Tweening
Tweening is a key animation technique used to create smooth movement between two positions. The term comes from "in-betweening" - creating frames that go between a start and end point. Think of it like drawing all the small steps that show how a ball bounces from the top of the screen to the bottom. While animators used to draw these frames by hand, today they use software that can automatically create these smooth transitions. This is an essential skill in both traditional and digital animation, used in everything from cartoons to website animations to video games.
Examples in Resumes
Created fluid character movements using Tweening techniques in Adobe Animate
Implemented complex Tween animations for mobile game interfaces
Supervised junior animators in proper Tweening and In-betweening methods
Typical job title: "Animators"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Animators
Online Communities
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you approach teaching tweening to junior animators?
Expected Answer: A senior animator should discuss breaking down complex movements, explaining the principles of timing and spacing, and methods for quality control in animation projects.
Q: How do you decide between manual and automatic tweening for different projects?
Expected Answer: Should explain the trade-offs between hand-crafted animation and computer-generated tweens, considering factors like project requirements, timeline, and desired style.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you use tweening to create natural-looking movement?
Expected Answer: Should talk about using ease-in and ease-out, understanding timing, and how to make movements feel more organic rather than mechanical.
Q: What considerations do you take into account when tweening character animations?
Expected Answer: Should discuss weight, momentum, anticipation, and follow-through in movement, as well as maintaining character personality through animation.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the difference between motion tweening and shape tweening?
Expected Answer: Should explain that motion tweening is for moving objects from point A to B, while shape tweening transforms one shape into another.
Q: What basic principles do you follow when creating tweened animations?
Expected Answer: Should mention timing, spacing, and the importance of keyframes in creating smooth, believable movement.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic motion tweening
- Simple character movements
- Understanding of animation timing
- Familiarity with animation software
Mid (2-5 years)
- Complex character animation
- Advanced easing techniques
- Multiple object coordination
- Custom motion paths
Senior (5+ years)
- Animation team leadership
- Complex animation system design
- Animation style development
- Junior animator mentoring
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic animation principles
- Unable to demonstrate smooth movement in sample work
- Lack of knowledge about industry-standard animation software
- No appreciation for timing and pacing in animation
Related Terms
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