The Evolution of Cartoon Animator: A Conversation with Garry Pye

April 3, 2025

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Garry Pye

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.

“It’s amazing to think about how far Cartoon Animator software has come—what was once a simple tool has now become a powerhouse in the animation world, making 2D animation faster, fun, and accessible to everyone.”

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

You’ve been working with Cartoon Animator for over a decade—how has the software evolved since you first started using it?

It’s amazing to think about how far the software has come—what was once a simple tool has now become a powerhouse in the animation world, making 2D animation faster, fun, and accessible to everyone.

When I first started using Cartoon Animator over a decade ago, it was a relatively new tool. Initially, it was focused on 2D puppet animation, and the interface was fairly simple, which I actually found refreshing as it made the animation process faster. But over the years, the software has undergone some incredible transformations, adding more and more tools and features, while still providing the ability for animators to work fast.

The introduction of motion capture and facial animation tools, for instance, completely revolutionized the way animators can work with characters. Plus, with each update, the tools have become more powerful, allowing advanced animators to create more complex animation, while also making the interface easier, meaning new animators can be completing projects straight away.

As a teacher, I’ve also seen how the addition of more robust tutorials, a growing community, and the improved compatibility with other software has helped both amateurs and professionals push their creative boundaries.

What advice would you give someone just starting out with Cartoon Animator as an animator or developer?

For anyone just starting out with Cartoon Animator, my biggest piece of advice is to take it step by step. A lot of beginners expect to create the next Disney blockbuster in their first week, but like any skill, animation takes time to master.

For animators, the key is to learn the basics first. Focus on understanding the fundamentals—how keyframes work, how to navigate the timeline, and how the X, Y, and Z axes affect movement. Once you have a solid grasp of these, you can start exploring all the different tools Cartoon Animator offers.

A great approach is to pick one tool at a time and master it before moving on. Instead of trying to learn everything at once, perfect one aspect, whether it’s motion paths, character rigging, or lip-syncing. This way, you build confidence and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Also, start small. Don’t worry about complex scenes or long sequences right away. A simple animation—like making a character walk across the screen, stop, and wave—will teach you the core principles. Once you have the basics down, you can start layering in more advanced techniques.

Most importantly, just start. You’ll never improve if you don’t take that first step. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Every great animator started somewhere. The sooner you begin experimenting, the faster you’ll learn.

For developers, if you have artistic skills and can draw, the 2D Marketplace is an absolute goldmine. It’s a place where your artwork can generate passive income. You create content once, upload it, and let it make money for you while you sleep. It’s free to upload, you control your pricing and marketing, and best of all, you get to make a living doing what you love.

The key to success as a content creator is to identify opportunities. Look at what’s trending in the marketplace, find the gaps in available content, and create assets that fill those needs. Cater to what animators are looking for, and you’ll build a strong, profitable presence. There’s no better way for an artist to turn their skills into real income.

Do you think AI will play a significant role in 2D animation? And have you found a use for it in your own workflow?

AI is already making an impact on 2D animation, but rather than replacing animators, I see it as a tool that enhances what we do. Animation will always need creativity, storytelling, and artistic vision which humans can provide.

Where AI shines is in speeding up the more tedious parts of animation. Tasks like automating in-between frames, or helping with lip-sync can save animators a huge amount of time and means artists can focus more on storytelling and character performance rather than spending hours on repetitive tasks.

That being said, I don’t believe AI will fully replace the human touch in animation. Humans inject personality into a character, and understand comedic timing in the way only a person can. Animation is an art form, and art will always need artists.

AI isn’t something to fear—it’s another tool in your toolbox, just like motion capture or physics simulations. If it helps make animation faster and more accessible, then that’s a win for everyone.

Currently I use AI as a support tool in my workflow rather than something that takes over the creative process. One of the main ways I use AI is with animation backgrounds where it helps me quickly create base images that I can refine and customise, saving me time while still keeping my artistic style intact.

I’ve also experimented with AI for idea generation. Whether it’s brainstorming character designs, testing different color palettes, or even coming up with new story concepts, AI can be a great way to spark creativity when I hit a block.

If you could animate any project with no time constraints, what would you create?

If I had no time constraints, I’d love to take one of my character series and develop a full animated comedy series. I’ve created quite a few characters over the years, but if I had to choose, Alien Squad or Toons Folk would be at the top of my list. Both have so much personality, endless stories to tell, and the potential for some very funny moments.

The best part is that, thanks to Cartoon Animator, this dream is actually possible. Unlike the old days, where producing an animated series required a massive team and a Hollywood budget, today an individual can create an entire show from start to finish, all on their own. The tools, the software, and the creative freedom are all there. The only thing I need more of is time!

It’s exciting to know that independent animators can now bring their ideas to life in ways that were once impossible. I’d like to think that one day, when I find that time, I could develop my ideas and do this.