Understanding Moving Holds in Animation
Moving Holds are a subtle but powerful animation technique used to create realism and emotional tension. Rather than letting a character freeze completely, a moving hold keeps the character “alive” by introducing small, controlled motions while they appear to be holding still.
A moving hold is when a character appears to pause or hold a pose, but still shows tiny movements—such as breathing, slight swaying, blinking, or muscle tremors.
Instead of freezing on a still frame, the animator keeps the pose visually stable while letting the body continue to move minimally.
- Start with a strong pose you want the character to hold.
- Add small secondary motions:
- Chest rising and falling (breathing)
- Tiny eye and head movements
- Fingers curling or twitching
- Subtle weight shifts or spine adjustments
- In the Graph Editor, avoid flat lines:
- Use soft curves to create subtle motion
- Allow easing in and out to keep the movement smooth
This week, my focus was on the blocking stage of animation, where I laid out the key poses that define the character’s movement and rhythm. The main objectives were to establish body mechanics, anticipation, and transitional techniques such as fades in and out.