, however there are many other artists out there I will study from. In addition to these, I will be looking at references to observe from the real world, and understand the theory behind the advice.

This investigation will be split into several sections, covering: general fundamentals of fx animation, Smoke, Water, Lightning and Style. I hope the outcome of this investigation will be an increase in both my understanding of, and skill with, animating fx elements.