2D Animation for Games - A Primer

Dive into the world of 2D character animation for games with this 56-minute Game Career Seminar talk from GDC 2021. Explore basic skills and techniques through examples from prominent 2D games and the speaker's own career work. Learn about general considerations, communication, aesthetics, and essential animation principles such as squash and stretch, anticipation, contrast, timing, and easing. Discover how to apply follow-through, overlapping action, and exaggeration in game animations. Master the art of creating strong, readable poses, using smears and multiples, and avoiding over-animation. Gain insights into skeletal animation, its benefits and limitations, and the importance of hips and shoulders in character movement. Enhance your animations with visual effects and smears while avoiding common mistakes. Perfect for aspiring game animators looking to strengthen their 2D animation skills and create more dynamic, engaging characters for interactive experiences.