straight-ahead-pose-mastery

This principle isn't about what animation looks like—it's about how animation is created. Two fundamentally different approaches produce different qualities, and understanding when to use each (or combine them) separates competent animators from masters.

Straight Ahead Action: Drawing frame 1, then frame 2, then frame 3, sequentially. The animator discovers the motion while creating it. Like jazz improvisation—spontaneous, energetic, unpredictable.

Pose to Pose: Planning key poses first, then filling in between. The animator architects the motion before executing. Like classical composition—controlled, precise, structured.

Use when planning animation workflows, deciding between spontaneous vs controlled approaches, or balancing creative freedom with structural precision. Source: dylantarre/animation-principles.