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Get expert animation advice from Pixar's directing animators Andrew Gordon and Robb Denovan as they reveal 10 tips and tricks

01 Do your research
If you're just jumping into a shot, you're taking a risk. Actors do research an so should animators. Prepare yourself for your work in whatever way suits you. Some prefer drawing, while others do video research. Do whatever works for you and make it a habit.

02 On locomotion
If you have to animate something that you haven't animated before, break it down into its simple components. For example, on Monsters University, animating the tentacles on Terry-Terri was challenging. We tried to colour-code all his different tentacles to make them easier to see.

03 On workflow
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04 Use those tools
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05 Know what to polish
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06 Show early and often
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07 When in doubt, throw it out
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08 Don't think there is a right way to block
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09 Beg, borrow and steal
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10 Live life
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