Follow through and overlapping action make our animation look more realistic. Follow-through refers to any movement that continues after a character’s primary movement has stopped. For instance, if a character with long hair is running, their hair will continue forward once they have come to a sudden stop. We can use this same example to explain overlapping action! In overlapping action, when the long-haired character starts running their hair will “drag” behind them for a moment before it catches up.

The drawings below illustrate overlapping action. As the hero lands, her ponytail and cape continuing moving even after the body of the character is still.