Professional Insight

I felt my research was a bit too secluded - it was mainly my opinions and whatever I could collate online and in books, so I reached out to an industry professional who has a knack for 2D vfx. I contacted Renato Roldan over Instagram (I had been following their work for a while @renato3xl) and then exchanged a few emails.

I asked:

• Do you believe that there’s any difference between effects animation and character animation? If so, what are the main differences? Do they follow the same rules?
• Sure there is, the main focus on both are different, all the same principles apply to each other but you apply more ones, or others depending on what you do. 
• For example, for VFX is way easier to apply follow through animation, than pose to pose, because at the end VFX is something that "flows" more than something that has to be more well thought like a character animation. 
• Easy in easy out, staging, silhouette, curves etc apply the same to both. 

• What do you think is more important; that an effect acts naturally/realistically, or that it matches the visual style of the world it is in? (Motion vs look?) 
• In fact it has to feel natural but it doesn't need to be natural, we always exaggerate , we deform reality to make it more real, that doesn´t make so much sense, but is what all principals are about, no one does an anticipation before start running, but if you don't do it in an animation it feels weird, so realism is not always what the brain accepts as real.
• For sure Vfx has to be in style, if not, it can break the illusion.

• Do effects with contrasting visual styles work better?
• If contrast is your guide, it's ok, for example Overwatch is a 3d game with 2d fx on it, and it blends well because they work on the look and feel to make it be coherent. contrast is not a problem, lack of coherence is.

• What’s your favorite elemental effect? (Mine’s fire hehe) Do you have any advice on how to animate said effect? What about non-elemental effects? 
• I have to admit that i have a lot of fun doing wind stuff, capes flowing, particles etc, but i love going from one to the other. I also like to do explosions and gunfire and bullets.

• (Any other top tips, or feedback is much appreciated!)
• Animation careers are always a long run, here the first is not the winner, the one that lasts the most is. So keep on working hard for the rest of your life ;)

I got a very informative perspective on vfx animation and appeal, and more techincal, process-related advice too. Follow through vs pose to pose was a difference between character and effects animaiton I hadn't considered before.
I also realised I hadn't considered other wind-related effects, like flags, capes and particles at all, something I would definitely do differently next time.