Animation has taken some big strives since it first emerged in the 1900s, both in animation and storytelling, but with all this change it can leave a desire for the old. While 2D animation isn’t extinct, as it’s still a main medium for cartoons, on the big screen the numbers of 2D films is dying out. The recognition 2D films could get from major award shows can be small to nonexistent when compared to 3D. Not only that, but 2D films are getting harder to find in cinemas.

It may have to do with Disney and DreamWorks, the two biggest studios for animation, who have stopped production of 2D films. While both companies have done 2D movies interestingly DreamWorks first featured film was 3D and later movies were a mixture of 2D and 3D. Where as Disney was the pioneer of 2D films with its success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs when it premiered in 1937. It’s a bit saddening, but not surprising.

Money plays a big part in any type of business so when Toy Story, Pixar’s first full feature film in 3D, made major bucks it changed views on 3D animation. EDN Network reported the film made $362 million worldwide and was the top earning film of 1995, and since then the company has made more big hits among audiences.

Where 2D films usually don’t do great at the box office, Big Hero 6 managed to gross $657.8 million becoming Disney’s third highest grossing film as reported by Deadline. While Song of the Sea, a 2D Irish film, didn’t do so well in the box office. The film have limited amount of distribution yet was well received for both its story and animation.

Though it may seem 2D animated movies are becoming uncommon, it’s just become more of a challenge to find them. These movies often fly under the radar of mainstream media and since they are not created by western animation studios, it’s harder to find them and they often don’t get recognition they deserve. As Cartoon Brew reported in their breaking news for how voters voted for the 2015 Oscars, one voter referred to Song of the Sea and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, a Japanese film, as “Chinese fuckin’ things,”. The amount of respect these films get is just despicable and at a level like the Oscars it’s ridiculous.

By all accounts it seem 2D can’t win and yet it’s still a big medium in animation. Most cartoons still use it and Gravity Falls and Adventure Time are just two of the most well received and reviewed shows in the last year. While 2D may be dying out in big screen films it isn’t going away soon ad who knows there may be a revival in the future. But until then support the 2D film industry by going out and watching these creations and enjoying them.