When you make something look alive you are animating... There are three very basic requirements for animation...
First is Character
Character in animation is not just face and body... But the behavior, emotions, characteristics, intellect, environment everything that makes a thing a character...
Second is Path
This is more difficult then it sounds... When a character is placed in a situation, they have to perform a particular act.... Follow a particular path... In any animated scene you will notice each and every character is doing something... Be it just standing and doing nothing... They have a purpose, they give direction... This is same as acting...
Third is Timing
Timing plays the most important role in Animation, you need to adjust the right timing for each and every part, only then you can apply the Newton's 3rd Law of motion - Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Even if the timing of any action is a bit off that will break the illusion of Animation.
Think of puppets... Their characteristics make them real... they are all different then each other and have to be played specific way.
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