How to Make Animation Believable

Part of the appeal of animation is the opportunity it offers to create worlds and characters that are different from real life. For instance, the Transformers, or the walking, talking household items in Beauty and the Beast break away from the restrictions of reality. At the same time, however, truly effective 2D animation has to relate in some way to the real world so viewers can find it believable. Animation that has that element of realism in it tends to possess a few specific elements. Following are a few of the steps the animator can take to achieve this sense of realism and believability.

Observe real life actions.

One of the fundamental practices in which the animator must engage is observation of the world around them. This is a habit that nearly all effective artists develop, because it is only in understanding how the real world works that they can accurately create the worlds and characters that inhabit their art. When observing the world, the animator must pay attention to certain details that will inform their subsequent work. One of the primary of these is movement. For instance, when observing a bird flitting from tree to tree, the animator needs to notice how the bird prepares its body to fly, spreads out its wings, prepares to land, affects the movement of the branch on which it lands, etc. All of these observations will then help the animator to depict a flying character in an animated production. The firmer the animator's grasp is of how the world around them works, the more equipped they will be to translate those basic principles to their own animated worlds and characters, lending them believability  and appeal.

Imitate real-life movement.

Once the animator has carefully observed the movements and actions in the world around them, they need to recreate that type of movement in their animated production. This is the case even when the animator is developing a fictional world, because it is the accuracy and realism of the movements that will make the otherwise fanciful world believable for the viewer. For instance, carpets do not really fly in the real world, but when animators created Aladdin's flying carpet, they had to add details such as dangling tassles and flowing movements in order to make the carpet's flight seem believable.

Often, capturing this type of real-life movement requires the animator to focus on the details of the characters' actions. For instance, a jump is never just a jump. It includes details such as the crouch of the legs, the push off, the position of the body as it flies and lands, that contribute to creating a realistic movement. It is here that the animator's close observations come in handy: They know how these details work and can, therefore, translate those details into the movements of the characters in their animated production. The result is realistic action that encourages the viewer to embrace the animated world.

Utilize squash and stretch techniques.

Undergirding the best animation are 12 rules of animation. These rules help animators to pinpoint the techniques that make for the most engaging, creative, and effective animation. The first of these rules is squash and stretch. It refers to the fact that almost every movement utilizes movement in response to forces exerted upon it, and that this movement also includes some form of squashing and stretching (i.e. the type of movement a ball makes when it is bounces up and down on the floor).

Incorporating squash and stretch into the creation of an animated production is a vital element in creating a believable and realistic finished product. When an animator takes the time to think about how a character or an object in the project reacts to forces exerted upon it, they are better able to communicate that type of movement into their animation. For instance, if an animator is creating a bouncing ball, taking the squash and stretch of that ball into consideration, and recreating it on the screen, results in a more believable bounce than a stiff up and down motion.

Don't be afraid of a little exaggeration.

Exaggeration is an integral part of effective animation, so much so that it is one of the 12 rules of animation. No matter what kind of animated production is being created, extreme facial expressions, movements, and actions and more add life and vitality to drawings that would otherwise appear stiff and bland. The 2D animation studio can sometimes use exaggeration to create a cartoon or cartoon-like look that intentionally deviates from reality. However, exaggeration can also be used to convey believability. It does so primarily by making up for elements that cannot effectively be conveyed by animation. For instance, an animated production may not be able to create the body language of someone who is surprised with a high degree of effectiveness, but an exaggerated surprised face can make up for the lack of body language and make the viewer believe that the character really is surprised. As a result, the animator should embrace exaggeration as an important element in creating a believable and appealing finished product for the viewer.

Create realistic timing.

Finally, when creating believability in animation, the 2D animation studio must give careful thought to the timing of movements. As mentioned earlier, the animator must make careful observations of the world around them, and then translate their observations into the actions and movements of the animated production on which they are working. By noticing the details that accompany movements and actions in real life, and copying them into their design, they add realism and believability to their work.

Similarly, all actions and movements in real life follow certain patterns of timing. For instance, the rate at which someone speeds up or slows down while running can be the difference between a realistic portrayal of a runner and an awkward or unconvincing portrayal. As a result, the animator must pay attention to how quickly or slowly certain actions occur. By imitating this timing in the animated production, they produce movements that mirror what viewers expect to see, adding believability and appeal to their work.

Believable animation does not mean sticking strictly to a realistic portrayal of characters and scenes. In fact, truly successful animation must go beyond simply replicating the real world. However, it does require the animator to use elements from real life within their animation. For instance, by observing real life actions, portraying those actions in the animated production, utilizing squash and stretch techniques, being confident enough to use exaggeration, and creating realistic timing, the animator can create a believable and appealing work of art.