(Late Spring, 2026)
ISBN: 978-1-937336-08-0

Bring your imagination to life with Learning 2D Animation with Blender by Dr. Brian G. Burton. This hands-on guide teaches you to master Blender’s powerful Grease Pencil tools while applying the timeless 12 Principles of Animation. Explore bold, stylized storytelling inspired by Arcane, Love, Death & Robots, and Star Trek: Lower Decks. Perfect for students, educators, and indie creators, this book bridges classic animation techniques with modern 2D and 3D workflows. Whether you’re sketching your first keyframe or producing a full short film, you’ll learn to animate with clarity, emotion, and professional polish.

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Why Learn 2D Animation in Blender?
Who This Book Is For
How This Book Is Organized
Pedagogical Approach
Style and Artistic Focus
The Tools You’ll Need
Final Thoughts Before You Begin
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
Bringing Pixels to Life
Learning Outcomes
Key Concept — 2D Animation in a 3D Space
Animation History Spotlight — A Tradition of Moving Lines
Why 2D in a 3D World Matters
Fantasy and Sci-Fi Aesthetics
Understanding the Animation Pipeline
Starting the Right Way — Choosing Your File Type
Moving in the Blender Environment
Navigating the Viewport
Setting Up Your Drawing Tablet
Getting Comfortable With Pressure Sensitivity
Smoothing for Steady Lines
Button and Shortcut Setup
Workspace Setup for Comfort
Quick Line Tests Before You Begin
Why Tablet Setup Matters for Animation
Tip: Rotate the Canvas for Natural Drawing Angles
Understanding the Viewport and Grid
Grease Pencil vs. Annotation Tool
A Helpful Habit
Adjusting Background and World Settings
Your First Animation Tests
Rendering Your Animation to MP4
Encoding Settings
Troubleshooting
A Final Word of Encouragement
Reflection & Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 2
Squash & Stretch
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Why Squash & Stretch Bringings Drawings to Life
Historical Spotlight — The Birth of Squash & Stretch
Understanding Volume and Weight
Stroke and Fill for Expressive Motion
The Bouncing Ball Exercise
Troubleshooting
A Final Note
Reflection & Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 3
Timing and Spacing: The Rhythm of Motion
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Timing, Spacing, and the Heartbeat of Motion
Animation History Spotlight – The Pulse in the Frames
Understanding Keyframes, Breakdowns, and In-Betweens
Keyframes: Story Moments That Matter
Breakdowns: The Direction and Energy Between Keys
In-Betweens: The Rhythm Makers
Timing Charts: A Map for Your Motion
Timeline Blender Tools
Timing Charts — Mapping Motion
Blender Tools for Timing & Spacing
Working with the Graph Editor
Spacing for Emotion and Storytelling
Editing Timing Non-Destructively
Troubleshooting
Reflection & Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 4
Anticipation
Learning Objectives
Key Concept — Why Anticipation Makes Motion Readable
Animation History Spotlight -The Origins of Anticipation in Performance
Understanding Anticipation Poses
Using Timing & Spacing to Strengthen Anticipation
Blender Tools for Planning and Refining Anticipation
Practical Anticipation Examples
Sculpt Mode for Refining Anticipation Arcs
The Anticipation Exercise (Step-by-Step)
Troubleshooting
Reflection & Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 5
Slow-In & Slow-Out
Key Concept: Understanding Slow In and Slow Out
Animation History Spotlight – The Power of a Single Pose
How Slow In & Slow Out Works in Blender
The Graph Editor: Your Animation Compass
Typical Curves for Different Styles
Spacing and Timing in the Dope Sheet
Practical Demonstration: Bouncing Ball with Easing
Applying Slow In & Slow Out to Characters
Stylized Timing for Fantasy & Sci-Fi
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Instructor Insight
Practice Assignments
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 6
Staging and Composition
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: What Staging Means in Animation
Why Staging Matters in Stylized Fantasy & Sci-Fi
Posing and Silhouette Clarity
Fantasy & Sci-Fi Pose Examples
Pose Testing in Blender
Line of Action and Compositional Flow
Framing, Camera Angle, and Shot Choice
Depth, Layers, and Visual Hierarchy
Staging for Expression and Emotion
