The Future of Animation: Key Trends Shaping the Next Decade

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The future of animation indicates a shift towards immersive technology like VR animation and AR animation.
• Animators prepare for future trends in animation and the growing job demand.
• Tap into the potential of animation trends in the market and how to develop them.
• Understanding the significance of developing future trends in animation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Keeping Up With the Animation Trends
• The Future of Animation: Meet the Trends
• Animation Development
• What’s Next for Animation?

The world of animation is constantly evolving, with new trends and technologies emerging one after the other. As we look ahead to the next decade, we may expect several animation trends to take center stage. How will these trends shape the future of animation? What demands would the future trends in animation meet?

This article will explore the trends set to redefine the industry and transform how animators create and audiences experience animation.

The animation industry has grown exponentially over the years. Over the decade, the global market size for animation has also increased. It is estimated that by 2030, it will have reached over 500 billion dollars in net worth.

If the industry is growing, would the demand for animators also increase? Yes. According to the Bureau of Labor, the job demand increase is projected to grow by 4% from 2023 to 2033. The job growth may be caused by the continuous use of animation in movies and video games.

But of course, there is much more than just meeting the demand. With machine learning, animators can help to modify and develop AI. This may result in cost-efficient and hassle-free production. AI can now automate tasks, from video transitions to motion capture, with less difficulty.

But how is it cost-effective? Spending less budget on a project does not mean lower, poorer quality. Animation only requires fewer resources to expend. As such, expenses reserved for live-action sets, equipment, and crews are significantly reduced. Instead, these efforts are shifted towards manpower, where animation is produced.

The industry has shifted towards innovative trends revolutionizing animation. To name a few familiar terms: VR animation, AR animation, and generative AI. With that in mind, what do they have in store for us? And what does the future of animation look like right now?

For more information, this section delves into some of the emerging trends that are shaping the future of animation:

Have you ever mistaken some movies as live-action, only to realize they are hyper-realistic animation? Well, films and video games have recently utilized this trend to engage the audience in compelling narratives. With improvements in rendering, lighting, and animation software, hyper-realism has slowly grown as a demand in the industry. 

Popular game releases like The Walking Dead, Assassin’s Creed, and Baldur’s Gate 3 are known to have hyperrealistic animations. In movies, hyper-realism is utilized to differentiate virtual reality from reality. It is best shown in most dystopian films, like Ready, Player One, and Alita: Battle Angel. 

Creating increasingly lifelike animations provides a sense of immersion and believability, making narratives much easier to understand. However, it is not limited to portraying animations as near-to-life as possible. It may also be used to distinguish animation from live-action. It depends majorly on the creative intent and plot of the animation.

Generative AI has seen multiple uses these past few years. From generating certain objects from prompts to seamless CGI integration. The opportunities are endless. Despite artificial intelligence threatening to dismantle human animation production, it is proving to be more of a boon than a bane. 

The integration of AI in animation production does not end with just editing. It also assists in reducing the animator’s workload and allows more creative control and increased productivity.

In doing more showing than telling, interactive storytelling engages the audience’s attention and retention. The constant desire for simulation has people immediately receptive to the idea of interactive and engaging ways to consume animation. 

Interactive storytelling, or visual storytelling, is often used in brand commercials and television shows to make their audience participate. Brands like Google, Slack, Apple, and Headspace adopt interactive storytelling to make their advertisements more engaging. In some Netflix shows, like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Kaleidoscope, directors let the audience watch the series in different chronological order. Each ending differs depending on the order in which they are watched, giving the audience participation in the outcome.

Virtual (VR) and Augmented (AR) Realities paved the way for immersive experiences. The potential integration of haptic feedback and cost-efficient simulations makes VR and AR animation a growing necessity. 

VR animations are known best in the gaming industry. The offer for immersive gameplay was popularized, and VR animation has since expanded from there on out. On the other hand, AR animations have been used in domains outside entertainment. Simulatory practices for aviation, medicine, military, and architecture are a few of its most notable benefits.

With its uses extending beyond entertainment and gaming, VR and AR animation take “immersion” to the next level. What used to be time-consuming and expensive tasks are now accessible when necessary. Risks, especially in flight training, are also minimized. 

VR and AR animation make everything virtually possible.

Animation, whether manga, webtoon, manhua, or cartoon films, has always been popular in the entertainment industry. In recent years, when the consumption of these media has boomed, the demand for foreign translations also increased.

Additionally, international companies such as CCCI have translation and localization services that help these animations reach more audiences. The translation and localization of these animations would help augment the industry to the market. 

In essence, distribution and reaching further globally by the next decade is not much of an issue. Rather, it would strengthen the demand for more animators and multimedia artists, spiking job growth.

Collaborations between multiple animation studios have been underway for years. Particularly, the translation of most mangas and webtoons from its source language into the language of its target audience. This resulted in easier distribution, and more animations have been produced since.

Animation trends show how far the development of the industry has come. From hand-drawn illustrations to hyper-realistic animations, the improvement of the industry has propelled it forward to continuous exploration. 

Perhaps in the foreseeable future, more trends may emerge and take the industry by storm. More convenient and cost-effective ways would surely be invented, as well as ease of translation and localization for distribution. 

With rapid media consumption, the use of VR and AR animations, and the overall demand for animation, the future trends of animation are not limited to those listed here. If you think about it, animation takes our current technological advancement to much greater heights. All it needs is one small idea and the possibilities are endless.

Curious about where the next animation trends are going? Our webtoon animation services got you! Whether you are an animator or simply interested in learning more, CCCI has all up-to-date trends and news. Get in touch with us to see how we can help you stay informed.