Character Animation Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Character Animation facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which technique involves animators drawing the key extreme poses first, then filling in the intermediate frames? → Pose to Pose
2. What is the purpose of an 'animation layer' in 3D software like Maya? → To add or override animation on top of existing animation non-destructively
3. Which of the 12 principles of animation describes the technique of starting and ending a movement with more frames to emphasize slow-in and slow-out? → Ease In and Ease Out
4. What is the primary purpose of 'Anticipation' in character animation? → To prepare the audience for an upcoming action
5. What is 'rotoscoping' when applied to facial animation? → Tracing over live-action footage frame by frame to guide or create animated movement
6. Is it possible to produce animation without drawing? → Yes
7. What is the purpose of a 'breakdown' pose in body mechanics animation? → To define how the character transitions between key poses, controlling timing and arcs
8. In body mechanics, what does 'follow-through' refer to? → Secondary body parts continuing to move and settle after the primary action stops
9. What is the purpose of a 'pole vector' constraint in an IK rig? → To control which direction a joint bends, preventing unwanted flipping
10. What is the difference between 'on twos' and 'on ones' in traditional animation walk cycles? → On twos draws a new frame every 2 frames; on ones draws a unique drawing on every frame
11. What is the 'Graph Editor' used for in 3D animation software like Maya or Blender? → Editing animation curves to control the interpolation and timing of keyframe values
12. It describes the rigidity or stickiness of a joint. → Joint speed
13. A specialized part of animation that entails bringing animated characters to life → Character Animation
14. A technique used by artists and animators to get a sense of the character they are creating by outlining various body positions and angles → Turnaround Character
15. What animation principle involves an object deforming as it moves to convey weight and flexibility? → Squash and Stretch
16. The bits and pieces of memories and experiences you've retained in → Visual Library
17. What is 'foot planting' in body mechanics animation? → Locking the foot's position to the ground so it does not slide as weight is transferred
18. To produce the animation sequence, animators must draw each frame. → Traditional animation
19. Which animation principle involves plotting motion along curved paths rather than straight lines? → Arcs
20. A figure is walking in a simple repeating animation. → walk cycle
21. A fantastic _______ will give your drawing a more lifelike feeling. → line of action
22. What is a 'blend shape' (or morph target) used for in character animation? → Storing alternate mesh shapes that can be blended to create expressions
23. Rigs and Frame by Frame are used in 2D Animation. → True
24. In the 12 principles, 'Overlapping Action' refers to: → Different parts of a character moving at different rates
25. What is the main purpose of a 'corrective blend shape'? → To fix mesh deformation errors that occur at extreme joint angles
26. What is the purpose of a 'non-destructive rig' in character animation production? → To allow the character mesh to be updated without breaking the existing animation
27. It is a methodical way to mathematically calculate the various angles of a jointed object to produce a particular configuration. → Inverse kinematics
28. In character animation, what does the term 'center of mass' primarily refer to? → The point around which a character's weight is balanced, typically near the hips/pelvis
29. What does 'anticipation' look like in facial animation? → A micro-expression or preparatory face shift that precedes the main expression
30. What is the 'passing position' in a walk cycle? → The moment when the swing leg passes directly alongside the planted leg