History Main / AnimationEvolution

* The first season of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' started off somewhat simply. Magic was a uniform color (pink), there was very little dynamic flow to things like hair, and the emphasis was placed more on the stories than the visuals (which isn't to say that the visuals were bad). With each successive season, certain things were improved. In season 2, magic became more vibrant and differently colored, in season 3 more dynamic camera movements were used and flow was given to things such as Twilight's mane on a windy day, in season 4 there was a full-blown no-holds-barred fight between Tirek and Twilight, Season 5 overhauled the backgrounds, and so on. By the time of Season 9, the Flash animation engine was being pushed to its limits, and the desire to move to a newer and more powerful engine was a driving factor in the show being ended so that a new generation could begin.

** For the ''Classic'' era games, ''VideoGame/Sonic1'' was visually impressive for its time, but ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Sonic 2]]'' managed to get smoother animation, more animated and vibrant backgrounds, and using 3D effects with 2D animation (which again, for its time, was remarkable). Likewise, ''VideoGame/SonicCD'', which was made around the same time ''Sonic 2'' was in development, has some vibrant and uniquely colored backgrounds and smoother animation as well. Most notable is the special stages, which also takes the "3D effect with 2D sprites" method of ''Sonic 2'' and makes it look astonishing. ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog3'' is well-known and remembered as the ''most beautiful Genesis Sonic game of the quadrilogy.'' With a much smoother ArtEvolution to a new style for the returning characters and enemies, buttery smooth animation, and extremely detailed boss designs and backgrounds unlike anything from the prior games before it.

* The quality of the animation in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' steadily improved as the series went on. The pilot movie is known for being unfinished, and its animation quality, and most of the animation through seasons and two, shows that, with stiff movements, NoFlowInCGI strictly enforced and lightsaber duels largely being static affairs with simple fight coordination. Over the course of its seven seasons, hair and cloth was allowed to move, characters' movements became more expressive and the fight scenes became more elaborate, with a duel between Ahsoka and Maul in season 7 utilizing motion capture to make the characters' movements more authentic.

** ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', while revolutionary in itself, had an animation style reminiscent of the ''WesternAnimation/SillySymphonies'' shorts. The following movies, especially ''WesternAnimation/Pinocchio'', ''WesternAnimation/Bambi'' and ''WesternAnimation/Cinderella'' would see their style evolve into the typical Disney feature animation style that would be used for the rest of the century, with tighter and more realistic movement, stylized character designs and more realistic effects animation.
** In the 80's, Disney would start inserting CGI in their films, particularly ''WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective''. After experimenting with it for a while, it would be perfected to the point of inserting completely CGI backgrounds and even characters into their movies, with the ballroom scene in ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' and the Cave of Wonders in ''WesternAnimation/Aladdin'' being standout examples that would define the medium from then on.
** Their pre-''WesternAnimation/Tangled'' CGI movies look rather stiff compared to what came after, with ''Tangled'' introducing the signature smooth, 2D-inspired 3D animation style that Disney has used in all of their CGI movies since.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePatrickStarShow'': With "The Patterfly Effect" in season 1, the show got a noticeable boost in animation. Characters' expressions are pushed farther with plenty of off-model poses, and it generally looks a lot less stiff.