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2D animation is the most flexible and cost-effective way to explain almost anything. The 29 examples below are all our own work, spanning entertainment, healthcare, finance, government, and nonprofit clients. Use them to see how a single style can flex across very different messages.
What is 2D animation? It is animation created on a flat, two-dimensional plane, using characters, illustration, and motion rather than 3D models. It is fast to produce, easy to change, and works for explainers, ads, and social videos alike.
Every example below is a real project we produced, with the video and the client industry, so you can find the tone that fits your own message. 2D animation covers a wide range, from character-led stories to clean motion graphics. That range is why it suits almost any brand, budget, or subject.
2D is usually faster and more affordable, and it is ideal for explainers and character stories. 3D wins when you need realism, depth, or complex product detail. Most businesses start with 2D.
Explainers, where a clear story matters more than realism. Social and ads, where speed and personality win. Training and onboarding, where friendly visuals help. And nonprofit and public campaigns, where a human tone builds trust.
A quick side by side of every project, with its industry. Click a name in the list below to jump straight to its video.
| # | Client | Industry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warner Brothers | Entertainment |
| 2 | YWCA BlockHate | Nonprofit |
| 3 | Keebo | SaaS and data |
| 4 | Breakfast Robot | Media and podcasting |
| 5 | Disability Rights Oregon | Legal and disability rights |
| 6 | Fujitsu | Enterprise technology |
| 7 | ChartLamp | Healthcare technology |
| 8 | City of Overland Park | Government |
| 9 | Caregiver Alliance | Healthcare and nonprofit |
| 10 | Silvacom | Forestry and conservation |
| 11 | Stereotypes | Training and HR |
| 12 | Tourism Burnaby | Tourism |
| 13 | CLAS BC | Legal aid |
| 14 | YWCA Roses Campaign | Nonprofit |
| 15 | Family Caregiver | Healthcare |
| 16 | Assurance Wilson | Finance and insurance |
| 17 | Canonical | SaaS and open source |
| 18 | IPGOBox | Logistics and shipping |
| 19 | ACS Security | Security |
| 20 | Ranchowater | Utilities and water |
| 21 | Accounting Aid Society | Finance and nonprofit |
| 22 | Family Caregiver Alliance | Healthcare and nonprofit |
| 23 | Dairy Farmers of Canada | Farming and food |
| 24 | IISD | Energy and sustainability |
| 25 | ME Company | Professional services |
| 26 | Mental Health Commission of Canada | Healthcare and nonprofit |
| 27 | TestBox | SaaS |
| 28 | Brightidea | SaaS and innovation |
| 29 | MMR Vaccine | Public health |
Jump to an example: 1. Warner Brothers · 2. YWCA BlockHate · 3. Keebo · 4. Breakfast Robot · 5. Disability Rights Oregon · 6. Fujitsu · 7. ChartLamp · 8. City of Overland Park · 9. Caregiver Alliance · 10. Silvacom · 11. Stereotypes · 12. Tourism Burnaby · 13. CLAS BC · 14. YWCA Roses Campaign · 15. Family Caregiver · 16. Assurance Wilson · 17. Canonical · 18. IPGOBox · 19. ACS Security · 20. Ranchowater · 21. Accounting Aid Society · 22. Family Caregiver Alliance · 23. Dairy Farmers of Canada · 24. IISD · 25. ME Company · 26. Mental Health Commission of Canada · 27. TestBox · 28. Brightidea · 29. MMR Vaccine
Warner Brothers came to us for a crisp 2D explainer. The video shows how clean character work and confident motion can carry a major entertainment brand. Category: Entertainment.
This YWCA campaign tackles online hate with a clear, human story. 2D animation keeps a heavy subject approachable and easy to share. Category: Nonprofit.
Keebo automates database tuning, which is hard to picture. Thirty seconds of tight 2D motion turns an invisible product into something a buyer can grasp. Category: SaaS and data.
A short, playful podcast intro built on character animation. It shows how much personality 2D can deliver in under twenty seconds. Category: Media and podcasting.
Disability Rights Oregon protects the rights of people with disabilities. Warm 2D illustration makes legal help feel accessible rather than intimidating. Category: Legal and disability rights.
A longer enterprise piece for a global technology brand. 2D animation holds attention across three minutes by pacing each idea and letting the visuals carry the detail. Category: Enterprise technology.
ChartLamp maps medical histories for legal teams. The animation walks through a dense workflow and makes the product value obvious in about a minute. Category: Healthcare technology.
A cartoon-styled piece for a municipal audience. Friendly character animation helps a city communicate with residents without sounding bureaucratic. Category: Government.
Caregiver Alliance supports families across California. The animation gives an emotional subject room to breathe while still pointing viewers to practical help. Category: Healthcare and nonprofit.
