Make a fake 3d cylinder in after effects using shape layers. It's almost 3d, but is more suited for abstract depth than actual 3d geometry. This is how you can make a more illustrative or abstract 3d look.
If you have any questions just let me know in the comments.
Download this project file:
http://evanabrams.com/fake-3d-cylinder-adobe-after-effects-tutorial/
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