November 2026 · 9 min read · By the Moov Studio team
If someone from the Middle Ages saw today's animation, they'd probably call it sorcery. Animation has come a long way, but the fundamentals that make movement feel alive haven't changed in almost a century.
Our animators use these principles every day on client projects. Whether you're just starting out or want to sharpen your skills, here are 15 tips that make the biggest difference.
Animation Terms to Know First
- Frame rate (FPS): how many frames play per second. 24 is common for character work, and 12 ("on twos") is common in 2D.
- Keyframe: a point where you define an important pose or value, such as position, rotation or scale.
- In-betweens: the frames between keyframes that create smooth motion.
- Easing: gradual acceleration and deceleration, so motion doesn't start or stop abruptly.
- Timeline: where you arrange keyframes and see your animation over time.
- Rigging: setting up a character with movable parts or a digital skeleton.
- Rotoscoping: tracing over live-action footage frame by frame.
- Compositing: combining all layers and effects into the final shot.
- Rendering: exporting your animation into the final video.
- Alpha channel: transparency, so your animation can sit on top of other footage.
Popular Animation Software
- Adobe After Effects: motion graphics and rigged 2D character animation
- Toon Boom Harmony: professional 2D character animation, used widely in TV
- Adobe Animate: vector-based 2D animation
- TVPaint: hand-drawn, frame-by-frame animation
- Blender: free 3D software that also does 2D with Grease Pencil
- Autodesk Maya: industry-standard 3D character animation
(Not sure whether to start with 2D or 3D? Read our 2D vs 3D animation guide.)
15 Tips for Animating
1. Study real-life movement
Film yourself, watch people walk, and study how objects fall and bounce. Real reference is the fastest way to make animation believable. Even exaggerated cartoon motion starts from real physics.
2. Master the bouncing ball
It sounds basic, but the bouncing ball teaches timing, spacing, weight, and squash and stretch all at once. Professionals still use it to warm up.
3. Learn from traditional animation
The classic "12 principles of animation," developed by Disney animators, are still the foundation of good motion today. Study them, then watch classic hand-drawn films with those principles in mind.
4. Keep drawing
Even if you animate digitally with rigs, drawing skills improve your poses, silhouettes and expressions. Sketch from life regularly.
5. Use squash and stretch
Objects and characters compress on impact and stretch in fast motion, which gives them weight and flexibility. Keep the volume consistent so it doesn't look rubbery.
6. Add anticipation
Before a big action comes a small opposite one. A character crouches before jumping and winds up before throwing. Anticipation tells the viewer something is about to happen.
7. Ease in and ease out
Real objects accelerate and decelerate. Easing turns robotic, linear motion into something natural. In After Effects, the graph editor is your best friend.
8. Choose straight-ahead or pose-to-pose
Straight-ahead animation (frame by frame, in order) feels loose and spontaneous, which is great for fire, water and chaos. Pose-to-pose (key poses first, then in-betweens) gives you control, which is better for acting and precise timing. Most animators mix both.
9. Exaggerate (with purpose)
Push poses and expressions further than feels comfortable. Exaggeration makes emotion read clearly, especially on small phone screens.
10. Add secondary action
Hair bounces and arms swing while a character walks. Secondary action adds life, but keep it subtle so it never steals focus from the main action.
11. Get the timing and rhythm right
Timing creates mood. Fast timing feels energetic or comedic, and slow timing feels heavy or emotional. A well-placed pause can be more powerful than any movement.
12. Guide the eye
In every scene, decide what the viewer should look at, and make that the clearest thing on screen. Motion, contrast and composition all direct attention.
13. Experiment with expressions
Small changes in eyebrows, eyes and mouth shape can communicate a whole range of feelings. Practice in front of a mirror. It works.
14. Try frame-by-frame animation
Even if you mostly use rigs, frame-by-frame work builds your sense of motion and gives you full control over every detail. It's also a great way to add hand-made charm to digital projects.
15. Seek constructive feedback
Share work-in-progress early and often. Fresh eyes spot stiff motion and unclear poses you've stopped seeing. Online communities and peer reviews are invaluable.
Common Animation Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring timing: everything moves at the same speed, so nothing feels alive.
- Overcomplicating: too much movement at once confuses the viewer.
- Stiff, linear motion: forgetting to ease in and out.
- Inconsistent characters: proportions and colors that drift between scenes.
- Skipping the plan: animating without a storyboard almost always means redoing work.
Finding Your Own Animation Style
Style comes from practice, not copying. Study animators you admire, then notice what you naturally gravitate to: maybe snappy timing, soft shapes, bold color, or subtle acting. Lean into it and stay consistent across projects. Over time, that becomes your signature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important animation tips for beginners? Study real movement, master the bouncing ball, learn the 12 principles of animation, and focus on timing, spacing and easing before anything fancy.
What are the 12 principles of animation? Squash and stretch, anticipation, staging, straight-ahead and pose-to-pose, follow-through and overlapping action, slow in and slow out, arcs, secondary action, timing, exaggeration, solid drawing, and appeal.
What software should a beginner animator use? Blender is free and powerful for 3D (and 2D with Grease Pencil). Adobe Animate and After Effects are popular for 2D and motion graphics. Toon Boom Harmony is the professional standard for 2D character work.
How long does it take to get good at animation? Basics can come within months of regular practice, but mastering timing, acting and style takes years. Consistent daily practice matters more than talent.
Or… Let Our Animators Do It for You
Learning animation is incredibly rewarding, but if what you need is a great video for your business, our team has been animating for brands since 2018. We handle the script, storyboard, illustration, animation and sound.
See our pricing or browse our work.
Have a project in mind? Tell us about it and we'll get back to you with a quote.