Whether you’re a painter or an animator, reference is essential to any artist’s creative process. In this clip from a live AnimSchool lecture, instructor Timothy Suarez explains how to film good video reference that will make animating easier. He covers the importance of proper staging, collaborating with others, and how to film when you don’t have the same props as your character. Though reference may seem like it’s taking away from your time animating in Maya, Suarez reminds us that reference is the basis of the animation so it’s important to put the time in and get it right.

Using video reference doesn’t mean copying or rotoscoping. Instead, it’s about building a solid foundation to caricature and push performance. Having real physicality and genuine acting beats to work from gives your animation weight, timing, and believability.

What Makes a Good Video Reference

  1. Cover All Acting Beats
    Reference should include every key moment — emotional shifts, physical actions, and most importantly, moments of thought. Characters don’t always move; sometimes they pause, hesitate, or react internally, and these subtle beats bring performances to life.
  2. Match the Camera Angle
    Shoot your reference from a camera angle that’s as close as possible to the animation camera setup. This helps with staging and ensures that movement translates properly in the final animation.
  3. Act It Out
    Whether the character is lifting a heavy object or reacting to sticky goo on a wall, don’t fake it. Use props with real weight, or collaborate with someone who can physically perform the motion. Your body needs to experience the mechanics for the animation to feel right.
  4. Consider a Sketch Pass
    For shots that are too fantastical for live-action reference — like a bird shooting ice from its beak — rough sketches can help block out timing and layout.
  5. Shoot Multiple Takes and Edit
    Don’t settle on the first take. Record several and review them, then edit the best parts together or pick the strongest single performance to guide your work.
Example of a sketch pass
Don’t fake the physicality, and don’t be afraid to direct the actors!

Ultimately, good reference starts with good planning. Research the shot, understand the physics and emotion behind the action and characters, and don’t be afraid to look a little ridiculous in the process. The best performances come when animators let go of self-consciousness and fully commit to creating a great shot.

Watch the full clip from an AnimSchool lecture here: 

At AnimSchool, we teach students who want to make 3D characters move and act. Our instructors are professionals at film and game animation studios like Dreamworks, Pixar, Sony Pictures, Blizzard & Disney. ⁠Get LIVE feedback on your Animation from the pros. Learn more at https://animschool.edu/