With so many different animation art styles, methods and mediums to choose from it can be tough choosing what style you like or how to describe what you are looking for, so we put together this visual based animation style guide. This is to help you check out a variety of options and then learn more about the techniques, equipment or software used and find more works with a similar visual feel. Start by choosing the thumbnail below that most closely matches what you are looking for, then refine your options to get your results.

Source: Avatar.
Typical software: Maya. 3DS Max. Zbrush. Nuke.
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Source: Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV
Typical software: Maya. 3DS Max. Zbrush. Nuke.
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Source: Airsite.
Typical software: Maya. 3DS Max. After Effects. Photoshop.
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Source: BIC Kids Drawy Book App.
Typical software: Maya. 3DS Max. After Effects. Photoshop.
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Source: Williams F1 FW37 Concepts.
Typical software: Maya. 3DS Max. After Effects. Photoshop.
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Source: Mountain Helicopter.
Typical software: Maya. 3DS Max. After Effects. Element 3D.
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Source: The Jungle Book
Typical software: Maya. 3DS Max. Zbrush. Nuke.
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Source: Jurrasic World.
Typical software: Maya. 3DS Max. Zbrush. Nuke.
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Source: Wreck It Ralph
Typical software: Marionette. Maya. 3DS max. Renderman.
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Source: Madagascar
Typical software: Premo. Maya. 3DS max.
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Source: Meet Buck.
Typical software: Maya. 3DS max. After Effects. Nuke.
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Source: The Iron Giant
Typical equipment: Pencil, ink, paper. Toon Boom. Maya. After Effects.
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Source: Chicken Run
Typical equipment: Plasticene. Clay. (Metal Armature). DSLR.
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Source: Paranorman
Typical equipment: 3D printer. Metal armature. Foam. Latex. DSLR.
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Source: Messy Goes to Okido
Typical software: 3DS Max. Maya. After Effects. Nuke
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Source: The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
Typical software
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Source: Mr. Bean: The Animated Series
Typical software: Celaction. Toonboom. Flash. After Effects.
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Source: The Amazing World of Gumball
Typical Software: Flash. Maya. After Effects. (Video/ Photography).
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Source: The Jungle Book
Typical equipment: Pencil, ink, paper.
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Source: Studio Ghibli
Typical equipment: Pencil, ink & paper. OpenToonz
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Source: Best Rate Deals.
Typical software: Maya. After Effects. Celaction.
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Source: iHeed Educational Animation.
Typical software: After Effects. Photoshop.
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Source: Peppa Pig.
Typical software: Celaction.
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Source: BIC Kids Drawy Book App.
Typical software: Maya. After Effects.
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Source: Nikkei Marketeye Intro. (Compositing showreel)
Typical software: Maya. Photoshop. Illustrator. After Effects
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Source: Image Search.
Typical software
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Source: Image search.
Typical software: After Effects. Photoshop. Illustrator.
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Source: Music video test.
Typical equipment: Pencil & paper, After Effects.
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Source: Kommando Marketing.
Typical software: After Effects. Photoshop. Illustrator
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Source: Skype for business.
Typical software: After Effects. Photoshop. Illustrator
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Source: GetWrightOnIt Veeso VR headset
Typical software: Maya. Photoshop. Keyshot
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Source: GetWrightOnIt F1 Tech animations
Typical software: Maya. Photoshop. After Effects
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Of course we cannot cover every possibility in this quick art style picker, so if you don’t find exactly what you are looking for, make a note of the art style you like and get in touch with us today or request a quote for your next animation project. If you are wondering how much these different art styles cost, check out our previous post on the cost of 3D animation to learn more.