Artistic and Inspirational Influences vs. Drawing Fundamentals: Which one counts more when developing a 2D Animators visual Style?



You can finally draw. One of the greatest accomplishments for anyone working or looking to grow in the visual arts.

You gain compliments, some praise and even some awards. Finally, you look at several other artists work, as you have gained a good level of skills, but then the more you look around, the more you keep wondering if you will ever keep up, and then, in a moment, you suddenly start to ask, what exactly is my style?

One of the most common questions among aspiring and intermediate 2D animators is deceptively simple:


“How do I develop my own style?”

The answers are often frustratingly polarized. 

Some argue that style only emerges after years of mastering fundamentals. Others insist that studying your influences is the real key, and that fundamentals merely polish what already exists. For many 2D animators, this tension creates paralysis, which can be triggering in a young animation artists career. Another famous aspect of trying to get your style is whether should you be copying your favorite artists, or drilling walk cycles and anatomy studies.

The truth, so far in this ongoing question by animation artists, is less dramatic, but far more useful, in that, visual style in 2D animation is not born from choosing between influences and fundamentals, but from how the two interact over time.

 

What “Style” Means in 2D Animation

In 2D animation, style is often mistaken for surface-level aesthetics, which include line quality, character proportions, or whether something looks “cartoony” or “realistic.” Actually one of the most, common and often recurring scenarios, in a visual artist or 2D Animators growth, is trying to mimic trendy styles from animated shows, and make it their own study in order to have visual appeal, in their "style".

In reality, visual style is deeper and more structural.

Style in 2D animation shows up in:

- How characters are constructed

- What shapes dominate designs

- How motion is exaggerated or restrained

- Timing preferences (snappy vs. fluid)

- Emotional tone and appeal

Most importantly, style is consistent decision-making. Two animators can understand the same fundamentals and still make radically different choices. Style is the pattern that emerges from those choices.

 

The Role of Fundamentals in 2D Animation

Fundamentals in 2D animation include:

- Drawing and construction

- Anatomy and gesture

- Timing and spacing

- Weight and balance

- Staging and clarity

- Appeal and silhouette

These fundamentals do not dictate what your animation should look like, but they heavily influence how well it communicates.

A 2D animator without fundamentals may still produce work that looks stylish, but it often suffers from:

- Inconsistent proportions

- Unclear motion

- Unintentional stiffness or "floatiness"

- Limited emotional range

Fundamentals act as structural integrity. They allow animators to push, break, and bend rules intentionally. Without them, stylistic quirks are fragile and they often collapse under complexity or longer productions.

 

The Role of Influences in 2D Animation

If fundamentals are structure, influences are direction.

Influences tell you:

- What kinds of characters excite you

- What emotional tones resonate

- What visual languages feel “right”

- What exaggerations feel satisfying

In 2D animation, influence is unavoidable. Every animator absorbs motion ideas, posing styles, and design philosophies from:

- Films and TV animation

- Comics and illustration

- Games

- Cultural art traditions

- Other animators online

Importantly, influence rarely works through perfect copying. Style often emerges from misinterpretation, trying to replicate something you admire, but doing it through your own limitations, preferences, and understanding.

 

Case Study: Aaron Blaise and the Foundation of Style

Aaron Blaise is often cited as an example of a “strong personal style,” but his career reveals something more nuanced.

Blaise’s work, particularly in films like Brother Bear and Beauty and the Beast, are perfect examples of style which is rooted in:

- Strong anatomical knowledge

- Clear gesture and weight

- Observational drawing from life

His distinctive style did not emerge from rejecting fundamentals, but from deeply internalizing them and filtering them through his love of wildlife, realism, and expressive acting.

When Blaise exaggerates motion or simplifies forms, it feels intentional because the underlying structure is sound. His influences, such as classical Disney animation, nature documentaries and animal anatomy, shape what he emphasizes, while fundamentals ensure clarity and appeal.

Below is a link to Aaron Blaise's tips on character design which touch on the aspect of learning your fundamentals to being able to stylize.

Aaron Blaise's tips on stylization

One of the most common recurring patterns in great 2D animators, often involves realizing that style is not a replacement for fundamentals, but a lens through which they are applied.

