Cartooning:
* Focus: Creating individual static images, usually in a humorous or satirical style.
* Medium: Typically pen, pencil, or digital tools on paper or a screen.
* Process: A single artist creates a drawing that captures a moment in time, often expressing exaggerated features and movements.
* Examples: Comic strips, editorial cartoons, single-panel cartoons.
Animation:
* Focus: Creating the illusion of motion by displaying a series of individual drawings, images, or computer-generated models in rapid succession.
* Medium: Traditionally cel animation (painted cells), puppet animation, stop-motion animation, or computer-generated animation.
* Process: Involves a team of artists, animators, and technicians who create a sequence of drawings or digital models, each slightly different from the previous one, to depict movement.
* Examples: Movies like "Snow White," "The Lion King," "Toy Story," TV shows like "The Simpsons," "SpongeBob SquarePants," and video games.
Here's a table summarizing the key differences:
| Feature | Cartooning | Animation |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Single static images | Illusion of motion |
| Medium | Pen, pencil, digital tools | Cel animation, puppet animation, stop-motion animation, computer-generated animation |
| Process | Single artist | Team of artists, animators, and technicians |
| Examples | Comic strips, editorial cartoons, single-panel cartoons | Movies, TV shows, video games |
In essence:
* Cartooning is about capturing a single moment through a static image.
* Animation is about bringing a story to life through movement.
While they differ in their approach, cartooning and animation often complement each other. For example, many animated films begin with cartoon sketches to develop characters and storyboards.