Keyframe Better: Anime

Established by lead animators, these drawings capture the "extremes" of a pose—such as the wind-up before a punch and the moment of impact. These artists have significant room to express their individual style, which is why fans can often identify a specific animator's work in a high-octane battle scene.

⚡ When you see a "sakuga" moment—a sudden explosion of high-quality animation—it is usually because a master animator has drawn an exceptionally high number of keyframes themselves, rather than leaving the fluid motion to the in-betweeners. The Life Cycle of a Keyframe anime keyframe

For decades, anime keyframes were drawn on specific types of paper (usually punched with registration holes to align with the camera stand). The sheets were translucent, allowing animators to place them over a lightbox to see the previous drawing. Established by lead animators, these drawings capture the