Animation Troubleshooting Guide
Something's off. Use this to find and fix it.
Symptom-Based Diagnosis
"It feels floaty/weightless"
Check:
- Slow in/out - Is spacing too even? Add bunching at start/end
- Timing - Need more frames for weight? Fewer for snap?
- Squash/stretch - Impact reaction visible?
- Follow through - Settling properly or just stopping?
Fix: Add 2-4 frames to settle. Increase spacing variation. Add impact squash.
"It feels stiff/robotic"
Check:
- Arcs - Are paths too straight?
- Overlap - Is everything moving at once?
- Secondary action - Is it present?
- Anticipation - Too uniform?
Fix: Offset timing between body parts. Curve your motion paths. Vary anticipation amounts.
"I can't tell what's happening"
Check:
- Staging - Silhouette clear?
- Anticipation - Is viewer prepared for action?
- Timing - Too fast to read?
- Exaggeration - Key poses pushed enough?
Fix: Simplify composition. Add anticipation frames. Extend key poses. Push silhouette.
"It feels dead/lifeless"
Check:
- Secondary action - Present and supporting?
- Overlap - Different parts moving differently?
- Timing - Varied or monotonous?
- Appeal - Character design working?
Fix: Layer in secondary actions. Offset everything by 1-3 frames. Vary timing between actions.
"It feels cartoony when it should be subtle" (or vice versa)
Check:
- Exaggeration - Calibrated to style?
- Squash/stretch - Amount appropriate?
- Timing - Snappy vs. naturalistic?
- Anticipation - Size matches style?
Fix: Dial exaggeration to match reference. Adjust squash/stretch ratios. Match timing to style guide.
"Something feels wrong but I can't identify it"
Check:
- Arcs - Track every moving part. Find the broken curve.
- Volume - Is squash/stretch preserving mass?
- Twins - Are poses too symmetrical?
- Spacing - Graph your drawings. Find the anomaly.
Fix: Often it's one broken arc or inconsistent spacing. Track paths obsessively.
Principle Conflict Symptoms
Anticipation vs. Surprise: Big anticipation kills surprise. Choose intentionally.
Exaggeration vs. Subtlety: Can't have both. What does the scene need?
Follow through vs. Snappiness: Heavy follow through softens snappy timing. Balance.
Secondary vs. Primary: If secondary distracts, remove it regardless of quality.
Last Resort Fixes
- Return to blocking. Is the idea clear at the key pose level?
- Remove all overlap/secondary. Does primary action work alone?
- Reference check. Compare to reality or quality examples.
- Fresh eyes. Walk away. Return tomorrow.
If multiple principles are failing, fix timing and arcs first. Everything else depends on them.