Hand-drawn animation has been the default format for Disney (and other film companies) throughout the 20th century. Then in the 90s, Toy Story was born – as the first full-length CG-animated feature.

When the 2000s came, though, 2D animation was beginning to decline. A good percentage of 2D-animated movies did poorly at both box offices and among audiences. For Disney, it was no different.

The 2004 feature, Home on the Range, was going to be Disney’s last 2D-animated film. But then they produced The Princess and the Frog with 2D animation a few years later. One of the reasons was because a certain performance from a character was too difficult to do with CG techniques.

And then in 2011, Disney released Winnie-the-Pooh, their official last 2D-animated full-length movie. For the next several years, there were no more 2D-animated films from Disney.

However, recently, there has been news about Disney returning to 2D animation. And it’s actually true.

One of the contributors was the 2023 short Once Upon a Studio. A bunch of Disney characters from different years gather for a group photo to honor the company’s 100th anniversary. And 2D animation was used.

I am actually glad that Disney is going to go back to 2D animation – specifically hand-drawn. As someone born in late 1993, I grew up with 2D animation as well as the beginning of CGI. But because I discovered 2D animation earlier, I admire that more.

Yes, hand-drawn animation is very time-consuming. It would take years for Disney, along with other companies, to produce the films with pencils and paper in the process. But it’s a nice reminder of how animation started.

I actually find it sad that kids today find hand-drawn animation primitive and unattractive. That is because they grew up with mainly CG animation.

Although CG Disney films like Frozen and Moana did really well, I watched movies like The Little Mermaid and Aladdin when I was little. And I admire the artistic styles of those movies.

Even though it’s going to be a while until a 2D-animated full-length feature gets released from Disney, I am looking forward to seeing one. Maybe children will learn to appreciate the beauty of hand-drawn animation. After all, that is what their parents, grandparents, and other older generations lived with.

What do you think of the idea of Disney using 2D animation again? Let me know in the comments if you wish.