What skills make a great animator stand out?

Great animators combine storytelling, timing, and visual design with technical fluency. They understand movement deeply and use it to create emotional and engaging experiences.

Why is timing important in animation?

Timing affects the rhythm, mood, and believability of animation. Great animators use timing to emphasize motion, convey emotion, and enhance narrative pacing.

How do collaboration skills benefit animators?

Strong collaborators align better with directors, designers, and developers. Great animators communicate ideas clearly, accept feedback, and contribute to team creativity.

Is an understanding of acting important for animators?

Yes. Acting informs expression, gesture, and character development. Great animators often study performance to breathe life into animated figures and scenes.

How does attention to detail elevate animation work?

Fine-tuning movement, easing, and transitions creates smoother, more realistic animations. Attention to detail separates good work from exceptional visual storytelling.

How do animators support UX and UI design?

Micro-animations and transitions created by animators enhance interactivity, guide user behavior, and improve engagement in digital interfaces.

Do animators usually work independently or on teams?

Freelancers often work solo, but in studios, animators collaborate with directors, modelers, sound engineers, and producers to align creative goals.

What skills separate great Animators from good ones?

While many animators possess solid technical skills, truly great animators bring a deeper level of artistry, storytelling, and emotional awareness to their work. They consistently produce animation that not only looks good but also moves with purpose, conveys meaning, and enhances the viewer’s experience. Whether working in 2D, 3D, or motion graphics, the difference lies in how an animator combines creative vision with attention to detail, collaboration, and innovation. Here are the key skills that separate great animators from good ones.

1. Mastery of Animation Principles

Great animators don’t just follow the 12 principles of animation—they apply them intuitively and push them creatively. Timing, spacing, squash and stretch, anticipation, and exaggeration are executed with confidence and nuance.

Understanding how motion communicates character and emotion
Using timing to create rhythm and believability
Applying overlap and follow-through for natural movement

These principles are the foundation, but great animators know when and how to bend the rules for impact.

2. Strong Storytelling Ability

Animation is visual storytelling. Great animators think like directors—using motion to build tension, express ideas, and guide the viewer’s attention.

Crafting character arcs through movement
Creating emotion through gestures and pacing
Using staging and composition to enhance clarity

They consider the big picture and make animation choices that support the narrative, not just the visuals.

3. Emotional Intelligence and Character Empathy

Great animators can feel what their characters are feeling. They tap into subtle emotional cues and human behavior to make animated characters feel alive and relatable.

Observing real-world body language and facial expressions
Animating micro-expressions and nuanced gestures
Infusing characters with unique personalities

This emotional depth turns technically correct animation into memorable performance.

4. Technical Versatility and Tool Mastery

While artistic instinct is crucial, great animators also master the tools of their trade—whether that’s Toon Boom, After Effects, Blender, or Maya.

Efficient use of rigs, graphs, and curves
Creating smooth workflows for cleanup and polish
Using scripts or plugins to enhance speed and consistency

They know their software so well that it never gets in the way of their creativity.

5. Attention to Detail

The difference between a good animation and a great one often lies in the details. Great animators obsess over timing, arcs, ease-ins and ease-outs, and secondary action.

Polishing transitions and movement arcs
Checking silhouettes and spacing for readability
Refining weight, balance, and momentum

This level of care results in work that feels effortless and immersive.

6. Adaptability and Creative Problem Solving

Every animation project presents challenges—whether it’s tight deadlines, unclear feedback, or unexpected changes. Great animators remain flexible and solution-focused.

Adapting styles across projects and industries
Finding creative ways to meet technical or narrative constraints
Iterating quickly based on feedback

They stay calm under pressure and make smart decisions that keep production moving forward.

7. Communication and Collaboration

Animation is often a team sport. Great animators know how to give and receive feedback, share ideas clearly, and contribute positively to a team dynamic.

Presenting work confidently to clients or directors
Translating creative direction into actionable animation choices
Being receptive to notes without compromising quality

This professionalism makes them a pleasure to work with—and trusted by peers and clients alike.

8. Curiosity and Lifelong Learning

Great animators are never done growing. They study the work of others, experiment with new techniques, and stay current with industry trends.

Practicing personal projects between client work
Learning new software or plugins regularly
Participating in animation challenges or critiques

This mindset ensures they keep evolving creatively and technically.

Conclusion

What makes an animator truly great isn’t just skill—it’s a mindset. Great animators combine deep technical knowledge with storytelling ability, empathy, and a relentless desire to improve. They bring more than motion to a project—they bring meaning, personality, and magic. By cultivating these skills, animators can elevate their careers, contribute more powerfully to creative teams, and leave a lasting impression on audiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What skills make a great animator stand out?: Great animators combine storytelling, timing, and visual design with technical fluency. They understand movement deeply and use it to create emotional and engaging experiences.
Why is timing important in animation?: Timing affects the rhythm, mood, and believability of animation. Great animators use timing to emphasize motion, convey emotion, and enhance narrative pacing.
How do collaboration skills benefit animators?: Strong collaborators align better with directors, designers, and developers. Great animators communicate ideas clearly, accept feedback, and contribute to team creativity.
How do animators support UX and UI design?: Micro-animations and transitions created by animators enhance interactivity, guide user behavior, and improve engagement in digital interfaces. Learn more on our How Animators Add Value to Creative Projects page.
Do animators usually work independently or on teams?: Freelancers often work solo, but in studios, animators collaborate with directors, modelers, sound engineers, and producers to align creative goals. Learn more on our Daily Routine of a Professional Animator page.