Such attention to detail in 2D character animation was vital in our collaboration with EA on Simpsons: Tapped Out. It’s an IP-based project, so being thorough meant not only presenting characters well but also keeping their microexpressions and movements recognizable & true to canon.
The fluidity of character animation affects the games’ UX, especially if the game’s core loop is based around movements: arcades, fighting games, and other action-related genres. We love animating distinct fighting styles for characters, VFX around their abilities, the ways they use different weapons, etc. We’re attentive to details when animating characters’ facial expressions and body language: subtle animation can and should convey a character’s mood & personality. It’s peculiar and demanding work, but we love it.