If you have any questions about how we create our animations, or to find out how an animation could benefit you and your business, then please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. Email us at hello@highergroundcreative.co.uk and we'll get straight back to you, and arrange a free face to face consulation. We're looking forward to meeting you!

2D animation is the process of creating movement in a two-dimensional space. This can include static graphics, animated characters, FX and backgrounds. The illusion of the movement is created when individual graphic scenes, assets or drawings are sequenced together over time. One second of time is usually divided into anything between 12 and 30 frames. In the industry this range would be known as 12 or 30 frames per second (or 12 - 30 fps). Click here to see the Reds10 2d Animated video we made as an example.

2.5D Animation, is similar to the above, but 'flat 2D assets' such as chart or shape, are animated in 3D space. So you have depth of field, with assets being in and out of focus depending on where they are in 3D space, but the graphics and assets themselves don't have any depth. They remain as 2D elements. So in short, 2.5D Animation is using flat 2D elements, but within a 3D space - so it's neither true 2D, or 3D - hence the slightly confusing name! Click here to see the Deutsche Bank 2.5D Animated video we made as an example.

3D Animation is where 3D objects appear in a three-dimensional space. They can be rotated and moved like real objects. 3D animation is at the heart of animations and videos which can appear very real, with real wow factor and detail. But that level of complexity does often come with extra cost. It is also heavily used in gaming and virtual reality - but regardless it rarely fails to bring flair to the visuals. Click here to see the FUJI GRAPHIUM 3D Animated video we made as an example.

Stop motion animation is a type of animation in which a physical object is moved a little every time a new frame is created, continuously to give the impression of movement. This can be done with puppets or clay (the latter of which is known as Claymation). Or it can be achieved with using a series of photos (or any medium really). Stop motion has been used through the ages, and was one of the very first methods of animation. Due to it's individual and specific style, and the creative options it offers, stop-motion animation is as popular today as ever. Click here to see the Conran animated video we made for an example.

The 5 types of animation are commonly seen as being: 1. Traditional hand drawn cartoon animation. 2. 2D vector based animation, flat compositions with no depth of field. 3. 2.5D Animations, utilising three dimensional space, but only animated flat 2D objects within it 4. 3D Animation, which would cover CGI, computer animation, virtual reality etc. 5. And finally Stop Motion Animation, which covers Claymation, Cut-Outs etc.

Frames per second is the number of frames, or designs, which are shown each second when an animation takes place. Some animations run at 12 fps, including the old fashioned Disney cartoons for example. Here there would be the sense of movement, but you could see a flicker and a slight jump between each frame due to the relatively low frame spseed. Typically these days, 24, 25 or 30 fps are used, depending on the type of look people want. 24 fps is the classic 'film look', where as 25 and 30 fps are used in various parts of the world for a smoother play back. You also have 60, 120, 180 fps and even higher. These are typically all used for slow motion. So something is shot or created at, say 60 fps, but it will still look smooth if slowed down to half the speed at certain points, showing a more typical 30 frames each second.