Exaggeration

Exaggeration is an essential tool for animators. With the emphasis on not just the design of characters but exaggerated movement, the potential of the medium really shines through. Often it can be most effective if used sparingly, though it depends on the story you're telling.

Here's a classic piece of Tex Avery to demonstrate how much exaggerating the wolf's reaction sells the strength of his feeling. I love to see anything that displays what animation alone can accomplish, and there's nothing like a cartoon.

The principle of exaggeration is not intended to encourage distortion but rather to capture something true to life. Something may be exaggerated not to look more realistic but feel more real.

Sometimes the effect of rotoscoping (tracing over real footage) can leave the viewer underwhelmed, despite its apparent accuracy. It's best to seek a blend of true observation and a heightened spirit, to really compel an audience.

It can be necessary to implement exaggeration at particular moments that the viewer may never actually 'see' because the image is only on screen for a split second. During a sudden movement, including implausibly stretched drawings can help make the animation pop.

Try to test the limits of exaggeration. It's better to see how far you can stretch your imagination than to produce something underwhelming.