Motion graphics and animation are both visual art forms that involve the movement of images, but they serve different purposes
Motion Graphics
Purpose:
Primarily used for creating engaging visual content that combines text and graphics to communicate a message.
Often found in promotional videos, explainer videos, infographics, title sequences, and user interface animations.
Content:
Focuses on moving graphic elements like shapes, text, and icons rather than characters or detailed backgrounds.
Emphasises abstract visual content rather than storytelling or character-driven narratives.
Style:
Typically employs clean, sleek, and modern design elements.
Uses 2D and 3D graphical elements, often combined with kinetic typography.
Tools:
Commonly created using software like Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, and similar motion design tools.
Animation
Purpose:
Primarily used for storytelling, creating characters, and building narratives.
Found in cartoons, movies, TV shows, video games, and animated shorts.
Content:
Focuses on characters, detailed backgrounds, and complex scenes to build a narrative.
Involves character development, plot progression, and emotional engagement.
Style:
Includes a wide range of styles, from hand-drawn and traditional 2D animation to computer-generated 3D animation and stop-motion.
Can be realistic or highly stylised, depending on the narrative and target audience.
Tools:
Created using various techniques and software, including Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, Autodesk Maya, Blender, and traditional hand-drawing methods.
Summary
In essence, motion graphics are a subset of animation that focus on moving graphic elements to communicate messages and enhance visual appeal, whereas animation encompasses a broader range of techniques and styles used primarily for storytelling and creating character-driven narratives.
Either we way - we make both.