Staging for Action and Movement
Common Action Staging Mistakes
Composition Techniques for Complex Scenes
Using Blender Tools for Staging
Practical Demonstration: Staging a Simple Scene
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Practice & Reflection
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 7
Straight Ahead & Pose-to-Pose Animation
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: What Straight Ahead Animation Is
Harder to maintain volume
What Pose-to-Pose Animation Is
Key Poses, Extremes, and Breakdowns
Layered Motion: How Pose-to-Pose Supports Complex Scenes
When to Animate Straight Ahead
Combining Straight Ahead and Pose-to-Pose
Storyboarding and Visual Narrative
Blender 5’s Storyboarding Tools
Using Blender Tools for Both Methods
Practical Demonstration: Character Reach and Energy Burst
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Practice & Reflection
Practice Exercises
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 8
Secondary Action
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: What Secondary Action Really Is (and Isn’t)
Animation History Spotlight: The Masters of Layered Motion
Identifying Primary and Secondary Actions
Layering Motion: Building Secondary Action on Top of the Primary Performance
The Physics of Follow and Drag
Creating Secondary Action with Modifiers
Emotional Secondary Action
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Practical Demonstration: Layered Secondary Motion
Reflection & Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 9
Overlapping Action and Follow-Through
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Understanding Overlap, Drag, and Follow-Through
Animation History Spotlight — Overlap Through the Eras
Animating Drag and Delay
Understanding Primary, Secondary, and Overlapping Layers
Applying Overlap to Stylized Motion
Follow-Through vs. Overlapping Action — Understanding the Difference
The Physics of Overlap
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
Practical Demonstration: Overlapping Action & Follow-Through
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 10
Arcs and Paths of Action
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Motion Loves a Curve
Animation History Spotlight — Arcs Across Eras
Understanding Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Arcs
When to focus on primary arcs:
Designing Arcs for Stylized Worlds
Identifying Arcs in Reference and Planning
Creating Arcs in Grease Pencil
Motion Paths — Visualizing Flow in Blender
Using Arcs to Improve Overlapping Action
Designing Performance Through Arcs
Common Arc Mistakes & How to Fix Them
Practical Demonstration: Creating Clean, Expressive Arcs
Reflection & Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 11
Solid Drawing
Learning Objectives
Key Concepts: What Solid Drawing Really Means in Animation
Historical Spotlight: Solid Drawing and the Illusion of Life
Constructing Solid Poses Using Simple Forms
Maintaining Volume Through Motion
Balance, Weight, and Center of Gravity
Perspective Consistency in Animation
Evaluating Solid Drawing with Silhouette and Still Frames
Fixing Structural Problems in Blender
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Practical Exercise: Structural Stability Pass
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 12
Exaggeration and Appeal
Learning Objectives
Key Concepts: What Exaggeration and Appeal Actually Do
Appeal Is About Readability, Not Beauty
Historical Spotlight: Exaggeration, Appeal, and the Language of Animation
Silhouette, Shape, and Pose Clarity
Pushing Poses Without Breaking Structure
Designing Appeal Through Shape and Rhythm
Rhythm Guides the Eye
Timing and Spacing as Exaggeration Tools
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Practical Exercise: Exaggeration and Appeal
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 13
Performance and Acting (Acting for Animation)
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Acting for Animation: The Animator as Performer
Historical Spotlight – The Actor Animator
The Power of Posing and Gesture
Timing and Rhythm in Emotional Performance
Facial Expression and Emotional Subtext
Conveying Emotion Without Dialogue
Stylized Acting for Fantasy and Sci-Fi Characters
Practical Demonstration: Acting Without Words
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 14
Foundations of Drawing for Animation
