How can exaggeration be used effectively in 2D animation?

1 What is exaggeration?

Exaggeration is the technique of amplifying or enhancing certain features, actions, or emotions in your animations to create a stronger impact, contrast, or humor. Exaggeration can be applied to both realistic and stylized animations, depending on the degree and purpose of the exaggeration. For example, you can exaggerate the facial expressions of a character to convey their emotions more clearly, or you can exaggerate the speed and scale of a movement to create a more dramatic or comedic effect.

2 Why is exaggeration important?

Exaggeration is important because it can help you communicate your message, story, or idea more effectively and engagingly to your audience. Exaggeration can also help you create more interesting and memorable characters, scenes, and transitions in your animations. By using exaggeration, you can add more personality, variety, and energy to your animations, and make them stand out from the crowd.

3 How to exaggerate timing?

Timing is the speed and duration of a movement or action in your animation. You can exaggerate timing by changing the spacing and timing of your keyframes, easing, and in-between frames. For example, you can use slow-in and slow-out to exaggerate the acceleration and deceleration of a movement, or you can use squash and stretch to exaggerate the elasticity and weight of an object. You can also use timing to exaggerate the anticipation, reaction, and follow-through of a movement, or to create a sense of rhythm, pace, and timing in your animation.

4 How to exaggerate poses?

Poses are the positions and orientations of your characters or objects in your animation. You can exaggerate poses by using extreme poses, silhouette poses, and breakdown poses. For example, you can use extreme poses to exaggerate the peak or climax of a movement or action, or to show the contrast between two opposite states, such as tension and relaxation. You can use silhouette poses to exaggerate the shape and outline of your characters or objects, and to make them more readable and recognizable. You can use breakdown poses to exaggerate the direction and arc of a movement, or to show the transition between two extreme poses.

5 How to exaggerate shapes?

Shapes are the forms and contours of your characters or objects in your animation. You can exaggerate shapes by using stylization, distortion, and deformation. For example, you can use stylization to exaggerate the characteristics or features of your characters or objects, such as making them more cartoony, angular, or organic. You can use distortion to exaggerate the perspective or proportion of your characters or objects, such as making them more foreshortened, elongated, or exaggerated. You can use deformation to exaggerate the flexibility or rigidity of your characters or objects, such as making them more bendy, squashed, or stretched.

6 How to exaggerate movements?

Movements are the actions and motions of your characters or objects in your animation. You can exaggerate movements by using exaggeration, overlap, and secondary action. For example, you can use exaggeration to exaggerate the force or intensity of a movement, such as making it more violent, explosive, or subtle. You can use overlap to exaggerate the continuity or fluidity of a movement, such as making it more smooth, natural, or realistic. You can use secondary action to exaggerate the complexity or detail of a movement, such as adding more gestures, expressions, or accessories to your characters or objects.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?