5 Simple Ways to Instantly Improve Your Animation

We've all been there—you pour hours into your animation, frame by frame, only to step back and feel like something is missing. Maybe your characters don’t look as dynamic as you envisioned, or the overall feel just isn’t as polished as you’d like. It can be frustrating when your animation doesn’t match the quality you were aiming for.

The good news? You don’t always need to spend months mastering new techniques to see immediate improvement. Sometimes, small adjustments can make a big difference. In this post, I’ll share five practical things you can implement today to instantly enhance the look and feel of your animations. Let’s dive in!

1. Create Strong Character Designs

A well-designed character plays a crucial role in storytelling. Good character design makes your characters more relatable, memorable, and engaging for your audience. A strong, visually appealing character will immediately enhance your animation and help viewers connect with the story.

2. Improve Visual Appeal

Great visuals can elevate your animation, even if the movement isn’t perfect. This includes well-designed characters, polished backgrounds, and attention to detail. A perfect example is Masters of the Universe: Revelation on Netflix. The animation itself isn’t as fluid as Disney’s, but the stunning artwork and detailed backgrounds make the series visually appealing.

So, while improving your animation skills is important, don’t overlook the power of strong visuals—they can make your project look much more professional!

3. Invest in Good Voice Acting

One of the most overlooked aspects of animation is voice acting. The emotion, personality, and believability of your characters largely come from their voices. If your voice acting is flat or lacks expression, your characters won’t feel alive.

By investing in professional voice actors, your animation will become more engaging, and audiences will connect with your characters on a deeper level. A well-delivered voice performance can make a huge difference in the final product.

4. Don’t Skip Storyboarding

I’ll be honest—storyboarding isn’t my favorite part of the animation process. But skipping it can lead to time-consuming mistakes later on. A storyboard helps you:

• Plan character placement and movement within a scene.

• Avoid having to reanimate scenes due to layout issues.

• Improve cinematography and staging to make your animation more visually engaging.

When I started animating, I skipped storyboarding and ended up having to redo entire sequences—which wasted a ton of time. Don’t make the same mistake! Take the time to plan your shots properly.

5. Never Cut Corners—Put in the Effort

Effort always shows in your work. If you start cutting corners—whether it's rushing a scene or settling for lower quality—it will be noticeable. One of the reasons I was disappointed with Arcane Season 2 is that it didn’t feel as polished as Season 1. Regardless of the reasons behind it, the difference in effort was visible.

If you set a standard for your animation, don’t compromise. Take your time, refine your work, and make sure you’re proud of the final result. Audiences will appreciate the effort you put into your animation.

Bonus Tip: Love What You Do

Passion fuels effort. If you’re not excited about your animation project, it will show in your work. If you’re struggling to stay motivated, ask yourself if this is a project you truly enjoy. If not, consider working on something that inspires you.

When you love your project, you’re less likely to cut corners, and you’ll be more invested in making it the best it can be.

By implementing these five (plus one) simple tips, you’ll see an instant improvement in your animation quality! I hope you found this helpful. If you did, be sure to share it with fellow animators.

Happy animating, and God bless!