Posetopose

Posetopose, or pose-to-pose, is an animation technique in which motion is planned by defining key poses at deliberate moments in time, with the in-between frames generated later by drawing or by software interpolation. This contrasts with straight-ahead animation, where frames are created sequentially from start to end. In pose-to-pose workflows, the animator develops the major beats of the action—silhouette, pose, and expression—before filling in the gaps. Timing and composition are guided by storyboards, animatics, or a dope sheet to ensure readability of the motion.

Origins and usage: The technique has roots in traditional hand-drawn animation and was formalized in early Disney training as part of the broader set of animation principles. It remains common in both 2D and 3D production, where key poses are set for characters or objects and in-betweens are created by in-between artists or by software interpolation using animation curves.

Advantages and limitations: Pose-to-pose offers strong control over timing, spacing, and storytelling, facilitating easier revisions, consistency across shots, and collaboration. It supports clear silhouettes and readable performances and is well suited to planning complex motion. However, it can yield less spontaneity and may require careful refinement of the key poses and the interpolation to avoid stiff or unnatural motion. In practice, many productions combine pose-to-pose planning with selective straight-ahead iteration to balance structure and expressiveness.