Why Animators Need a Change of Expression

"Ruber" animation by Alex Williams

One of the most common mistakes made by junior animators is the “frozen face.” A character might be moving beautifully through space—walking, talking, gesturing—but if their expression never shifts, the scene feels flat and lifeless. 

Why? Because real people don’t hold one expression for long.  In real life, our faces are in constant, subtle motion. Even when listening quietly, tiny changes in the eyebrows, mouth, or eyes reveal attention, doubt, curiosity, or impatience. These micro-shifts keep us alive and believable. In animation, a lack of change reads as stiffness or, worse, lifelessness.

Feel That Change of Expression

"Morpheus" Animation by Rich Jeffery

A change of expression isn’t about piling on big emotions. It’s about contrast and timing. A small lift of the eyebrow after a line, a blink at the right moment, or the mouth softening when another character speaks—all these add rhythm and realism.  Without them, the performance feels mechanical.

Good Animation is Musical
Think of it like music: a single note held too long becomes dull. Animation needs its changes in “pitch”—the rise and fall of expression—to keep the audience engaged.  So, next time you’re blocking a scene, ask yourself: what’s the character thinking right now, and how does their face reveal it?  Even the smallest change can transform a flat shot into a living, breathing performance.

Resources on Planning Animation
For more resources on how to plan animation (including how to use thumbnail sketches and live action), follow these links:

• Medusa Thumbnails by Milt Kahl
• Why thumbnail sketches need facial expressions
• Thumbnail sketches by Pixar's Victor Navone
• Thumbnailing Mrs Copperbottom from "Robots"
• Thumbnailing "Boog" from "Open Season"
• How to Animate a Dialogue Shot
• How to Plan a Pantomime Shot
• How to Plan a Creature Animation Shot
• How to Use Live Action Reference to Plan Animation
• Body Language for Animators

For more on the experience of studying at Bucks New University, come and visit us at one of our Open Days, take a virtual tour of one of our animation studios, check out what our students think of our course, and see why we're ranked in the top 12 creative universities in the UK.