What is the difference between 2D and 3D animations?
To that excellent, succinct, answer, I’d add that 2D tends to look “flatter” than 3D (due to the natural limitations of the horizontal and vertical planes). As Joe-Speedy says, 3D introduces “depth perspective,” so we not only see a rectangle (2D) but a CUBE (3D). You may want to think of it like being the difference between a photograph of a glass of water (2D) and being able to reach out and actually pick up the glass of water (3D). Another good visual might be comparing a cartoon (say, Bugs Bunny – 2D) to “Toy Story 1,2 & 3” (3D). Typically, 2D involves “drawing,” or movement on, say, a flat surface (sketch pad, etc.) or in the vertical and horizontal planes. 3D involves “modeling,” i.e., creating objects in 3-dimensions, residing in an expansive virtual environment, replete with lights, reflections, other objects, shadows, etc.
