01Decide what kind of animation you need
"2D animator" covers several skills. Choosing the right one first saves time and money.
Frame-by-frame
- What it is
- Each frame drawn by hand, for expressive movement
- Often used for
- Short films, explainers and character scenes
Cut-out
- What it is
- Characters built from separate parts and moved
- Often used for
- Videos and ads that need many scenes at a reasonable pace
Spine skeletal animation
- What it is
- A rigged character animated with bones, exported to a game engine
- Often used for
- 2D games in Unity, Godot and other engines
Motion graphics
- What it is
- Animated shapes, text and logos
- Often used for
- Logo reveals, promos, social reels and explainers
02What to look for in a portfolio
- Work in the same style and format you need, not just impressive work in a different one
- Smooth, believable timing: weight, ease in and out, and anticipation before big moves
- Clean, consistent character drawing across frames
- For games: loops that repeat without a visible jump, and rigs that are clean and organised
- Finished pieces, not only rough tests
Ask which parts of a piece the person actually made. In a team project, the portfolio piece may show someone else's drawing and their animation, or the other way round.
03Give a short, fair test
A small paid test shows more than a portfolio. Keep it short and clear, and pay for it, so you are not asking for free work.
- Choose one simple action, such as a walk cycle, a hop or a short expression change
- Provide a character and a clear brief, so you judge the animation and not the guesswork
- Set the format and file type up front
- Look at timing, polish and how the person handles feedback
04Agree the practical details in writing
- Deliverables: video files, or Spine project files and runtime exports for your engine
- File formats and sizes, including layered source files if you want them
- Number of revision rounds, and what counts as a new request
- Who owns the final artwork and the source files
- How you will review work, for example with time-stamped comments on a draft
- Timeline and payment steps linked to milestones
05Freelancer, studio or dedicated artist?
Single freelancer
- Works well when
- A small, one-off piece
- Watch out for
- Availability and no backup if they are unwell or busy
Studio
- Works well when
- You need design, animation and delivery handled together
- Watch out for
- Agree who will actually do the work
Dedicated artist from a studio
- Works well when
- A steady flow of animation work every month
- Watch out for
- You need enough work to keep them busy
06How MOUNTSMY's Creative Studio works
Our Creative Studio in Ahmedabad designs characters and animates them: frame-by-frame, cut-out and Spine game animation, plus storyboards and motion graphics. Characters are drawn with clean layers from the start, so nothing has to be redrawn for rigging. You can hire by the hour, as a dedicated artist or for a fixed project, and you own the artwork.
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a 2D animator and a motion designer?
A 2D animator usually brings characters and drawn elements to life. A motion designer animates graphics, text and logos. Some people do both, so check the portfolio for the one you need.
What is Spine animation?
Spine is software for rigging a 2D character with bones and animating it. It is widely used in 2D games because the animation runs efficiently in engines such as Unity and Godot.
Should I test an animator before hiring?
A short, paid test task is a good idea. Keep it simple and clear, and judge timing, polish and how they take feedback.
What files should I ask for?
For video, the final export in the sizes you need. For games, the Spine project files and runtime exports. Ask for layered source files if you want to edit later.
Can I hire a 2D animator on a monthly basis?
Yes. With MOUNTSMY you can hire a dedicated artist for a monthly fee, by the hour, or for a fixed project.