Why Animators "Progress The Action"

Brer Fox: "I specs I'm gonna skin ya"

One of the most common mistakes made by junior animators is not progressing the action in their animation.  In other words, creating animation that is too static and immobile and, well, not animated.

"Progressing the Action" is a concept developed in the Animator's Survival Kit, in which Williams describes it as the "secret of lipsync".  But what does progressing the action really mean?

Progressing The Action
Below is the section on Progressing the Action, taken from the Animator's Survival Kit. Williams is talking to Milt Kahl, one of Disney's so-called Nine Old Men, who animated (among many classic characters) Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox in Song of the South.  They are discussing the secret of lipsync, or animating dialogue.

Brer Fox by Milt Kahl

To see the animation Williams is talking about, watch the gif above. Brer Fox is saying "I specs I'm gonna skin ya".  Say it in a thick Southern drawl and you'll get the idea. 

Brer Fox moves towards Brer Rabbit as he delivers the line. The action is "progressed". 

Song of The South

"Progressing the action" with Ruber: "Is that a no?"

The original Brer Fox animation clip is taken from Disney's "Song of The South", a film which isn't available anymore, for reasons which become immediately obvious if you watch the live action element. 

Quest For Camelot

Progressing The Action is a trick I have used myself on countless shots - on countless films.  To the right is an example from Quest For Camelot, Ruber saying "Is that a no?" to Juliana as he leans in uncomfortably close. 

Spirit - Stallion of The Cimmarron

"Wanna fight do ya?"

To the right is another example, taken from "Spirit, Stallion of The Cimmarron", when the injured cavalry blacksmith says "Want a Fight, Do ya?". This is a shot I animated way back in 1999. 

Progress the Action

For animators, the key thing is not to have your animation start and finish in the same point. Make sure you always go somewhere, from A to B to C. Not A to B and back to A again. Always, if you can, progress the action.

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