I dedicated a significant amount of time to creating keyframe animations and experimented with Cascadeur, an emerging software. Its Auto Posing system was incredibly helpful, making the process much more efficient. However, I chose not to use the Auto Physics feature to assist with keyframe interpolation, as I realized that animation often needs to deviate from strict physical laws to achieve more visually pleasing results.
Despite having extensive experience in motion graphics, this was my first attempt at creating character animations. During the process, I discovered that driving motion through specific key body parts is essential for achieving natural character movement. For instance, when a character turns, having the feet lead the movement, followed by the waist, then the chest, and finally the head and arms, creates a more rhythmic and dynamic twisting motion.