What Is Animation Tweening? A Complete Guide for Beginners and Digital Creators in 2025

Animation is more than just drawings that move—it’s the art of bringing still images to life through motion, timing, and storytelling. Whether you’re a budding animator or a digital content creator, understanding the core principles behind how animation works is essential. One such foundational concept is animation tweening—a technique that’s central to both traditional and digital animation pipelines.

In this guest post, we’ll explore what animation tweening is, how it relates to animatics and animated videos, and why it continues to be a crucial skill in 2025 for everyone from solo creators to major animation studios.

What Is Animation Tweening?
Animation tweening, short for "in-betweening," refers to the process of generating intermediate frames between two keyframes to create the illusion of motion. In other words, tweening helps fill the gap between two poses or states, so the motion feels smooth and natural.

Let’s say you draw a ball at the top of a frame in Frame 1 and the same ball hitting the ground in Frame 10. Tweening would involve drawing the ball falling through space in frames 2 to 9. In digital animation, software can automate these in-between frames using mathematical calculations to make the movement seamless.

The Two Types of Tweening: Manual and Automated
1. Manual Tweening (Traditional Animation)
Before the digital era, animators hand-drew every single in-between frame. A lead animator would create the keyframes, and assistant or junior animators—often called "in-betweeners"—would draw the frames between those key poses.

This method offers complete control and allows for highly expressive movements but is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

2. Digital Tweening (Modern Animation)
With digital tools, animation tweening can now be automated. Software like Adobe Animate, Blender, and Toon Boom Harmony lets you define keyframes and automatically generates the frames in between. You can adjust the speed, path, and easing (acceleration or deceleration) to create realistic motion.

Why Animation Tweening Matters in 2025
As the demand for animated videos continues to explode—thanks to e-learning, marketing, social media, and entertainment—the need for efficient yet high-quality animation methods has never been higher. Animation tweening offers the perfect balance between speed and creative control.

Key Benefits:
Saves time: Automated tweening significantly cuts down on production hours.

Improves consistency: Digital tweening ensures smoother transitions and frame accuracy.

Enhances productivity: Teams can focus on creative aspects like storyboarding and character design.

Optimizes animated videos: Whether it's explainer videos or animated ads, tweening ensures professional-grade motion without the high costs.

Studios like AnimatedVideos leverage tweening to produce high-volume, high-quality content quickly—ideal for brands looking to stay relevant in fast-paced digital landscapes.

Animation Tweening vs. Animatics: What’s the Difference?
While animation tweening deals with the smooth motion between frames, animatics are more about the planning phase. An animatic is a storyboard put into motion, often with basic timing, rough audio, and placeholder animations.

Here’s how they differ:

Feature    Animation Tweening    Animatics
Purpose    Create smooth transitions between keyframes    Visualize the pacing and structure of a scene
Detail Level    High (especially in final animation)    Low to Medium (used for planning)
Tools Used    Adobe Animate, Toon Boom, Blender    Storyboard Pro, After Effects
Production Stage    Mid to Late    Early (pre-production)

That said, animatics often lead directly into tweening. Once timing and scenes are approved in animatic form, animators begin creating full motion sequences using keyframes and tweening.

Tools That Support Animation Tweening in 2025
Thanks to advancements in technology, today’s animation software offers robust tweening capabilities. Here are some of the most popular tools used by professionals and beginners alike:

1. Adobe Animate
Perfect for web and 2D animations, Adobe Animate allows easy tweening of objects, shapes, and even motion paths. You can customize easing to get more dynamic results.

2. Blender
Originally a 3D tool, Blender now includes Grease Pencil, a 2D animation tool that supports tweening. It's open-source and great for independent creators.

3. Toon Boom Harmony
Industry-standard for TV and film animation, it offers advanced tweening features with rigging, motion curves, and deformation tools.

4. Synfig Studio
A free, open-source alternative focused entirely on 2D animation and tweening. Ideal for indie animators on a budget.

5. After Effects
Although not a traditional animation tool, AE is used extensively for tweening in motion graphics, intros, and visual effects in animated videos.

Real-World Applications of Tweening in Animated Videos
Animation tweening plays a pivotal role in a wide range of animated content. Here’s how different industries utilize it:

1. Explainer Videos
Used by startups and tech companies to showcase products or ideas. Tweening helps simplify complex concepts with smooth visuals.

2. Social Media Content
Quick animations and reels often rely on tweening for text transitions, character loops, and icon animations.

3. Marketing Campaigns
Brands use animated videos with tweening effects to create eye-catching ads that drive engagement.

4. E-learning and Training
Tweened animations make tutorials more digestible, especially for visual learners.

5. Entertainment and Streaming
From YouTube series to mobile games, tweening is part of almost every production pipeline.

Pro Tips for Beginners
If you’re just starting out with animation tweening, here are some best practices:

Start simple: Practice with basic shapes and movements like bouncing balls or blinking eyes.

Learn easing: Motion isn't always linear. Use ease-in and ease-out for realism.

Master timing: Good tweening requires understanding timing and spacing between frames.

Study animatics: Watch professional animatics to understand pacing and shot transitions.

Use reference footage: Real-life movement helps you better replicate natural motion.

Final Thoughts: Tweening Is the Foundation of Modern Animation
In 2025, animation tweening remains a core skill for anyone serious about animation. Whether you're creating professional animated videos for businesses or experimenting with your own content, mastering tweening opens the door to endless creative possibilities.

Combined with strong planning through animatics, a well-tweened animation is smoother, more engaging, and far more impactful. With modern tools making it easier than ever, now is the perfect time to dive into the world of tweening and start bringing your characters and stories to life.

Animation isn’t just about movement—it’s about emotion, storytelling, and connection. And tweening? That’s the magic in between.