 

How Style Actually Develops Over Time

Rather than a binary choice, style development follows a rough progression:

Early Stage: Influence-Led Exploration

- Heavy imitation

- Inconsistent fundamentals

- Rapid stylistic shifts

- Learning what you like

At this stage, copying is not failure, it is data collection.

Middle Stage: Fundamentals as a Filter

- Better understanding of structure

- More intentional exaggeration

- Recognition of recurring tendencies

- Growing consistency

Here, fundamentals start shaping which influences stick and which fall away.

Advanced Stage: Style as Intentional Design

- Clear visual language

- Adaptable style across projects

- Conscious limitation and exaggeration

- Strong authorial voice

At this point, style becomes something you use, not something you chase.

 

The Real Answer to the Question

So, do influences help develop style more than fundamentals?

Influences determine direction. This means, the influences around you, are only there to help you get a guiding light as you navigate your way to your own artistic taste and sensibilities in terms of how you embrace your drawings.


Fundamentals determine control. This means they are the root and with it your influences can now latch on to your developed understandings of the necessary core skills that make a 2D Animator.

In 2D animation, style is what happens when taste meets skill. One without the other leads to either hollow polish or expressive chaos.

 

Practical Advice for 2D Animators

As a final note to the 2D Animators out there trying to find their way through this maze.

- Study fundamentals while engaging with influences

- Analyze what specifically you like in other artists’ work

- Avoid waiting for “perfect fundamentals” before stylizing

- Let limitations guide early stylistic choices

- Revisit fundamentals as tools, not obstacles

Style is eventually discovered, by building it, layer by layer. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LACK OF WORDS, BUT FULL OF EXPRESSION: SILENT STORYTELLING AND THE POWER OF DRAWING IN PANTOMIME ANIMATION

Image
When we think about what makes animation magical, a lot of us jump straight to voice acting or clever dialogue.  But what happens when there are no words? Just characters, movement, and pure visual storytelling? That’s where pantomime animation shines, and to be seriously honest, it’s some of the most impressive stuff out there. Today, we’re diving into the world of pantomime animation , where drawing does all the talking. Our guests in this post need no introduction (depending on the generation 😄), and who better to guide us than the masters of the silent screen,  Tom and Jerry and The Pink Panther . So, What i s Pantomime Animation? Pantomime animation is exactly what it sounds like, acting without words. Think of it as the animated version of silent film acting, where characters rely entirely on body language, facial expressions, and timing to communicate everything from joy to pain to utter confusion. Unlike dialogue-heavy cartoons, pantomime animation demands th...
Read more

ONE SCREEN FOR MANY AND MANY FOR ONE SCREEN: REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSIVITY IN ANIMAITON

Image
Animation is a powerful medium, often used to spark imaginations, tell universal stories, and even shape our culture. In a lot of ways, it has shaped characters we can identify with, stories that resemble our stages of life, and given us the reminder of what the world looks like at various times. With some popular animation properties reaching every corner of the world, and with others, trying to crack through the crevices of the industry, it can seem as though the language of animation is only seen through one lens.  However, with more progressive shifts in society and culture, over the years since animation grew in popularity as a media form for entertainment and much more, there has been need for more voice to be included. In recent years, there’s been a growing shift in how animation studios approach audience inclusivity .  Not just in terms of cultural representation but also in sensory and physical accessibility . For children and families with special needs, animation ...
Read more

EVOLUTION OF ADULT ANIMATION FROM THE 80/90s TO PRESENT TIMES: ADULTS AND CARTOONS TOGETHER, FORVER?

Image
From Rebellion to Mainstream Adult animation has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the late 80s and early 90s.  What started as a niche subgenre for rebellious and disillusioned youth has transformed into one of the most influential and diverse forms of television today. Shows like The Simpsons and Beavis and Butt-Head set the stage for the explosion of adult-oriented animation that we see in today’s TV landscape, with hits like Rick and Morty , BoJack Horseman , and Big Mouth pushing the boundaries of what animated series can explore. But what drove this evolution? How did adult animation go from being a niche subculture to a mainstream genre? And what are the forces shaping its future? Let's trace the evolution of adult animation, examining the cultural, technological, and fandom-driven factors that have helped it grow into the powerhouse genre it is today. The 90s: Adult Animation Comes of Age The 90s were a pivotal decade for adult animation.  Sho...
Read more