How is 3D animation made?

Summary/Overview

3D animation brings images to life in a dynamic, three-dimensional form. Its immersive visuals are not only eye-catching but also engaging, making it a powerful tool for holding attention. While often associated with films and video games, 3D animation plays a vital role in advertising, architectural models, promotional videos, and beyond.

It allows you to communicate brand stories and showcase ideas through motion. By the end of this article, you’ll know how 3D animation is created.

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What is 3D animation?

3D animation is the process of creating digitally generated moving images in a three-dimensional space. Unlike 2D animation, which appears flat, 3D animation adds depth, realism, and perspective—making visuals more immersive and lifelike. Using animation software, creators can model, rig, and animate characters and objects within a virtual environment.

Businesses and individuals use 3D animation for a wide range of purposes. It’s ideal for storytelling, product visualization, marketing content, architectural walkthroughs, and educational explainer videos. Brands can bring mascots to life, showcase prototypes before production, or simplify complex ideas through engaging visual narratives. Whether you're looking to stand out on social media or craft a compelling presentation, 3D animation offers an eye-catching way to communicate and connect with your audience.

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What’s the difference between 3D vs 2D animation?

While both 2D and 3D animation involve creating moving visuals, they differ significantly in style, process, and complexity. Key differences include:

• Format and visual style. 2D animation is flat, using height and width only, while 3D animation uses depth, creating more lifelike three-dimensional models.
• Movement. 2D characters move along vertical and horizontal axes. In 3D, characters and cameras can move in any direction, adding dynamic realism.
• Production and design processes. 2D animation is often hand-drawn or digitally drawn frame by frame. 3D animation involves modelling, rigging, animating, lighting, and rendering.
• Time and cost. 2D is typically faster and more cost-effective to produce. 3D animations generally need more time, resources and specialised skills.
• Realism and visual impact. 3D tends to deliver more realistic and visually striking results.
• Learning time. 2D animation tools are often easier to learn, while 3D tools involve a steeper learning curve due to added complexity.
• File size and performance. 2D animation typically needs lighter files, making sharing and storage easier. 3D however, requires larger files that need more powerful hardware and storage.
• Software examples. 2D animation might use Adobe Animate, Toon Boom or OpenToonz, whereas 3D animation could use programmes like Blender, Maya or Cinema4D.

How to make a 3D animation – key steps.

Crafting captivating 3D animation is a multi-step process from ideation to final product. Each phase of production helps to shape an accurate and visibly pleasing animation.

1. Scriptwriting and storyboarding.

Everything starts with an idea – without it, there’s no base to begin with. Scriptwriting involves writing the narrative, characters, settings and scenes needed to tell your story. Once completed, this turns into a storyboard, a series of rough sketches to help you visualise the animation sequences you’ll need to create.

2. 3D modelling.

3D modelling is where digital artists create characters, environments, and anything else needed to bring your storyboards to life. 3D models are often based on simple geometric shapes that are then sculpted, textured and coloured into realistic models ready for animating.

3. Rigging and skinning.

Once the objects and characters are modelled, you need to prep them for movement. Rigging provides a digital skeleton for each model, often referred to as a ‘rig’, complete with joints and control points. This in essence, turns your 3D model into a digital puppet.

Skinning is the process of binding the 3D model’s mesh to the rig. This ensures the mesh deforms correctly when the skeleton moves—so limbs bend naturally, and facial expressions animate smoothly. Proper skinning is crucial for producing lifelike, emotive animations, especially when working with complex characters or detailed motion.

4. Animation.

Once your model is rigged and skinned, you can begin animating—bringing your character or object to life. One common method is keyframing, which involves setting specific points in time (called keyframes) that define how your model should look or move. The animation software then fills in the motion between these points, creating smooth transitions.

To create expressive characters, focus on details like facial expressions, body language, timing, and camera angles. These small touches make your animations feel more lifelike and engaging.

Depending on your project, you can animate manually using keyframes (for full creative control), or use motion capture data, which records real-life movements and maps them onto your 3D models for more natural results.

5. Rendering and compositing.

Rendering is the process of generating the final images or frames of your animation. The software takes everything you’ve built—models, textures, lighting, shadows, and animation—and processes it into a complete, polished visual sequence. This step can take a long time, especially for complex scenes, but it’s essential for achieving a professional finish.

Compositing comes after rendering. It involves combining multiple rendered elements (like background, characters, and effects), adjusting colours, adding filters, motion blur, and final visual tweaks. Think of it as the post-production phase, where you fine-tune your animation to look its best.

6. Video editing.

This is the final stage that brings all your elements together into a polished piece. It’s rare for everything to be perfect on the first try, so don’t hesitate to revise—editing is where you refine your work. This stage can involve combining rendered shots, adding sound effects, voiceovers, background music, text overlays, and transitions.

Good editing helps control the pacing, mood, and emotional impact of your animation. It’s also where you make final adjustments to ensure everything flows smoothly. When done well, video editing can elevate your project—making it more engaging, professional, and shareable. Whether your goal is to entertain, educate, or attract leads, strong editing helps your animation leave a lasting impression.

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Useful things to know.

When was 3D animation invented?

3D animation began in the 1960s, and William Fetter was one of its pioneers. Working at Boeing, Fetter used computers to create early graphical representations of a human figure—most notably a 3D wireframe model of a pilot—to study how pilots interacted with aircraft controls. These early animations were part of ergonomic and cockpit design research.

Fetter is also credited with coining the term "computer graphics." While his work wasn't full 3D animation as we know it today, it laid important groundwork for later developments in 3D modelling and motion.

The first full 3D computer-generated animations, including movement and more complex rendering, emerged in the 1970s, such as Edwin Catmull’s A Computer Animated Hand (1972).

How do I make my own 3D animation?

To make your own 3D animation, start with a story and storyboard. Then, model your characters and environments, rig them for movement. You can then animate your scenes, render the visuals, and polish the final animation with final edits like sound, blur and transitions.

Is making 3D animation easy?

Creating 3D animation can be challenging at first, as it involves multiple steps like modelling, rigging, animating, lighting, and rendering. It combines both technical know-how and creative thinking. But don’t let that put you off—many beginners start with no prior experience and improve quickly with practice.

Thanks to user-friendly software, tutorials, and online communities, learning 3D animation is more accessible than ever. You don’t need to master everything at once. Start small, experiment, and build your skills one step at a time. With patience and persistence, you’ll be amazed at what you can create.

Whether you're telling a story, showcasing a product, or just exploring a new hobby, 3D animation is a rewarding skill that opens the door to endless creative possibilities.

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