• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
EDUCBA

EDUCBA

MENUMENU
  • Resources
        • Design Basic

          • 3D Graphics Software
          • Photoshop vs InDesign
        • Resources Images
        • Graphics Editing

          • Career In Designing
          • How to Use Adobe Illustrator
        • Resources Images 12
        • Others

          • Resources (A-Z)
          • 3D Animation
          • Video Editing
          • Design Engineering
          • View All
  • Free Courses
  • All Courses
        • Certification Courses

          Design Course 1
        • All in One Bundle

          All-in-One-Design-Bundle
        • Maya Course

          Maya-Training
        • Others

          • Photoshop Course
          • Unreal Engine Course
          • Unity Course
          • DaVinci Resolve Course
          • Pro Tools Course
          • View All
  • 280+ Courses All in One Bundle
  • Login

2D After Effects Animation

Home » Design » Blog » Visual Effects » 2D After Effects Animation

2D After Effects Animation

Introduction to 2D After Effects Animation

2d Animation is nothing but 2 Dimensions, for 2d animation we need to have good drawing skills else we need to have a good idea on the anatomy of a character. We need to draw every frame in 2d animation, Flash software has mostly used for 2d but in After effects we have more comfortable options to create 2D animation, so many people started using After effects for 2D animation. There is a lot of ways to create 2D animations in that we are going to use one option that is walk cycle, we are going to create a cartoon to walk.

Creating 2D Animation in After Effects

Below steps shows 2D animation in after effects:

Start Your Free Design Course

3D animation, modelling, simulation, game development & others

Step 1: Start a New composition.

new composition 2d - 2D After Effects Animation

Step 2: If we have the ability to draw, we can draw our cartoons.

Drawing a cartoon - 2D After Effects Animation

Step 3: We have another option, we can create our needed particles in photoshop and import that to after effects.

import in after effects - 2D After Effects Animation

Here we can see the option merged layer or choose layer, In the merged layer, we get a single frame with all layers merged. In choose layer option we have all our PSD layers, we need to import all the individual layers.

Step 4: Here I imported all the individual layers of a cartoon character.

cartoon individual layers - 2D After Effects Animation

Step 5: We need to import all layers to the timeline.

import to timeline - 2D After Effects Animation

Here we can find a cartoon character, each layer is individual in this cartoon. With the individual layer, we are going to animate the character.

Popular Course in this category
Cyber Week Sale
VFX Training (13 Courses) 13 Online Courses | 185+ Hours | Verifiable Certificate of Completion | Lifetime Access
4.5 (1,067 ratings)
Course Price

View Course

Related Courses
Film Editing Training (9 Courses)NewBlueFX Tutorial (1 Courses, 4+ Projects)Pixelan VFX Tutorial (1 Courses, 7+ Projects)

Step 6: We are going to add a solid layer as a background.

solid background - 2D After Effects Animation

Step 7: Here we can find a white solid layer as a background.

white background - 2D After Effects Animation

To create a walk cycle we need to move legs, hands, head, and body if we rotate legs and hand it won’t move correctly so we need to change the center points of legs and hands now.

Step 8: Select Pan Behind Tool we can use Y as a shortcut. This tool is used to move the center anchor point. Here we use this tool to change the center point of hands and legs.

pan behind tool - 2D After Effects Animation

Step 9: Here we selected hand 02.

hand 02 - 2D After Effects Animation

We fix center point near shoulder because while we rotate hand it moves naturally.

Rotate Hand - 2D After Effects Animation

Step 10: Here we select the head layer, and for creating a head layer we use the Puppet Pin Tool.

Puppet Pin Tool - 2D After Effects Animation

This tool lets you pin a point in the image and each time we can move it, this pin acts as a smooth joint we can find a puppet pinpoint on the face as it acts as a smooth joint to move the head according to the moment of legs and hand.

Pin a Point

Step 11: For body we will create two pins to move the body.

Create Two Pins

Step 12: Here for leg, we adjust the center point near the hip, it helps us to move the leg naturally.

move leg

Moving Leg Naturally

Step 13: First, we start animating legs, so select the legs and press R on the keyboard which is a shortcut for Rotation. Click on keyframes of rotation and move the legs.

Animating Legs

Step 14: Create some keyframes by moving the leg’s direction.

create keyframe

Here we can find some keyframes, in every keyframe, we change the rotation of legs, now let’s start hands.

Step 15: Select the hands and start keyframes for rotation, each point where we created for legs the same place we need to create points to move hands.

keyframes for rotation

Here we find the legs keyframes and we need to place our hand keyframes in the same place to create animation naturally.

Step 16: Here we can find the keyframes of legs and hands in the same places.

keyframes of legs and hands

Step 17: For the head, we have puppet pin so we move the pin according to the moment of hand and legs, we do not have to create the keyframes for puppet it creates on its own whenever we give a moment.

pin head

Step 18: For body also we have created a puppet pin so we move the pins according to the moment.

Body puppet pin

Step 19: Here we created a complete walk cycle and we can find the center points which is fixed like joints to the character, but the walk cycle we created in a particular position which walks in the same place without changing the position so we need to change the position of the character.

position of the character

Step 20: Select all the layers and move the cartoon on any one side. I move it to the left side now we need to move cartoon one position to another. So we select position by pressing P on the keyboard, now the position is selected to all the layers.

Moving the Cartoon

Step 21: When we click on the keyframe of position, all layers position is activated.

keyframe activated

Step 22: Now take the cartoon to the next position where we ended the walk cycle. Here we can find the starting and ending position.

starting and ending position

Step 23: Here we can see how cartoon walks from one position to another.

