History Main / ThinLineAnimation

This style may have emerged for a number of different reasons. The emergence of {{anime}} and their influences on Western cartoonists have made them focused less on detail. Different coloring techniques with digital art may have removed the need for thicker lines, and thus it only remains when it's a stylistic choice. The need for quicker, cheaper animation after the economic downturn may also have driven the desire for more cheap, yet still pleasing animation styles. It also may have been due to the widespread adoption of UsefulNotes/HighDefinition (HD) televisions -- before HD, [[{{Strobing}} small features such as thin lines in an image tended to flicker and/or disappear depending on their angle and motion]]; HD allowed the freedom for this new, previously unattainable style. Finally, many Western cartoonists are striving to achieve a modern art style that is distinctly American without being [[{{Disneyesque}} just another Disney clone]] or [[{{Animesque}} overly influenced by foreign elements such as the aformentioned anime]].

Thin-line animation is actually OlderThanTelevision, since many cartoon shorts during UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfAnimation (particularly those made by Creator/{{Disney}} and Creator/MaxAndDaveFleischer) featured [[InkblotCartoonStyle rounded ball-and-noodle art-styles and thin outlines]]. However, [[EnforcedTrope it was often done out of necessity since the simplistic designs made things easier on the animators at the time]].

* ''VideoGame/BrawlStars ''

* ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'' and its sister show ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'' both have distinctly more complex and angular character designs compared to most examples of this trope, but nevertheless utilize thin outlines.

* ''Website/GoAnimate'': The most well-known theme, Comedy World, fits this style (looking like a Creator/SethMacFarlane cartoon).

* ''WesternAnimation/BabySharksBigShow''

This style may have emerged for a number of different reasons. The emergence of {{anime}} and their influences on Western cartoonists have made them focused less on detail. Different coloring techniques with digital art may have removed the need for thicker lines, and thus it only remains when it's a stylistic choice. The need for quicker, cheaper animation after the economic downturn may also have driven the desire for more cheap, yet still pleasing animation styles. It also may have been due to the widespread adoption of UsefulNotes/HighDefinition (HD) televisions -- before HD, [[{{Strobing}} small features such as thin lines in an image tended to flicker and/or disappear depending on their angle and motion]]; HD allowed the freedom for this new, previously unattainable style.

* ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'' and ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss''

This style may have emerged for a number of different reasons. The emergence of {{anime}} and their influences on western cartoonists have made them focused less on detail. Different coloring techniques with digital art may have removed the need for thicker lines, and thus it only remains when it's a stylistic choice. The need for quicker, cheaper animation after the economic downturn may also drive the desire for more cheap, yet still pleasing animation styles. It also may be due to the widespread adoption of UsefulNotes/HighDefinition (HD) televisions - before HD, [[{{Strobing}} small features such as thin lines in an image tended to flicker and/or disappear depending on their angle and motion]]; HD allowed the freedom for this new, previously unattainable style.

It is also known as the "[=CalArts=] Style", a pejorative term originally coined by ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' creator Creator/JohnKricfalusi in a post on his blog ''Blog/JohnKStuff'' alleging that certain animated films and many animators in TheNineties who graduated from the California Institute of the Arts [[{{Disneyesque}} heavily copied Disney's animation and art style]], [[note]]coincidentally, [=CalArts=] was indeed founded by Creator/WaltDisney himself[[/note]] which has since morphed into any animated work from the 21st century that uses this style that one considers "samey-looking", despite similar art styles [[OlderThanTheyThink being the norm since the infancy of the medium itself]]. Though the term tends to be used more specifically for works that not only have thin lines and round shapes, but also bean-shaped heads, bean-shaped mouths and dome-shaped teeth, so works that have the former but not the latter don’t tend to get labeled as such. As such, please do not include examples of shows that simply have [[Administrivia/PeopleSitOnChairs thin outlines]] - they also need rounded/noodle-like styles to qualify.

Thin-line animation is a stylistic trend that has emerged in TheNewTens based more around thinner lines, rounder shapes and [[RubberHoseLimbs noodle-like appendages]]. All while still being distinctively {{western|Animation}}. This style may have emerged for a number of different reasons. The emergence of {{anime}} and their influences on western cartoonists have made them focused less on detail. Different coloring techniques with digital art may have removed the need for thicker lines, and thus it only remains when it's a stylistic choice. The need for quicker, cheaper animation after the economic downturn may also drive the desire for more cheap, yet still pleasing animation styles. It also may be due to the widespread adoption of UsefulNotes/HighDefinition (HD) televisions - before HD, [[{{Strobing}} small features such as thin lines in an image tended to flicker and/or disappear depending on their angle and motion]]; HD allowed the freedom for this new, previously unattainable style.

* ''WesternAnimation/BigBigBlue'': While the outlines are quite thick, the artstyle is still very rounded and simplistic.

It is also known as the "[=CalArts=] Style", a pejorative term originally coined by ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' creator Creator/JohnKricfalusi in a post on his blog ''Blog/JohnKStuff'' alleging that certain animated films and many animators in TheNineties who graduated from the California Insitute of the Arts [[{{Disneyesque}} heavily copied Disney's animation and art style]], [[note]]coincidentally, [=CalArts=] was indeed founded by Creator/WaltDisney himself[[/note]] which has since morphed into any animated work from the 21st century that uses this style that one considers "samey-looking", despite similar art styles [[OlderThanTheyThink being the norm since the infancy of the medium itself]]. Though the term tends to be used more specifically for works that not only have thin lines and round shapes, but also bean-shaped heads, bean-shaped mouths and dome-shaped teeth, so works that have the former but not the latter don’t tend to get labeled as such. As such, please do not include examples of shows that simply have [[Administrivia/PeopleSitOnChairs thin outlines]] - they also need rounded/noodle-like styles to qualify.