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Weight, Balance, and Rhythm
Historical Spotlight — The Dance of Physics
Conveying Weight through Timing and Deformation
Achieving Balance in Poses and Motion
Visual and Temporal Rhythm
Integrating Weight, Balance, and Rhythm
Stylized Motion: Fantasy and Sci-Fi Applications
Practical Demonstration: Shifting Weight and Balanced Movement
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 15
The Walk Cycle
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: A Walk Is a Controlled Fall
Historical Spotlight — The Animator’s Signature
Understanding the Anatomy of a Walk
Building the Basic Walk Cycle
Adding Weight, Balance, and Rhythm
Appeal and Personality in the Walk
Stylized Walk Cycles for Fantasy and Sci-Fi
Practical Demonstration: Creating a Looping Walk Cycle
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Beginner Practice
Intermediate Practice
Advanced Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 16
Character Rigging and Modular Design
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Control Without Stiffness
Understanding Grease Pencil Rigging Basics
Separating Characters into Modular Parts
Building a Simple Grease Pencil Rig
Animating with a Rig Without Losing Expression
Modular Variations and Outfit Design
Practical Demonstration: Rigging a Modular Character
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 17
Dialogue and Lip Sync
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Dialogue Is Timing, Not Phonetics
Historical Spotlight — Speaking Drawings
Facial Planning Before Lip Sync
Understanding Mouth Shapes and Visemes
Planning Dialogue with Timing Charts
Animating Dialogue Step by Step
Supporting Dialogue with Head and Body Motion
Stylized Dialogue for Fantasy and Sci-Fi Characters
Practical Demonstration: Animating a Short Dialogue Line
Step-by-Step Process
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 18
Understanding 2D in a 3D World
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: 2D Drawings in a 3D Space
Historical Spotlight — Multiplane Cameras and Parallax
Understanding the Z Axis in Grease Pencil
Creating Depth with Layered Planes
Parallax Through Motion and Camera Movement
Staging Characters and Backgrounds in Depth
Practical Demonstration: Building a Parallax Scene
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 19
Lighting and Visual Style
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Lighting as Visual Storytelling
Historical Spotlight — Stylized Lighting in Animation and Illustration
Understanding Light in a Grease Pencil World
NPR Shaders and Stylized Lighting
Color, Value, and Mood
Lighting for Depth and Composition
Practical Demonstration: Creating a Stylized Lighting Setup
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 20
Working with Masks and Advanced Layering
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Visibility Is a Design Choice
Historical Spotlight — Masks, Mattes, and Layered Compositing
Understanding Masks in Grease Pencil
Layer Organization for Complex Scenes
Using Masks for Depth and Occlusion
Masks and Lighting Interaction
Practical Demonstration: Masking a Multi-Layer Scene
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 21
Combining 2D and 3D Animation
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: 3D Exists to Support 2D
Historical Spotlight — Hybrid Animation in Film and Television
Understanding the Role of 3D in a Grease Pencil Workflow
Placing Grease Pencil in a 3D Scene
Using 3D Geometry as a Drawing and Staging Aid
Lighting and Style Consistency Between 2D and 3D
Masks, Depth, and Occlusion in Hybrid Scenes
Practical Demonstration: Building a Hybrid 2D/3D Scene
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 22
Grease Pencil Effects, Modifiers, and Stylized VFX
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Effects and Modifiers Serve the Story
Historical Spotlight — Stylized Effects and Procedural Motion in 2D Animation
Overview of Grease Pencil Effects and Modifiers
Motion-Based Effects and Modifiers
Shape, Line, and Stylization Modifiers
Environmental and Atmospheric Effects
Impact, Energy, and Fantasy / Sci-Fi Effects
Practical Demonstration: Adding Effects and Modifiers to a Finished Scene
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 23
Camera Motion and Cinematic Storytelling