Position 1

Position 2

Position 3

Position 4

Here we created the walk cycle of a cartoon character, in this process we imported the layers of the cartoon character individually hands, legs, head, and body.

We created a solid background we changed the center points of the parts according to our comfort, we moved the hands and legs by creating keyframes and we moved the body and head with the help of puppet pin tool, after completing the whole process we gave position. Here we learn, how to create a walk cycle of a 2D cartoon, how to use the puppet pin tool.

How to Create a Dancing Cartoon?

Now I am going to show how to create a cartoon dance with an easy method:

Step 1: Import a cartoon. It is better to import a PNG file.

Importing a Cartoon

Step 2: Select the puppet pin tool.

selecting puppet pin tool

Step 3: Give the points to the cartoon, points on head, body, legs and hands.

point the details

These points act like smooth joints, if we hold any one point it moves individually without disturbing another, these points act like bone fitting.

Step 4: When we hold the CTRL key we can find a watch symbol on the cruiser, by pressing CTRL hold the left- click on a certain point and move. The cursor will move and give keyframes automatically. We can find an outline moving as shown in the below image.

outline move

When we release CTRL keyframes it automatically stops and the cursor comes to the first position and a gray line of the moment is visible on a particular point.

ctrl keyframe (2D After Effects Animation)

Step 5: We need to move hands, hip, etc.

move hand (2D After Effects Animation)

move hips (2D After Effects Animation)

Finding Gray Shades (2D After Effects Animation)

We can find gray shades on every point where we move the positions. We make individual moments, individual keyframes added.

Step 6: Now just play to see all moments at once.

Moment 1 - 2D After Effects Animation

Moment 2 - 2D After Effects Animation

Moment 3 - 2D After Effects Animation

Moment 4 - 2D After Effects Animation

Here we learn an easy way to create cartoon dance and we learn how to use the Puppet pin tool. Hope we learn a good topic.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to 2D After Effects Animation. Here we discuss how to create a cartoon and how to create a dancing cartoon in 2D after effects animation. You can also go through our other related articles to learn more –

  1. Find out the Differences of 2D & 3D Shapes
  2. Animating Objects in 2D Software
  3. Creating Text Animation in After Effects
  4. How to Mask Objects in After Effects?
  5. Principles of Animation
  6. Animation in Flash

All in One Design Bundle (280+ Courses, 100+ projects)

280+ Online Courses

100+ projects

2000+ Hours

Verifiable Certificates

Lifetime Access

Learn More

0 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share
Reader Interactions
Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar
Design & Creativity Tutorials
  • Visual Effects
    • Puppet Tool in After Effects
    • Shape Layers in After Effects
    • Text in After Effects
    • Export in After Effects
    • Motion Blur in After Effects
    • 3D Effects in After Effects
    • Blur in After Effects
    • Background in After Effects
    • 2D After Effects Animation
    • Pen Tool in After Effects
    • Logo Animation in After Effects
    • Animation in After Effects
    • Adding Keyframes in After Effects
    • Drop Shadow in After Effects
    • KeyFrames in After Effects
    • Track Matte in After Effects
    • Color Correction in After Effects
    • Mask in After Effects
    • 3D Text in After Effects
    • Text Animation in After Effects
    • VFX Softwares
    • Transparent Background in After Effects
    • Blending Modes in After Effects
    • What is Adobe Creative Cloud?
    • Adobe Premiere vs After Effects
    • After Effect Vs Cinema 4D
    • What is Adobe Premiere Pro
    • VFX vs CGI
    • What is VFX?
    • After Effect Alternatives
  • Design Basic (29+)
  • Design Engineering (32+)
  • Game Development (7+)
  • 3D Animation (67+)
  • Audio Editing (3+)
  • Graphics Editing (116+)
  • Video Editing (11+)
Design & Creativity Courses
  • VFX Training
  • Film Editing Training
  • NewBlueFX Tutorial
  • Pixelan VFX Tutorial
Footer
About Us
  • Who is EDUCBA?
  • Sign Up
  •  
Free Courses
  • Free Course Graphic Design
  • Free Course Photoshop
Certification Courses
  • All Courses
  • Design Course - All in One Bundle
  • Photoshop Course
  • Maya Course
  • Unreal Engine Course
  • Unity Course
  • DaVinci Resolve Course
  • Pro Tools Course
  • Melodyne Tutorial
  • After Effects Course
  • 3D Max Course
  • Houdini Training Course
Resources
  • Resources (A To Z)
  • Design Basic
  • Design Engineering
Apps
  • iPhone & iPad
  • Android
Support
  • Contact Us
  • Verifiable Certificate
  • Reviews
  • Terms and Conditions

© 2019 - EDUCBA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE CERTIFICATION NAMES ARE THE TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

EDUCBA
Free Design Course

3D animation, modelling, simulation, game development & others

By continuing above step, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
EDUCBA
Free Design Course

3D animation, modelling, simulation, game development & others

By continuing above step, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
EDUCBA
Free Design Course

3D animation, modelling, simulation, game development & others

By continuing above step, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
EDUCBA
Free Design Course

3D animation, modelling, simulation, game development & others

By continuing above step, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
EDUCBA

By continuing above step, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
EDUCBA Login

Forgot Password?

Let’s Get Started
Please provide your Email ID
Email ID is incorrect

Limited Period Offer - All in One Design Bundle (280+ Courses, 100+ projects) View More

Limited Period Offer - Limited Period Offer - All in One Design Bundle (280+ Courses, 100+ projects) View More