2D Animation In Unity

2D animation brings your sprites to life by switching between multiple images quickly. Instead of drawing every movement manually, you create a sequence of frames that play in a loop. Before animating, you need sprite images. You can get them from:

• Asset Store: Window - Asset Store - Search "2D character sprite".
• Sprite sheet: Download a PNG file with multiple frames.

Importing and Slicing a Sprite Sheet

A sprite sheet contains all animation frames in one image. You need to slice it into individual sprites.

• Drag the sprite sheet image into the Project window
• Click the image - In Inspector - Texture Type - "Sprite (2D and UI)" and Sprite Mode - "Multiple".
• Click the "Sprite Editor" button
• In the Sprite Editor window, click "Slice" - Type - "Automatic" - Click "Slice".
• Click "Apply" (top right).

Output: Your single image splits into multiple sprites. You will see "Idle_01, Idle_02, Walk_01, Walk_02" etc. in the Project window.

Creating Idle Animation

Idle animation plays when the character is standing still.

• Select all idle sprites (Idle_01, Idle_02, etc.).
• Drag them into the Scene view.
• Name the animation "Idle" when prompted.
• Press Play – character animates in place.

Creating Walk Animation

• Open Animation window (Window - Animation).
• Click dropdown - "Create New Clip" - Name it "Walk".
• Select all walk sprites - Drag into timeline.

Switching Between Animations

• Open Animator window (Window - Animator).
• Parameters tab - "+" - Float - Name "Speed".
• Right-click Idle - Make Transition - Click Walk.
• Click transition arrow - Inspector - Uncheck "Has Exit Time" and Condition: Speed > 0.1.
• Walk - Idle transition with condition: Speed < 0.1

Script to Control Animation

using UnityEngine;
public class PlayerAnim : MonoBehaviour
{
    private Animator anim;
    void Start()
    {
        anim = GetComponent<Animator>();
    }
    void Update()
    {
        float speed = Mathf.Abs(Input.GetAxis("Horizontal"));
        anim.SetFloat("Speed", speed);
    }
}

Attach script to character. Press Play and use arrow keys.