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: The Camera Is a Performer
Historical Spotlight — Camera Language in Animation and Film
Camera Placement and Framing
Static Shots and Visual Clarity
Motivated Camera Movement
Camera Motion in a 2D-in-3D World
Practical Demonstration: Directing a Shot
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 24
Using Nodes for Animation and Compositing
Learning Objectives
Key Concept: Nodes Are a Finishing Tool, Not a Fix
Historical Spotlight — Compositing and Visual Unification in Animation
Understanding Blender’s Compositor at a Conceptual Level
Essential Nodes for Grease Pencil Animation
Using Nodes to Reinforce Focus and Hierarchy
Color Consistency and Stylized Looks
Practical Demonstration: Polishing a Shot with Nodes
FX Decision Tree: Drawn vs Procedural vs Composited
Golden Rule of FX Workflow
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 25
Finishing the Shot: Rendering, Compositing, and Delivery
Learning Objectives
Knowing When to Lock Animation
Historical Spotlight: Finishing the Film
Preparing the Scene for Rendering
Rendering Settings, Formats, and Output Choices
File Formats and Codecs
Final Checks, Playblasts, and Delivery
Common Rendering and Delivery Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 26
The Animators Pipeline: From Idea to Completion
Learning Objectives
The Core Stages of the Animation Pipeline
Where Projects Stall—and How to Keep Moving
Solo Pipelines vs. Team Pipelines
Scope, Sustainability, and Finishing Without Burnout
Instructor Insight
Protect the Long Game
Building a Pipeline You Can Return To
Project Management for Animators
Reflection and Practice
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 27
Expanding the Pipeline Without Losing Control
Learning Objectives
Deciding When Expansion Helps—and When It Hurts
External and Pipeline Tools That Support Your Workflow
The Asset Browser: Reuse Without Losing Control
Introducing New Tools Without Breaking Your Pipeline
Evaluating Your Pipeline Over Time
Instructor Notes
CHAPTER 28
Working with a Team in the Animation Pipeline
Learning Objectives
From Solo Thinking to Team Thinking
Dividing Work Without Dividing Vision
Using Scene Linking to Support Collaboration
Collaboration Tools as Communication Tools
Supporting the Team With Systems
What Makes Collaboration Work
Instructor Notes
Appendices
Appendix A
Production Checklists and Workflow Resources
Starting a Project with Intention
Creating a Project Bible
Planning Shots Instead of Guessing
Knowing When Animation Is Locked
Polishing with Purpose
Rendering and Delivering Work
Solo vs Team Workflow Comparison
Giving and Receiving Feedback
Notes for Instructors and Independent Learners
Appendix B
The 12 Principles of Animation – Reference and Exercise Index
Appendix C
Blender 5 Quick Reference Guide for Grease Pencil 3
Understanding Grease Pencil Modes
Key Panels You Will Use Most Often
Frequently Used Shortcuts
Grease Pencil Tools by Animation Principle
When Something Feels “Broken”
Appendix D
Historical Timeline of Animation and Key Figures
Before Animation Had a Name: Motion Studies and Optical Illusions
1890s: The First Public Animated Performances
1908: The Birth of the Animated Cartoon
1910s: Personality Animation and the Rise of Production Techniques
1917: Rotoscoping and the Long Conversation Between Reality and Stylization
1920s: Feature-Length Ambition and Silhouette Innovation
1930s: The Golden Age of Studio Animation and Depth Through Camera Tricks
1940s–1950s: Animation Becomes Design-Led and Style-Driven
1960s: Speed, Reuse, and the Reality of Production Constraints
1970s–1980s: Computer Graphics Research Meets Animation Practice
1995: The CGI Feature Becomes a New Mainstream
2002: Open-Source Tools Enter the Professional Conversation
2000s–2020s: Hybrid Aesthetics and the Return of Stylization
Grease Pencil as a Modern Continuation of an Old Idea
Visual Guide to Stylized Art & Animation
Appendix E
Recommended Reading, Documentaries, and Online Resources
Foundational Texts on Animation Principles
Acting, Performance, and Storytelling
Stylization, Design, and Visual Language
Production, Pipeline, and Collaboration
Documentaries and Films about Animation
Academic and Industry Journals
Career and Professional Development
Magazines and Industry Publications
Formal Reference List (APA Style)