I have researched the various types of animation production and studied a bit of the history of animation. With this information, I have concluded that the use of digital technology in 2D animation is producing amazing results and is improving quality throughout the industry.

With the Good, Comes the Bad

Poorly integrated computer generated imagery, as in the Captain Pugwash example earlier, makes people wish that animators would stick to traditional methods. However, well done and well integrated computer animation is nearly indistinguishable.

The Good News

Digital technology is making animation much easier, cheaper, and less time consuming to produce. This has made amazing new animation techniques possible and has allowed studios to release new animated features at incredible rates. It has also allowed armatures to produce quality work without having to have a studio size budget.

Computers are allowing for more artistic expression from more people then has ever been possible in animation, and this will push animation as a medium forward. The computer will never replace the animator, only empower him.