How do you critique 3D animations?

1 Know the purpose

Before you start critiquing a 3D animation, you need to know the purpose of the animation and the intended audience. Is it a personal project, a school assignment, a portfolio piece, or a commercial work? Is it meant to be realistic, stylized, or abstract? Is it for entertainment, education, or marketing? Knowing the purpose and the audience will help you set the appropriate expectations and criteria for the animation.

2 Use the 12 principles

The 12 principles of animation are the fundamental guidelines for creating believable and appealing motion in any medium. They were developed by the legendary animators of Disney in the 1930s, and they are still relevant and useful today. The 12 principles are: 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. You can use these principles as a framework to analyze and critique the quality and style of a 3D animation.

3 Be specific and objective

When you critique a 3D animation, you should avoid vague and subjective statements that do not provide any useful feedback. For example, saying "I don't like it" or "It looks weird" does not help the animator improve their work. Instead, you should be specific and objective, and point out the strengths and weaknesses of the animation with concrete examples and suggestions. For example, saying "The character's walk cycle is smooth and natural, but the facial expression is too static and does not match the emotion of the scene. You could try adding some subtle eye and mouth movements to make it more expressive" is a much more helpful critique.

4 Be respectful and constructive

Critiquing 3D animations is not about tearing down someone's work or imposing your own preferences. It is about helping them achieve their goals and improve their skills. Therefore, you should always be respectful and constructive when you give feedback. You should acknowledge the effort and the positive aspects of the animation, as well as the areas that need improvement. You should also avoid harsh or rude language, and use polite and encouraging words. You should also be open to receiving feedback from others, and thank them for their input.

5 Use visual aids and references

Sometimes, words are not enough to convey your feedback on a 3D animation. You may need to use visual aids and references to illustrate your points and show examples of what you mean. For example, you can use screenshots, sketches, video clips, or GIFs to compare and contrast the animation with other works or standards. You can also use annotations, arrows, circles, or other tools to highlight specific parts of the animation that need attention. Visual aids and references can help you communicate your feedback more clearly and effectively.

6 Follow up and revise

Critiquing 3D animations is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing process that requires follow-up and revision. After you give or receive feedback, you should check the progress and the results of the animation, and see if the feedback was implemented and if it improved the animation. You should also give or ask for more feedback if needed, and make adjustments accordingly. Critiquing 3D animations is a collaborative and iterative process that helps you grow as an animator and create better animations.

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?