Secondary Action

'Secondary action' helps to give more life to an animation by complementing the main piece of action with an extra touch of character.

In the first example shown here, we see a man working hard at his computer. Additionally to typing on the keyboard, he wipes his face, which would be considered secondary action. It is not strictly necessary but when it is added, the whole character of the piece is enriched.

This animation of a guy eating a burger demonstrates several ways to make such a basic action much more interesting. Finding these little moments could keep the process more interesting for yourself along the way as well as for an audience.

Secondary action adds a spirit of play, which animation at its heart is all about. There's something joyous about picking up on these tiny nuances as a viewer. Not only does it communicate an extra aspect of the character we're watching, but it can draw attention to the brilliance of animation itself.

Here we see Baloo chucking a coconut up in the air, after taking it from the tree. It just adds that little bit of playfulness that sets him apart from more serious characters. None of these moments seem essential, but without them there would be much less overall spirit to speak of.