Silvacom works in land and forestry data. This piece explains caribou habitat recovery, using 2D to show landscape change over time in a way footage could not. Category: Forestry and conservation.
A training video that handles bias and stereotyping. Animation lets you depict difficult workplace scenarios without casting actors or singling anyone out. Category: Training and HR.
Tourism Burnaby uses bright 2D animation to sell a destination. Illustrated scenes cover far more ground than a location shoot would allow. Category: Tourism.
CLAS BC helps people access justice and legal support. Careful pacing and plain language make the process feel manageable. Category: Legal aid.
A thirty-second campaign spot built for social. It shows how a short 2D piece can carry a fundraising message on its own. Category: Nonprofit.
This overview supports family caregivers with clear, practical guidance. Simple 2D visuals keep a long list of responsibilities from feeling overwhelming. Category: Healthcare.
Wilson Insurance helps Canadian business owners build wealth. 2D animation turns financial planning into a story with a beginning and an end. Category: Finance and insurance.
Canonical publishes Ubuntu. The video explains an open-source enterprise offering to a technical audience without slowing down for jargon. Category: SaaS and open source.
IPGOBox simplifies international shipping and forwarding. 2D animation traces a parcel journey across borders in a single continuous sequence. Category: Logistics and shipping.
ACS Security protects homes and businesses. The animation walks through a service that would be intrusive to film and awkward to stage. Category: Security.
A detailed piece for a California water district on finding and fixing household leaks. It shows 2D working as genuine instruction, not just marketing. Category: Utilities and water.
Accounting Aid Society offers free tax help to families. 2D animation removes the intimidation from a subject most people avoid. Category: Finance and nonprofit.
A story-led piece about the people behind caregiving. Character animation carries the emotional weight that statistics alone would miss. Category: Healthcare and nonprofit.
A twenty-five second spot about where food comes from. Short, warm, and built to run as paid social. Category: Farming and food.
This IISD film makes the case for cleaner energy in Canada. 2D handles data and policy without turning into a slideshow. Category: Energy and sustainability.
A concise explainer for a professional services brand. Clean motion graphics and a tight script do the work in just over a minute. Category: Professional services.
The Mental Health Commission explains a national initiative with warmth and restraint. 2D suits sensitive subjects because it abstracts rather than dramatises. Category: Healthcare and nonprofit.
TestBox lets buyers trial software before committing. The animation makes an unfamiliar buying model feel straightforward. Category: SaaS.
Brightidea runs innovation programs for large organisations. At just over two minutes, the video builds a full narrative rather than a feature list. Category: SaaS and innovation.
A public health explainer on the MMR vaccine. Animation communicates medical information calmly and consistently to a broad audience. Category: Public health.
Decide what the video must do: explain, sell, train, or persuade. The goal sets the length, tone, and level of detail.
The script does most of the work in 2D. Keep it short, lead with the problem, and end with one clear action.
2D ranges from simple motion graphics to full character animation. Match the style to your brand and your budget.
A homepage explainer, a social ad, and a training video have different needs. Plan the length and framing for the channel.
2D animation is animation created on a flat, two-dimensional plane using illustration, characters, and motion. It is one of the most popular styles for explainers, ads, and social video.
2D animation works on a flat plane, while 3D builds objects in space and moves a camera around them. 2D is usually faster and cheaper, while 3D adds realism and depth.
Cost depends on length, script, and how much custom illustration and character work the video needs. A short motion-graphics piece costs less than a fully animated character story. Ask for a quote based on your script.
A typical 2D explainer takes a few weeks from script to final video. Timelines depend on length, revisions, and the level of custom design.
It is used for explainer videos, ads, social content, training, and public campaigns. It suits almost any subject because it is flexible and quick to change.
Neither is better on its own. 2D suits fast, flexible, and character-led work, while 3D suits realism and complex product detail. The right choice depends on your goal and budget.
The best 2D animation is the one that makes your message land. Across entertainment, healthcare, finance, and nonprofit work, the examples above show how one flexible style can carry very different stories. That range is why 2D is still the most popular way to explain an idea.
Related: 2D animation services and 3D animation examples.
Larry is the founder and Chief Storyteller at Creamy Animation, founded in 2009. He leads a team that creates story-driven videos for businesses and nonprofits. 15+ years in video strategy and production, specializing in SaaS, B2B, and nonprofit storytelling. A marketer, designer, and animator, Larry has overseen the production of more than 1,500 videos for Fujitsu, Logitech, Warner Brothers, NFL, Blockdaemon, Astronomer, Canonical, and 370+ others.
For Larry, God is first, and everything else is a blessing that comes from serving Him. When he’s not working, he’s hanging out with his wife and three kids, playing the piano, or pursuing his filmmaking side hustle.
