Last Updated on July 2, 2026
Contents
2D animation is made in 7 steps across 3 phases: pre-production (1. concept and storyboarding, 2. character and background design), production (3. keyframing, 4. tweening and in-betweening, 5. motion and effects), and post-production (6. audio sync, 7. rendering and export). This guide walks through each step and the software used to do it, so a beginner can follow the whole pipeline from idea to finished video.
Most 2D animation today is made in tools like Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, or the free Krita and OpenToonz. Below, each step is grouped by phase, with the tool you would use at that stage.
| Step | Phase | What happens | Tools used |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Concept and storyboarding | Pre-production | Script the idea; sketch the shots in sequence | Storyboarder, Photoshop, pen and paper |
| 2. Character and background design | Pre-production | Design characters, assets, and backgrounds | Illustrator, Krita, Photoshop |
| 3. Keyframing (key posing) | Production | Draw the main extreme poses of each action | Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony |
| 4. Tweening / in-betweening | Production | Draw the frames between keys for smooth motion (onion-skin) | Adobe Animate, OpenToonz |
| 5. Motion and effects | Production | Add secondary motion, effects, and color | After Effects, Toon Boom Harmony |
| 6. Audio sync | Post-production | Add voiceover, sound effects, and music matched to the action | Audition, Premiere Pro |
| 7. Rendering and export | Post-production | Render the final frames and export to video | Animate, Premiere Pro |
Phase 1: Pre-production
Step 1: Concept and Storyboarding
The first step in any animation project is developing a concept and creating a storyboard.
- Importance of a Clear Concept: A strong concept forms the foundation of your animation. Before you start animating, it is essential to have a clear idea of the story or message you want to convey. This will guide your character design, movements, and overall pacing. Whether it is a short film, an explainer video, or an animation for social media, the concept should be solid before any artwork is created.
- How to Create a Storyboard: Storyboarding helps you visualize the flow of your animation. One of the most crucial steps is brainstorming storyboard ideas that align with the narrative and creative goals. A storyboard is essentially a series of rough sketches that outline the key scenes in your animation. Each frame should represent a major action or change in the scene. It does not have to be highly detailed, just enough to map out the sequence of events.
Tools for this step: Storyboarder, Adobe Photoshop, and simple pen and paper for thumbnails.
Step 2: Designing Characters and Backgrounds
Once the concept and storyboard are finalized, it is time to design your characters and backgrounds. This is where you bring your vision to life visually.
- Character Design: Designing characters involves deciding how they look and move. Think about the personality of each character, whether they are lively and animated or slow and deliberate. Their personality should be reflected in their physical traits, such as facial expressions, posture, and clothing. You will also need to consider how each character will move, especially if they will be performing specific actions like running, jumping, or talking.
- Background Design: The background sets the stage for your animation. Whether it is a simple backdrop or a detailed environment, the background helps establish the mood and setting of the scene. Think about the perspective, colors, and level of detail needed to complement the action without overpowering it.
Tools for this step: Adobe Illustrator, Krita, and Photoshop.
Phase 2: Production
Step 3: Setting Up Keyframes
Keyframes are the most important moments in your animation. They define the start and end points of any major movement. For example, if a character is throwing a ball, the keyframes would show the character’s hand holding the ball, the moment they release it, and the follow-through after the throw.
- Why Keyframes Matter: Keyframes are the framework of your animation. They map out the most important actions, giving structure to the sequence. This helps maintain consistency in movement and timing throughout the animation.
- Setting Up Keyframes: Using your animation software, place keyframes at the beginning and end of each major action. Be sure to exaggerate movements in keyframes for more expressive and dynamic animations.
Tools for this step: Adobe Animate and Toon Boom Harmony, which let you set key poses on a timeline.
Step 4: Tweening and In-between Frames
Tweening, or creating the in-between frames, is where the magic of animation happens. Tweening fills in the gaps between your keyframes, creating smooth transitions.
- Manual Tweening: While software can help automate the process, many animators still prefer to create in-betweens manually for more detailed and controlled results. This involves drawing each frame by hand, adjusting the object or character slightly in each frame to make the movement appear fluid.
- Motion Tweening: Modern animation software like Adobe Animate allows for motion tweening, where you can set the starting and ending positions of an object, and the software will automatically generate the in-between frames. This is especially useful for simple movements like moving an object across the screen.
Tools for this step: Adobe Animate and OpenToonz, both of which support onion-skinning for clean in-betweens.
Step 5: Adding Motion and Effects
With the basic animation sequence in place, the next step is to add additional motion and effects to enhance the overall look and feel of your animation.
- Adding Motion: Animating secondary movements, such as hair swaying, clothes fluttering, or background elements shifting, adds depth to your animation. These details help make the world feel more alive.
- Adding Special Effects: Effects such as motion blur, lighting changes, and shadows can add realism and drama to your animation. Depending on the software you are using, these effects can be applied manually or through built-in tools.
Tools for this step: Adobe After Effects and Toon Boom Harmony for secondary motion, lighting, and effects.
