ABSTRACT
This chapter examines a number of best practices and things to consider when building a schedule, with the ultimate goal being to deliver the best animation quality within the finite time of the development schedule. Prioritizing work is essential to ensure the animation team is working on what is required the most at any point in time, so prepare to be flexible on this throughout the project. De-Risking unknowns can come in the form of new technologies or pipelines that must be developed in order for the animation team to work. The single best approach to prioritization one can develop in order to minimize wasted effort is to look ahead and evaluate all the potential issues that might arise with each individual system, section of a game, or complex cinematic. Animation needs the rigged character, and design needs it all put together to start making the character playable.
