2D Animation Pipeline Map

February 24, 2026

2D Animation Pipeline Map

Figure 1: Workflow Map for 2D Animation Production pipeline

3X3 Comparison:

Departments: Storyboarding, Key Animation, and Editing

Industries: 2D Animation (Film), 3D Animation (Film), and Games

	Storyboarding	Key Animation	Editing
2D Animation	Flat drawings showing story	Drawing animation frames, showing subjects at different angles/perspectives	Concerned with editing hand-drawn frames that are flattened
3D Animation	More volumetric and spatial, using virtual 3D subjects and 3D spaces to show story	Taking 3D Models that are textured and animating them	Concerned with editing in-software camera footage and technical issues in 3D camera and the virtual space
Games	More centered on player than story, showing player movements and interactions.	Ensuring successful functionality as it pertains to the player’s experience	Concerned with editing physical space of game, prioritizing interactivity

2D Animation (Film)

Figure 2: Storyboard by Hayao Miyazaki for My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Note. From My Neighbor Totoro (Studio Ghibli Storyboard Collection, Volume 3. Amazon. (n.d.). (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/7155vYNpKoL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg)

Storyboarding (2d animation)

To provide the production team with a reference of the story from beginning to end. To provide the director with a clear sequence of events in the story, so that this information can be communicated to all production departments.

2D Animation (Film)

Figure 3: Cel animation frame of Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Note. Animation Art Galley. (n.d.). (https://www.animationartgallery.com/Maleficent-Animation-Art-Cel-p/wdccs865.htm)

Key Animation (2d animation)

Animation frames that represent the main actions by using the storyboard, layout art, and director notes as reference while animating sequences. Typically flat drawings limited to length and width. Frame rate is usually 24fps, however, animators can use “on twos”, which means that there will be one drawing lasting two frames (Davis, S. (n.d.) Avalanche Studios).

2D Animation (Film)

Figure 4: Screenshot of Editing interface for Howl’s Moving Castle (2005)

Note. Rotoscopers, n.d. https://www.rotoscopers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/moving_castle2.jpg

Editing (2d animation)

Arranging all the footage, cuts, music/audio, and fx. Editing in 2d animation is unique in that it can be used in pre-production for the story reel and animatic, as well as during or at the end of a production cycle. The editor can also make final color corrections and color gradings to footage.

3D Animation (Film)

Figure 5: Storyboard by Olga olikirolli Petrenko for Mavka The Forest Song (2023)

Note. ArtStation. Posted by Olga olikirolli Petrenko, (n.d.)

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/6NELXW

Storyboarding (3d animation)

Drawn events of the story from beginning to end. Can include more technical and mechanical notes on in-software cameras and editing specifications.

3D Animation (Film)

Figure 6: Animation Stills for teaser trailer of Mavka: The Forst Song (2023)

Note. Artstation. posted by Olga olikirolli Petrenko, (n.d.) https://www.artstation.com/artwork/6NELXW

Key Animation (3d animation)

Animation that represents the main action in 3D virtual space. It is much harder to make revisions in 3D than 2D because of the technical revisions that are involved with texturing, rigging, and lighting. Typical dimensions: length, width and height. More limited in personalization of frames due to the limitations of the model and rig.

3D Animation (Film)

Figure 7: Screenshot of Pixar’s proprietary software Presto used for layout and animation

Note. Wikipedia. 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presto_%28animation_software%29

Editing (3d animation)

Arranges all footage and edits media with knowledge on in-software camera and tracking. May also integrate media editing software, such as Adobe After Effects that has 3D functionality for editing 3D animated sequences. The editor can also make final color corrections and color gradings to footage.

Games

Figure 8: Storyboards by Joe Kennedy for God of War (2018)

Note. Joseph Kennedy. 2018.

(https://josephkennedy.art/projects/rgmxO)

Storyboarding (Games)

Drawings for planning more player interactivity over plot, from beginning to end. May include notes about any in-software camera and technical information. Focused on the functionality of the animation as it relates to player control.

Games

Figure 9: Hand drawn character animations for Gris (2018)

Note. posted by MRArt_Player (n.d.) https://www.reddit.com/r/gris/comments/zam81e/preproduction_framesanimation_of_denial_high/

Key Animation (Games)

Creating frames that represent the main actions in a cycle. Key Animators may focus on big animated poses from storyboard to draw or move rigged models in their frames. Animating low-poly models with UV maps

Games

Figure 10: Screenshot of Frozenbyte’s editor displaying Trine 2 (2011)

Note. Posted by KaiFB, 2014. FrozenByte. (https://www.frozenbyte.com/2014/09/frozenbyte-editor-beta-release-for-trine-and-trine-2/)

Editing (Games)

Edits a range between gameplay, footage, and cinematics for trailers. Integrates assets into the game engine. Consists of implementation and debugging.

Department Key Activities

Storyboarding - Drawing/sketching frames representing the story’s events

Script - The writing, narration and dialogue in story

Character Design - Designing the characters in the story

Background Design - The art of the backgrounds

Concept Art - Art that shows concepts to animation team

Layout - The movement/position of the virtual camera and the composition of the scene

In-Between Animation - Drawing frames in between the main action

Key Animation - Drawing frames of the main action

Special Effects - provides additional animated elements to supplement the character animation and background

Music - The songs that are played in the background for setting the tone and/or rhythm

Audio - Sound that syncs with character, action or atmospheric effects