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troubleshooting skill

/skills/04-by-skill-level/troubleshooting

This skill helps diagnose and fix animation issues by applying troubleshooting principles to identify misapplied timing, spacing, and arcs.

npx playbooks add skill dylantarre/animation-principles --skill troubleshooting

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

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---
name: Animation Principles - Troubleshooting
description: Use when animation feels wrong and you need to diagnose which principle is failing or being misapplied
---

# Animation Troubleshooting Guide

Something's off. Use this to find and fix it.

## Symptom-Based Diagnosis

### "It feels floaty/weightless"
**Check:**
- Slow in/out - Is spacing too even? Add bunching at start/end
- Timing - Need more frames for weight? Fewer for snap?
- Squash/stretch - Impact reaction visible?
- Follow through - Settling properly or just stopping?

**Fix:** Add 2-4 frames to settle. Increase spacing variation. Add impact squash.

### "It feels stiff/robotic"
**Check:**
- Arcs - Are paths too straight?
- Overlap - Is everything moving at once?
- Secondary action - Is it present?
- Anticipation - Too uniform?

**Fix:** Offset timing between body parts. Curve your motion paths. Vary anticipation amounts.

### "I can't tell what's happening"
**Check:**
- Staging - Silhouette clear?
- Anticipation - Is viewer prepared for action?
- Timing - Too fast to read?
- Exaggeration - Key poses pushed enough?

**Fix:** Simplify composition. Add anticipation frames. Extend key poses. Push silhouette.

### "It feels dead/lifeless"
**Check:**
- Secondary action - Present and supporting?
- Overlap - Different parts moving differently?
- Timing - Varied or monotonous?
- Appeal - Character design working?

**Fix:** Layer in secondary actions. Offset everything by 1-3 frames. Vary timing between actions.

### "It feels cartoony when it should be subtle" (or vice versa)
**Check:**
- Exaggeration - Calibrated to style?
- Squash/stretch - Amount appropriate?
- Timing - Snappy vs. naturalistic?
- Anticipation - Size matches style?

**Fix:** Dial exaggeration to match reference. Adjust squash/stretch ratios. Match timing to style guide.

### "Something feels wrong but I can't identify it"
**Check:**
- Arcs - Track every moving part. Find the broken curve.
- Volume - Is squash/stretch preserving mass?
- Twins - Are poses too symmetrical?
- Spacing - Graph your drawings. Find the anomaly.

**Fix:** Often it's one broken arc or inconsistent spacing. Track paths obsessively.

## Principle Conflict Symptoms

**Anticipation vs. Surprise:** Big anticipation kills surprise. Choose intentionally.

**Exaggeration vs. Subtlety:** Can't have both. What does the scene need?

**Follow through vs. Snappiness:** Heavy follow through softens snappy timing. Balance.

**Secondary vs. Primary:** If secondary distracts, remove it regardless of quality.

## Last Resort Fixes

1. Return to blocking. Is the idea clear at the key pose level?
2. Remove all overlap/secondary. Does primary action work alone?
3. Reference check. Compare to reality or quality examples.
4. Fresh eyes. Walk away. Return tomorrow.

If multiple principles are failing, fix timing and arcs first. Everything else depends on them.

Overview

This skill diagnoses why an animation ‘feels wrong’ and guides targeted fixes based on Disney’s 12 principles. It maps common symptoms (floaty, stiff, unreadable, lifeless, mismatched style) to specific checks and corrective actions. Use it to quickly isolate which principle is failing and prioritize fixes that restore clarity and appeal.

How this skill works

Inspect the animation by symptom and run a short checklist: timing/spacing, arcs, anticipation, squash & stretch, overlap, secondary action, staging and exaggeration. Recommend concrete fixes like adding frames, offsetting body parts, simplifying poses, or dialing exaggeration. If multiple issues appear, it advises starting with timing and arcs then layering secondary fixes.

When to use it

  • When motion feels weightless or lacks impact
  • When movement seems robotic, stiff, or mechanical
  • When the audience can’t read the action clearly
  • When a scene feels lifeless or flat
  • When style (cartoony vs subtle) looks inconsistent with intent

Best practices

  • Start by identifying the primary symptom before changing lots of parameters
  • Prioritize timing and arcs—fixing those often resolves multiple issues
  • Return to blocking if the idea isn’t clear at key poses
  • Test fixes incrementally: isolate primary action, then add overlap and secondary action
  • Use reference and fresh eyes; compare to strong examples in the desired style

Example use cases

  • A jump feels like floating: add squash on landing, increase settling frames, adjust spacing for weight
  • A walk looks robotic: curve limb paths, offset hip/shoulder timing by 1–3 frames, add subtle secondary motions
  • A punch reads unclearly: add a stronger anticipation, push key poses and silhouette, lengthen contact timing
  • A facial performance feels dead: layer micro secondary actions and vary timing between features
  • A shot is too cartoony for the scene: reduce exaggeration, tighten squash/stretch, match timing to reference

FAQ

What do I fix first when multiple issues exist?

Start with timing and arcs; they underpin weight, clarity, and flow. Once stable, address overlap, secondary action, and exaggeration.

How do I know if I’m over-exaggerating?

Compare to your style reference. If anticipation or squash prevents narrative surprise or reads as unrealistic, dial it back until the intent is clear.