Flat Canvas, Dynamic Stories

What Is 2D Animation ?

Despite its name, 2D animation is anything but flat. While you may think of two-dimensional (2D) animation as the “traditional” animation style, it’s become a contemporary marketing tool with powerful capabilities.

In its simples form, 2D animation creates movement in a two-dimensional space—you probably don’t realize how much of it is already in your life. If you’ve ever seen an animated logo (The Google doodle, the startup screen on your smartphone), walked past an ATM prompting you to push a button for cash, or ridden in an elevator with a screen interface, you’ve interacted with 2D animation!

Benefits of 2D animation

People often assume that 3D animation is automatically more badass than 2D animation, but this is not the case *at all*—it really comes down to the type of video you’re trying to create. One style is not inherently better than the other, and we can guide you on what works best to showcase your brand or product.

2D animation is perfect for simplifying complex topics, making things easier for your audience to understand. If your story is a little hard to explain, 2D animation can break it down with a visual simplicity that highlights only what’s most important. It can also help distill larger-than-life topics—like explaining the microbiology of Covid-19, or illustrating complex data trends from an industrial plant

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Exum Instruments

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Low Carbon Energy Solutions 2D Animation for Certarus

2D marketing case study: Massbox

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Exum Instruments

Simplicity

A great example is our client Exum and their product, Massbox. This was a perfect candidate for a 2D explainer video, because 1) it’s a box (simple shape) and 2) it performs incredibly complex analysis using mass spectrometry (not an everyday subject). Rather than recreating every element inside the Massbox and doing a 3D fly-through, we created a 2D environment to show the most critical components—simplifying the visuals for maximum clarity. The result was an elegant, sophisticated presentation of complex subject matter in an easy-to-understand story you could put in front of investors or scientists.

Revival

2D animation is NOT old-school. In fact, it’s enjoyed a bit of a Renaissance over the past few years as a way to tell a story with clean lines and a modern edge. Working in 2D can also be more cost-effective than 3D animation, because it involves fewer steps.

Humanity

One final fun fact? Humans don’t look great in 3D. We’re weird enough in person. So if you want to showcase people, 2D animation or live video are your best bet. Take our word for it.

Measureable Results

Josh Teekell

As our go-to video partner, Motion Giraffx always feels like an extension of our team, consistently exceeding expectations with every project.

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Josh Ulla

By simplifying complex topics into visually appealing content, Motion Giraffx increased our client interactions by 25%.

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Ben Rice

The video's impact was clear; 20-30% more customers approved quotes, feeling confident and trusting in our products.

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Christian Diaz

Cara and her team provided exceptional service, adapting quickly to feedback and consistently meeting our project deadlines.

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Bailey Da Costa

With a tight deadline, Cara delivered a perfect 3D animation, demonstrating outstanding responsiveness and visual expertise.

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Josh Teekell

Finding high-quality 3D animation in Houston is tough, but Cara and her team consistently deliver top-notch video content.

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Chad Cummins

Their ability to turn complex topics into simple, shareable content has made our company and products more relatable and understandable.

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Kayla Scherer

Every project with Motion Giraffx has exceeded our expectations, enhancing our brand's appeal with their creative insights and talented team.

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Ben Durand

Their innovative approach made complex robotic actions clear and engaging, perfectly aligning with our customer's technological needs.

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Jamie Lucas

Our partnership on a complex 3D animation project was perfectly executed, resulting in a collaborative success that thrilled our client.

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Julianna Arnim

Their process from script to storyboard is impeccably managed, providing top-notch visual content that engages and excites our audience.

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Courtney Roberts

Their creativity in video production has consistently brought our projects to life, exceeding expectations with their artistic and technical skills.

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Court Hill

The innovative and detailed animations by Motion Giraffx have made our complex concepts easily accessible and understandable to our audience.

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Chester Moore

Their production for Kingdom Zoo was superb, creating content that stands out on major TV networks like National Geographic and Animal Planet.

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Aleksey Matyushev

Their storytelling through advanced CGI is outstanding, transforming simple concepts into engaging and captivating video narratives.

