Between Rigged Animation and Frame-by-Frame: Which One Suits You Best?

Hello everyone!

I wanted to share my thoughts on the different types of animation methods. In the world of animation, there’s more than one way to bring characters and scenes to life. Two of the most prominent methods are Cut-Out (Rigging) and Frame-by-Frame animation. Each has its own pros and cons, and the right choice depends on your project type, available time, and your team's skillset. In this article, I’ll break down the key differences and highlight which might be more suitable for illustrators in terms of quality, speed, and workflow.

What’s the Difference Between Rigged and Frame-by-Frame Animation?

Cut-Out (Rigged) Animation

Cut-Out animation involves breaking a character into parts or layers (like head, arms, legs...) and connecting them using a digital skeleton or "rig" that can later be moved. Think of it like puppeteering.

Pros:

• Faster to produce once the rig is prepared.

• Great for projects that require repetitive movements or recurring characters.

• Easy to tweak or edit animations even after they’re done.

  

Cons:

• Limited in terms of expressive and flexible movement.

• Quality heavily depends on how well the rig is designed.

• Certain actions (like full body rotations or complex facial expressions) can be challenging.

• Not ideal for high-action scenes like fights or fast choreography.

Best used for animation projects without intense action or combat scenes.

Examples:

• South Park uses simple cut-out animation.

• Pocoyo uses rigging in a 3D environment.

• Many commercials and educational videos adopt this method to save time and cost.

  
  

 Frame-by-Frame Animation

This is the traditional method used by most anime studios. Each frame is drawn individually, creating fluid motion through careful frame sequencing.

Pros:

• Offers complete freedom in motion and expression.

• Results in smooth, detailed, and organic movement.

• Perfect for complex scenes like battles or dramatic moments.

Cons:

• Very time-consuming and requires patience.

• Revisions can be tricky, as one edit might need redrawing several frames.

• Requires strong skills in anatomy, timing, and motion.

• Using too few frames can make the motion feel choppy or inconsistent.

Examples:

• Most Studio Ghibli films like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke use frame-by-frame, which contributes to their high quality.

• Anime like Naruto and Attack on Titan rely heavily on this technique for action scenes.

• Classic Disney films like The Lion King and Aladdin are entirely hand-drawn frame by frame.

So Which Is Best for Illustrators?

I’ve asked myself this question many times. I actually started my animation journey with traditional frame-by-frame, but after years of trial and error, I discovered that rigging (cut-out) suited me much more.

The right choice really comes down to your project priorities:

• If your goal is speed, reusability, and managing multiple scenes efficiently, cut-out animation is more practical.

• If your focus is on rich artistic expression and high-quality motion, frame-by-frame is the better option.

• Artists who love detail and have strong traditional drawing skills often prefer frame-by-frame.

• Solo creators or small teams who need to produce a lot of content quickly may benefit more from rigging.

  
  
  
  

There Is No One-Size-Fits-All

There isn’t a single “better” method for everyone. The right technique depends on your lifestyle, project type, and available resources. In fact, many professionals today combine both techniques: using rigs for base motion, and layering hand-drawn frames for detailed enhancements — achieving a perfect balance between efficiency and quality.

As for Me Personally...

If you’re wondering what I prefer — the answer is rigged animation, or what’s often called cut-out. It suits my busy lifestyle filled with constant projects and deadlines. It allows me to complete multiple episodes in less time — something I struggled to do with frame-by-frame.

In the end of "Between Rigged Animation and Frame-by-Frame: Which One Suits You Best?" , the best tool is the one that serves your story and helps you deliver your vision in the clearest way possible — whether it’s through rigging or traditional animation.

So, what about you? Which method do you prefer?