From 2D to 3D: Why After 10 Years I Moved to 3D Animation

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May 29, 2025

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Garry Pye – 2D/3D Animator, Cartoonist, Content Developer

Garry Pye – 2D/3D Animator | Content Developer

Garry Pye is an Australian illustrator, animator, and Cartoon Animator instructor with over a decade of experience in the animation industry. Known for his unique blend of creativity and humor, Garry’s work spans from teaching animation techniques to creating innovative content that helps both novice and experienced animators improve their skills.

Garry’s enthusiasm for storytelling and animation shines through in all his projects, whether it’s creating animated shorts, preparing educational tutorials, or sharing his expertise by teaching. With a passion for making animation accessible and fun, Garry has built a community of learners who not only appreciate his knowledge but also his infectious sense of humor and dedication to his craft.

Animation Journey: From Drawing Cartoons to 3D Worlds

Entry 1 – Why I Left The Comfort Of 2D

With a lifetime of passion for drawing cartoons, after stumbling onto Cartoon Animator, I felt I finally found my place in the world. My name is Garry Pye and for more than the last 10 years I have been a 2D animator and content developer using Cartoon Animator.

What started out as me creating my own silly cartoons to entertain my friends, eventually grew into a full time business as a content developer and role as Community Manager for our animation community.

Now I feel it is time for me explore new territories, so I am opening the doors to the world of 3D animation, and this is my journey.

Let’s be clear.

I didn’t leave 2D animation because I stopped loving it. In fact, I’m not leaving 2D animation at all. I still adore it. It’s where I started, where I built a career creating quirky, oddball cartoon characters, and where I found a voice. Cartoon Animator is a powerful tool for 2D animation, and it’s amazing what you can do with a couple of silly shapes and an original idea.

But after over ten years of 2D animation, I became curious. What if I could view my characters from all angles? What if I could light them like in a movie, rotate them like action figures, or create environments that didn’t have to be completely redrawn every time I moved the camera?

That curiosity made me dip my toe into the third dimension. I spent all my free time watching YouTube videos and reading endless social media threads. Then I took the leap of faith and got myself iClone, Character Creator (CC), the CC Headshot plugin, and Blender. I was all in.

And let me tell you, nothing makes you miss 2D faster than trying to navigate your first Blender viewport with the camera upside down and your character’s leg stuck inside their head.

What gave me the confidence to keep going was how surprisingly familiar some things were.

Many of the tools and processes between Cartoon Animator and iClone overlapped. Keyframes, camera controls, body movements. These were all familiar territory. Even though there was a mountain to climb, I realised that coming from Cartoon Animator meant I had already laid a lot of the groundwork.

So I was hooked. Even though I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and I was intimidated by the scope of it all.

I found myself stepping into a space where I was suddenly a beginner again after years of perfecting my 2D skills.

But I could feel the possibilities expanding. Suddenly, I wasn’t just drawing scenes. I was building worlds.

Shifting into 3D has changed how I work day-to-day.

More late nights. More screen time. Juggling all this with existing projects takes commitment.

So I decided to write some articles about my journey from 2D to 3D to help and inspire others like me. Total newbies who see all the amazing things 3D animation can do and want in on the fun.

I don’t expect this journey to be smooth sailing. I’m realistic. There’s a lot to learn, and what I need to know is complicated.

In future articles, I’ll share what goes wrong and what (finally) works. I’m determined to give this everything I’ve got and see if I can make it to the finish line.

I’d love you to come along for the ride.

2D is still in my blood. It’s where I learned to move an audience, one frame at a time.

But 3D? That’s where I’m learning to breathe life into them.

This is the start of my story….