The factors influencing animation complexity can be divided into two main categories:

Related to Character Design:

1. Character size
2. Details and complexity
3. Perspective
4. Modular characters

Directly Related to Animation:
5. Number of frames per action (smoothness)
6. Movement complexity

Character size

Character size depends on the chosen screen resolution and game genre. Some genres have standard character sizes. For example, in platformers, characters are typically 10-20% of the screen height, whereas in fighting games, they are around 45%. You can read more about this in our article on design documentation.

Character size can also be affected by the need to display facial features and emotions in sprites. If a character is too small, this may not be possible.

A basic rule is that the larger the character, the more detailed it is, and the more frames are required for the same animations compared to smaller characters. However, animating extremely tiny characters can also be challenging because maintaining the readability of individual elements requires subpixel animation technique - a technique that simulates pixel movement at distances smaller than one pixel.

Sprite Detail and Complexity

Pixel art includes many different styles and techniques. The same character can be depicted in numerous ways at the same size.

• Number of colors used in the character – The more colors, the more time an animator needs to transfer them across frames. This also includes antialiasing, where transitions between two colors are smoothed with a third intermediate color.
• Details – Complex clothing patterns, unusual armor or weapon shapes must retain their intricate outlines during movement, requiring extra attention.

Character detailing depends heavily on the chosen art style and game genre. However, some general rules should always be followed:

• Use more shapes and fewer lines when applying colors (shapes are easier to animate and track visually; they also work better with smear and blur effects, while excessive lines can create a confusing, hard-to-read form).
• Avoid using too many shades of the same color.
• Pay attention to the character's silhouette and the readability of individual elements.
• Avoid excessive internal outlines on small sprites.
• Minimize or completely avoid dithering.

Perspective and Movement Direction

The chosen perspective for a project significantly affects the number and complexity of animations.

For example, a side-scroller usually requires movement left and right. A walking animation can be drawn once and mirrored for the opposite direction. In some cases, a mirrored version may need adjustments if the character is asymmetrical or if clothing/weapon placement must remain consistent.

In contrast, isometric animation requires at least four movement directions: diagonally up-right, up-left, down-right, and down-left. This means creating two distinct animations and mirroring them for the opposite directions.

In a top-down view, you can choose between two approaches: either animating movement in all eight directions or limiting it to four.

• A top-down eight-direction movement requires five unique animations, with three mirrored for the opposite directions, if character design is symmetrical. Otherwise, you will need 8 unique animations drawn per each action.
• A top-down four-direction movement requires three animations, with one mirrored, if character design is symmetrical. Otherwise, you will need 4 unique animations drawn per each action.

The same applies to all other animations – idle, attacks, jumps, deaths, and damage reactions must be created accordingly.

Besides influencing animation count, drawing animations in isometric and top-down perspectives is more complex than for side-scrollers.

Character Modularity

If you plan to implement a character customization system that allows for interchangeable clothing or weapons, it's crucial to establish this system in the sprite from the beginning.

In most cases, such a system requires manually drawing each separate element for all character animations, creating complex sprite sheets. However, some aspects, like color changes, can be automated. Additionally, assembling these modular sprites correctly in a game engine requires careful setup.

We can help you implement such a system, but keep in mind that it requires significant time and effort, which affects the overall cost.

Frame Count Per Action (Smoothness)

In most cases, you cannot simply add or remove frames from a finished animation. It must be planned in advance, as animating, for example, a four-frame action versus a twelve-frame action requires different approaches.

Generally, the more frames an animation has, the smoother it appears. Additional frames allow for better anticipation, follow-through, acceleration, and deceleration. However, more frames also mean higher costs. Conversely, fewer frames do not always mean simpler animation – conveying character through movement with limited frames is an art form in itself.

Movement Complexity

The level of movement complexity can often be determined at the sprite design stage. For larger and more detailed sprites more frames are needed, and the more intricate the motion must be.
For example, a walking animation can be achieved by simply moving the arms and legs. However, adding torso and head rotation creates a more three-dimensional effect.
A large and detailed sprite will look unnatural if animated too simplistically, while a small sprite may not benefit from excessive movement details.

Conclusion

We've outlined the key aspects to consider when designing an animated character. By adjusting these characteristics, you can achieve different results – for example, creating a simple character with smooth, complex animations or making a highly detailed sprite while simplifying its animation by reducing the frame count.

Feel free to tell us about your project concept, and we'll help you choose the most suitable visual style.