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Bill Chalmers

Motion Giraffx has a unique ability to make complex air conditioning systems easily understandable through clever animation techniques.

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Daniel Boskind

Their precise 3D renders for our TV show on Motortrend have consistently delivered clarity and excitement, enhancing our visual storytelling.

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Amanda Wood

Cara’s professionalism and dedication ensure every project is timely and of high quality, making her an ideal partner for graphics and 3D animations.

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Professional Netting Concepts

Their 3D Animation has significantly enhanced understanding and increased traffic to our products, perfectly capturing our vision.

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Fuel Tech

Their dedication to creative excellence has consistently resulted in visually stunning and effective animations that captivate our customers.

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Jeff Williams

Delivering outstanding renders and animations with minimal back and forth, they understand our needs right from the start.

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Corinne Chalmers

Their honest, reliable, and creative approach to video and animation projects has made them invaluable in our marketing and training efforts.

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Daniel Stark

The quality of their video production for our outreach event was beyond amazing, exceeding our high expectations and professional standards.

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NaturalSci Reg

Brad and Cara are brilliant; their outstanding communication and dedication to service have made each project a success.

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Sopary Bou

Their meticulous attention to detail and polish in animations enhance every project, making them a stellar team for complex visual tasks.

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Alex Winter

Highly recommended for any collaborative design work, their excellent design and execution skills set them apart in the industry.

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Anne Agenes

Working with this dedicated team has consistently delivered unique and impactful content, enriching our projects with their creative touch.

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Jim Thorson

Their original content delivery is not only fantastic but uniquely impactful, setting a high standard for creative excellence in every project.

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Leslie Clark

My internship at Motion Giraffx was invaluable, offering extensive exposure to exciting projects in a supportive and creative environment.

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Fabian Jones

The highly realistic 3D animation for our gym equipment was impressively detailed, enhancing the presentation of our innovative designs.

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Josh Ulla

Their exceptional ability to translate vision into reality makes them a top choice for any visual marketing needs, consistently delivering high-quality work.

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Corinne Chalmers

Their creative process ensures that each animation is tailored to clearly and engagingly convey our complex concepts.

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Josh Ulla

Their deep understanding of our client base through innovative visual communication has revolutionized how we connect with our audience.

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Dustin Jacobson

Their superb artistic and technical skills often exceed our expectations, delivering products that thrill our customers every time.

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Daniel Boskind

They've consistently provided outstanding work on time and within budget, enhancing our television show's visual impact with every episode.

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2D Animation Process

Naturally, creating an animation is an iterative process, so we’ll be communicating and sharing with you throughout the process to ensure we’re all aligned and you have clear opportunities to request revisions well before the final product is finished.

Remember, next time you’re watching the jumbotron at a sports game, interact with a kiosk at a restaurant or retailer, or watch a whiteboard or explainer video—you’re receiving a message from 2D animation. Let us help you find the perfect look and feel for your next animation project!

From initial sketch to final frame, our desk is a powerhouse of creativity and technology. Here at Motion Giraffx, we’re equipped with the tools and talent to bring your vision to life through a wide array of digital art forms.

Already have an idea?

  • We start with a kickoff meeting. 01.

    This can happen virtually, over the phone, or in person. We’ll come ready with questions to better understand your vision and your message, and we’ll make suggestions on how a 2D approach can make them shine.

  • Time to write a script. 02.

    Whether you need full voiceover, on-screen text, or both, we’ll put together a script document to guide the structure and messaging of the final piece.

  • We’ll create a storyboard. 03.

    Our storyboards are hand-sketched and walk you through the full visual story. In this phase, we’ll also select music options and record voiceover.

  • Illustration begins. 04.

    This is where we digitally create every single element of your story.

  • Time to review a style frame. 05.

    We’ll give you one complete digital frame to review so you can see exactly what the final animation looks like.

  • Animation happens! 06.

    We bring our illustrated assets to life to tell your story.

  • Post-production begins. 07.

    We’ll add sound and smooth everything over until it’s perfect. You can impress your friends by telling them your latest marketing asset is “in post.”