February 02, 2022
By Chelsea Reed
What an exciting time to be in the animation industry right now! Honored traditions and new experiments collide as innovations are taking place in making characters come to life. Though lines between the art of movies, video games, and the internet may be blurring for 2022, there are still plenty of trends to look forward to in the animation art collecting scene. Here’s what fans of animation art can get excited about for the rest of the year.
While three-dimensional animation is amazing in its own right, the nostalgia for 2D is clearly here to stay. Two-dimensional animations are quicker to produce for eye-appealing content in shorter videos, making them easier to share information on social media and the internet. Expect to see a blend of the two in the coming months.
Thin line animation is an animation style that incorporates thinner lines, round shapes, and noodle-like appendages. This recent animation style actually predates television shows and may even be the first one! Artists commonly used the technique to produce silent films. The thin lines were simple and easier to animate. Now, it appears to be making a comeback for both animators and art collectors.
Surrealism, such as this painting by Debra Kierce, is a growing animation trend right now. Last year’s fascination with surrealism continues to spill into 2022. Industry experts believe the trend will especially impact 3D animation as artists continue to experiment and engage audiences in the thought-provoking art style.
4. Deconstructed and Schematic Characters
Remember when realism once reigned in animation? Well, those days are definitely behind us. Recent years have taught us that characters do not need to be extremely realistic to engage audiences. They can be simplified, carry a theme, or even become deconstructed and still get the point across. Goofy is a shining example of what it means to relate to a simple schematic character.
As shorter online videos continue to grow in popularity, animators are preferring to stick with a simplified color palette to quickly express a particular mood. Color plays a major role in influencing our emotions. It’s a technique that master animators have used for decades. Take a look at this cel of Prince Phillip from the Disney movie Sleeping Beauty, for example. The muted colors depict a serious tone as the fairy godmothers help him suit up for battle against the terrible Maleficent.
Grainy textures make a nice complement to today’s simplistic animation styles. From rice paper to wood grain and more, they add a fun element that makes moving characters look even more like living art. This adorable inlay sculpture by David Penosky is a great example of wood grain texture. (Spoiler alert: it gets bonus points because it’s a puppy.)
Like other artists, animators are constantly experimenting with new styles, ideas, and mediums. It’s one of the most exciting things about the industry! This cel by Depatie-Freleng Studio, for example, was part of Dr. Seuss’s television special Pontoffel Pock. The show was one of only a few that Dr. Seuss wrote himself that was not based on his books. It explored themes such as responsibility, world travel, and finding love in an entertaining way not seen before. After all, who could resist watching a magical flying piano?
Whether you know a thing or two about the animation industry or are an avid collector, now is the time to invest in animation art. Classic animation cels may become more valuable as newer ways to animate are being discovered each year. Or, perhaps you or someone you know are head over heels for your favorite character. Seaside Art Gallery has a beautiful collection of genuine animation cels. Who knows? That animation cel of Scrooge McDuck could be the perfect gift that makes their day.
Chelsea Reed is a copywriter who writes winning content, articles, blogs, and websites from her base in North Carolina. She might not be building sandcastles or swashbuckling with pirates these days, but the Outer Banks beaches continue to keep her young at heart.
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