Animation types for 2d games

Animation types for 2d games

Animations for 2d games can be more difficult than animations for movies because in video games the characters must interact with each other. In games every action is controlled by the user and the characters must respond to the action of the player. So, animation have to look good from every angle. That’s why the animators must know many animation types for their characters.

Game animations should be short and the response to player commands must be instant. Also, the animations should communicate with the user and must transmit certain moods, such as joy, fear, excitement, etc. If you create animations for different types of creatures, giants, battles, etc. , you will need different types of animation like walking, running, fighting, etc.

Image source: http://nvisionapp.com/eight-excellent-old-school-action-games-you-must-play-on-pc/

In every game animators should create several basic animations for their characters:

• idle animation
• walk animation
• run animation
• fighting animation
• jump animation
• death animation

Animation types for 2d games:

Idle animation

Idle animations are very popular in video games. These animations appear when the controlled character doesn’t do any action because player is not pressing any button.

Image source: http://opengameart.org/content/2d-assassin-game-character-world-war-ll

Walk animation

Walk cycle is one type of animation that every animator should know. “In animation, a walk cycle is a series of frames or illustrations drawn in sequence that loop to create an animation of a walking character. The walk cycle is looped over and over, thus having to avoid animating each step again” (Wikipedia).

Image source: http://webneel.com/walk-cycle-animation

Run animation

Run cycle is used in all video games and is similar to animating a walk. When a character run its both feet leave the ground, then one foot take contact with ground, then follows passing step and at final the kickoff.

Image source: http://giphy.com/search/run-cycle

Fighting animation

Fighting games are very popular and can be played by single player or multiple players that fight one against the other. In these type of games fighters of comparable strength fight in one-on-one battles.

Image source: http://thevideogamenetwork.com/2013/08/2d-fighting-game-aquapazza-coming-to-north-america-this-holiday/

Jump animation

This type of animation is used in all video games. Jump animation can be also combined with other cycles like run cycle animation. In this animation type is very important to use the “Squash and Stretch” animation principle because the body compresses and extends in a more extreme manner. There can be multiple scenarios for jumping: jumping onto the box, jumping on and off a box, jumping of a box, etc.

Image source: http://pdp-jessdriver.blogspot.ro/2014/05/jump.html

Death animation

This is a must animation type that any animator should know to make it. Death animation will play when a character or both dies, when a player is killed by his enemy, when a character explodes, etc.

Image source: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vectors/2d-game-character-vectors