Timing (the duration of an action) and Spacing (the position of the character on each successive frame) are the two most critical technical variables an animator manipulates to convey weight, force, and emotional state. Slow timing (many frames per action) and close spacing convey a heavy, sluggish, or deliberate movement, while fast timing (few frames) and far spacing suggest speed, lightness, or explosive force. This control over rhythm is what allows a character’s walk to look confident, hesitant, or exhausted.

We teach students to use the Graph Editor—a technical tool in 3D software that visually represents the speed and trajectory of movement—to precisely control the relationship between timing and spacing, allowing for smooth, customized ease-in and ease-out motions. This deliberate manipulation of curves, often visualized through keyframes, is the core technical skill required to inject personality and believable physics into every animated motion.