Phase 3: Post-production
Step 6: Syncing Audio and Dialogue
Sound is a critical element in animation. Whether it is background music, sound effects, or character dialogue, audio helps set the tone and adds dimension to your work.
- Lip Syncing: If your animation includes dialogue, syncing the character’s mouth movements to the audio is essential. This involves creating different mouth shapes for each sound or syllable and matching them to the spoken words. Software like Toon Boom Harmony makes lip-syncing easier by allowing you to automate the process based on audio files.
- Adding Sound Effects and Music: Carefully select sound effects and background music that complement the visuals. Sounds should match the actions on screen, while music can enhance the mood and pacing of the animation.
Tools for this step: Adobe Audition and Adobe Premiere Pro for voiceover, sound design, and mixing.
Step 7: Final Rendering and Exporting
Once all the animation and audio elements are complete, it is time to render and export your final animation.
- Final Rendering: Rendering is the process of combining all your animation frames, audio, and effects into a finished video. Depending on the complexity of your animation, rendering can take time, especially if you are working with high-resolution files or detailed effects.
- Exporting: After rendering, you will need to export your animation in a format suitable for your intended platform. Whether it is for web, television, or social media, make sure to choose the right resolution, file type (MP4, MOV, etc.), and frame rate for optimal quality.
Tools for this step: Adobe Animate and Premiere Pro to render and export in the right format and frame rate.
What is 2D animation?
2D animation is the process of creating movement in a two-dimensional space, animating characters, backgrounds, and objects on a flat plane of width and height. Unlike 3D animation, which adds depth and perspective, it is built frame by frame, where each frame changes slightly to produce continuous motion when played together. It is widely used in TV shows, films, video games, and online content, and can be created with traditional hand-drawn techniques or digital tools.
Best software for 2D animation
You can follow this whole process in a handful of tools. If you would rather have it produced for you, we also offer professional 2D animation as part of our animated video production service. For a wider roundup of free options, see our guide to the best free animation software.
- Adobe Animate: A professional-level tool for creating vector-based animations. It offers a wide range of drawing and animation tools, including a robust timeline for frame-by-frame animation, symbol-based animation, and motion tweens. Great for interactive web content, cartoons, and game animation.
- Toon Boom Harmony: The industry standard for TV and film animation, known for advanced features such as character rigging, which lets animators build reusable puppet rigs with bone structures for fluid motion. Harmony supports both traditional hand-drawn and cutout styles.
- Krita: A free and open-source tool that is perfect for artists who want to experiment with digital painting and 2D animation. It offers a simple interface and solid frame-by-frame tools, ideal for beginners.
- OpenToonz: Another free option used by professionals, including on studio productions. It offers a powerful set of tools for 2D animation, including frame-by-frame drawing, tweening, and motion paths, making it a great choice for animators on a budget.
Hardware you need
- Graphics Tablet: A graphics tablet is essential for animators, letting you draw directly onto the screen with a stylus. This is especially useful for frame-by-frame animation. Popular brands include Wacom, Huion, and XP-Pen, which offer different sizes and levels of pressure sensitivity.
- Computer Specs: 2D animation, particularly with high-resolution files and complex effects, can be demanding. You will want at least 8GB of RAM, a fast processor (such as Intel Core i5 or higher), and plenty of storage. A good GPU also helps with rendering times, though it is less critical than in 3D animation.
Tips to improve your 2D animation workflow
While animating is a time-consuming process, there are ways to improve efficiency and make the workflow smoother.
Time Management Techniques
Breaking down your animation project into smaller tasks and setting deadlines for each step can help you stay on track. Prioritize tasks like character design or keyframing that are more time-consuming, and allocate enough time for revisions and adjustments along the way.
Using Animation Shortcuts
You do not need to animate everything from scratch. Use pre-made templates, rigs, and reusable assets whenever possible. Character rigs, for example, let you create a bone structure for a character, making it easier to animate movements like walking or running without redrawing each frame. Using library assets like backgrounds or props can also save time.
Frequently asked questions
2D animation has 7 steps across 3 phases: concept and storyboarding and character and background design (pre-production); keyframing, in-betweening, and motion and effects (production); and audio sync and rendering and export (post-production).
Script and storyboard, design characters and backgrounds, animate (keyframes plus in-betweens), add sound, and render and export.
Start with free software like Krita, OpenToonz, or Blender, learn keyframing and in-betweening, and practice with a simple exercise such as a bouncing ball before attempting a full scene.
Adobe Animate and Toon Boom Harmony are the industry standards. For free options, Krita and OpenToonz are the most capable, and beginners often start in Krita or FlipaClip.
Conclusion
2D animation is a versatile and creative medium that lets you tell engaging stories through movement and art. By following this 7-step process across pre-production, production, and post-production, you can take your ideas from concept to completion in a structured way. Whether you are working on a short film, explainer video, or a personal project, mastering these steps will help you create polished, professional animations.
Need a 2D animation made professionally? Get in touch with our team and we will take your idea from concept to finished video.
