The labels 2D and 3D can help describe animation, but they do not explain everything about the final image. A finished frame combines decisions about shape, colour, movement, staging and light. Before choosing a favourite method, it helps to separate how an image looks from how its production was organised.
The boundaries can overlap
Blender’s documentation describes Grease Pencil as a tool for drawing strokes in three-dimensional space, with uses including traditional 2D animation, cutout work and storyboarding. This is an example of how categories can overlap in a tool; it is not evidence that a particular Chinese production used Blender.
Ask for the technical record
Festival archives make the distinction concrete. Annecy lists Monkey King: Hero Is Back with 2D/3D computer techniques, while its entry for Feeling from Mountain and Water identifies water-ink drawing on paper. Those records tell you more about the credited process than guessing from a trailer alone.
Evaluate a scene on its own terms
Try asking whether the action is clear, whether a pose expresses intention, and whether the camera gives you enough information about the space. The answers can be interesting in any technique. A quieter passage may depend on a held image; a complicated action passage may need a different rhythm.
Make comparisons useful
In a community discussion, name the scene and the visible choice you are responding to. If the production method has not been verified, say that the image appears painterly or dimensional rather than claiming a specific pipeline. That habit lets you appreciate the craft while leaving room for the credits and the creators’ own accounts to add more information.
Sources & further reading
Blender Manual — Grease Pencil introduction ↗
Annecy Festival — Monkey King: Hero Is Back ↗
Annecy Festival — Feeling from Mountain and Water ↗
Original Atlas knowledge feature. Historical dates refer to the works or events described. References checked on 11 October 2026; viewing prompts are Atlas editorial suggestions.