This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 3D animation research within digital culture from 2000 to 2024. The findings show steady growth in scientific production up to 2021, driven by rapid technological advances and their application in various fields such as education, medicine, and entertainment. China, the United States, and Canada stand out as the main contributors, although China’s lower level of international collaboration points to opportunities for strengthening global research networks. The keyword analysis reveals a marked increase in topics related to virtual reality, augmented reality, and e-learning, reflecting the adoption of immersive technologies in both educational and professional contexts. Likewise, emerging areas centered on artificial intelligence and machine learning broaden the spectrum of applications and improve efficiency in 3D animation production. Limitations include the reliance on a single database and the exclusion of non-English documents, which could underestimate significant contributions in other languages.