6 Best Practices for Impactful Animation

Hi! I’m Giorgio Rodriguez, Lead Animator at Forge Studios. My career started in the entertainment industry over 20 years ago as a background and character artist for television series. It was then I discovered my true passion for animation.  

Fast forward to 12 years later, also the length of my time at Forge (so far), I’ve had the opportunity of contributing to a wide range of projects, such as League of Legends, Spyro, Crash Bandicoot and Angry Birds, to name a few. 

Over these years, I’ve learned many valuable lessons that have shaped my approach to animation. Now, I’m excited to share my top 6 “must-do’s” to help you on your journey – whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your work. 

Let’s dive in! 

Expanding your style range makes you more adaptable and versatile, opening more doors to have fun.  

Personally, I enjoy animating in all styles, but my absolute favourite is the crazy, over-the-top cartoon style of Tex Avery and Looney Tunes. There’s something special about breaking the rules – throwing physics out the window, pushing poses and shapes, and even exaggerating timing beyond reality. Basically just going wild!

Looney Tunes

Tex Avery

Although 3D animation is prevalent today, 2D animation remains my favourite. Its creative possibilities feel limitless, and the fact that it can be done with simple tools like a pencil and a post-it block is incredibly inspiring.  

Mock-up animations are one of the best ways to communicate ideas quickly with a team, client, or director. Even rough animations can effectively convey intended motion and timing, making it easier to gauge feedback and make changes.  
 


 Castelvania: Lord of Shadows

In addition, strong communication with other departments, such as design and programming, become increasingly crucial when delivering a high-quality product.  
   

Given how quickly the gaming and entertainment industries evolve, stepping beyond your comfort zone and acquiring new skills, while being a supportive and positive team player, can be a game changer.  

But, expanding your skillsets will ultimately make you more versatile and valuable. For example, if you’re an animator who also understands game design principles, modelling, rigging, lighting, and more, you’ll have a distinct advantage and stand out from the rest.  

Whether the style is realistic or stylized, characters must possess distinct traits that come through their animation. One way to achieve this is by reflecting their inner state, motivations, or even personality through movement. 
 
Before animating, consider asking yourself:  

  • What motivates this character?  
  • What are their emotional states?  
  • How would these qualities manifest in their movements?  
  • Would they be quick and bouncy, or swift and deliberate?  

Combining this thought process with strong use of references will help you create believable characters that we can relate on.  Here are two legendary examples.

Master Chief from Halo

Kratos from God of War

That wraps up my top 6 must-do’s in animation! I hope you found these best practices useful, and that our paths cross in the future! Feel free to connect with me on Instagram.  

For more information about Forge Studios and the services we offer, feel free to send us an e-mail at business@forgestudios.com and check out our Art Station portfolio here