Animation Trends You’ll Be Seeing Everywhere in 2026

Before we dive into these 2026 animation trends, let’s ponder the question: ‘What is animation and how has it evolved?’

Animation is the process of piecing together static image frames until they create a seamless blend to give the illusion of movement.

Evolving from simple, 2D hand-drawn images to immersive, digital narrative-driven experiences, animation has come a long way and has developed thousands of styles, methods, and uses.

At STORM+SHELTER, we love animation, and our ethos for all our services is to live by our mantra ‘never settle for that’ll do’. That’s why we’re always looking to the future, so we can help you stay ahead of the curve and produce content that converts and leaves an impression.

Now, let’s take a closer look at what we think will be happening with animation in 2026.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionised the creative world by storm.

Although there were initial fears that this new tool would steal jobs, a mutual understanding that AI makes people more efficient and creates time for creativity has been adopted.

In fact, 70.5% of animators and video producers agreed that AI doesn’t threaten their job security. So, what does this mean for the future of animation in 2026?

We predict AI will be implemented by most companies in some capacity, whether that’s in their workflows to become more efficient and therefore more productive, or to support with asset generation as part of a wider animation.

For example, AI could help with automated lip-syncing, generate frames, or be a smart assistant to animators and teams.

That being said, in a time where everything is being automated and generated, handcrafted designs that focus on the little details are sure to become a surging trend in animation.

As we’ve already mentioned, AI is a tool that can help animators focus on what matters: creating compelling, engaging content. However, some individuals entirely rely on AI, which isn’t an effective strategy, as 82.1% of people can spot AI-generated content.

Therefore, in a world that’s craving genuineness and credibility, we see animators utilising techniques such as 2D textures, hand-drawn loops, cel animation, and grain more often to instil the warmth of imperfection and create heartfelt stories.

The world is moving faster than ever, especially online. So, how do you grab customers’ attention when the average attention span is only 8.25 seconds? That’s where micro-animation comes in.

Micro-animations can be done in two ways:

• UX/UI: This is when small but impactful animations are implemented across a website’s interface to engage visitors in a more dynamic and sophisticated manner. Examples include logos, buttons, navigation, or images.

• Social Media: Animations on social media don’t need to be beautiful yet time-consuming masterpieces; even simply putting content on a loop or utilising a small, subtle animation on your images is effective in grabbing people’s attention.

Whether online or in-person, interactive animations draw people in through movement, sound, and even accessibility, making them a popular animation trend.

From VR experiences and AR filters to 3D modelling, customers want brand experiences to be unique, engaging, and meaningful. That’s why immersive animations are going to become big in 2026; after all, the future is experiential, not just visual.

But what situations can interactive and immersive animation be used in? Well, it could be a pop-up interactive brand space to promote a product or an online 3D render of a product to help inform purchases.

These trends are all about user experience, both for customers and animators. They focus on effectively engaging the right audience at the right time so a brand’s story and messaging can be seen and heard in a competitive marketplace.

So, the future of animation is looking incredibly bright across marketing, film, and digital platforms, especially if brands and animators can stay adaptable.

With technologies and market demands constantly shifting, they need to learn to thrive in experimentation. Don't be afraid to try something new; it might be the creative breakthrough you’ve been searching for!

Are you ready to try out some of the up-and-coming animation trends for yourself? We help brands create innovative content that tells their story, whether it’s an animation, commercial, or social media advert.

To move with the trends, get in touch today to kickstart your next project.