--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't think of animation as anything…" description: "\"You can't think of animation as anything less than a performance and a show.\" — Rob Minkoff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/rob-minkoff-10869_animation_you-can-t-think-of-animation-as-anything_783531.jpg" --- # You can't think of animation as anything less than a… ![“You can't think of animation as anything less than a performance and a show.” quote by Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/rob-minkoff-10869_animation_you-can-t-think-of-animation-as-anything_783531.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/rob-minkoff-10869_animation_you-can-t-think-of-animation-as-anything_783531.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/rob-minkoff-10869_animation_you-can-t-think-of-animation-as-anything_783531.jpg) > “You can't think of animation as anything less than a performance and a show.” [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Animation must be treated as a live performance, not merely a technical process, emphasizing artistry and audience engagement. **In simple terms:** Animation is a performance. Key Takeaway Treat animation like a show. Themes creativity performance artistry Mood inspired enthusiastic Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - film production - stage shows - educational workshops - advertising campaigns Key Concepts animation theory live storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How does viewing animation as performance change your creative process? - What elements make an animation feel like a live show? A Different Perspective If the performance aspect is ignored, the work can feel flat and mechanical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animation/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) ## Related quotes > [I think animation is a very truthful way to express your thoughts, because the process is very direct. That's what I've always liked about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-think-animation-is-a-very-truthful-way-to-express-your-thoughts/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I think the animation helps divorce the violence from reality. The sex certainly doesn't look all that realistic. I think the fact that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-reed/i-think-the-animation-helps-divorce-the-violence-from-reality-the-sex/) [Adam Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-reed/) > [Sometimes the theme of the film is something that comes down to the way you designed the film - that you're saying something about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-knight/sometimes-the-theme-of-the-film-is-something-that-comes-down-to-the/) [Travis Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-knight/) > [I think 2-D animation disappeared from Disney because they made so many uninteresting films. They became very conservative in the way they created them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayao-miyazaki/i-think-2-d-animation-disappeared-from-disney-because-they-made-so/) [Hayao Miyazaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayao-miyazaki/) > [In some ways, I feel like the strength of animation is in its simplicity and caricature, and in reduction. It's like an Al Hirschfeld…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-docter/in-some-ways-i-feel-like-the-strength-of-animation-is-in-its/) [Pete Docter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-docter/) > [I think animation is like running a marathon, and making a movie is like a 100 meter sprint. The question is: are you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-think-animation-is-like-running-a-marathon-and-making-a-movie-is/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [I think animation can tell more than live action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makoto-shinkai/i-think-animation-can-tell-more-than-live-action/) [Makoto Shinkai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makoto-shinkai/) > [I used to think that animation was about moving stuff. In order to make it really great, you bounce it, squash it, stretch it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-keane/i-used-to-think-that-animation-was-about-moving-stuff-in-order-to/) [Glen Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-keane/) > [Animation functions like a repertory company. It requires a stable group of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/animation-functions-like-a-repertory-company-it-requires-a-stable/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [As an actor and singer, I loved to draw and I thought animation was a perfect combination of all those things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/as-an-actor-and-singer-i-loved-to-draw-and-i-thought-animation-was-a/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [Everyone in animation is a performer to a degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/everyone-in-animation-is-a-performer-to-a-degree/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [When you work in animation, everyone starts on the bottom rung. You don't even draw your own pictures, you just fill in the movements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/when-you-work-in-animation-everyone-starts-on-the-bottom-rung-you-don/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [What's unique about Disney Animation, many of the films have this perennial quality about them. They don't seem like old films, they still seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/what-s-unique-about-disney-animation-many-of-the-films-have-this/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [I always loved that solitary experience of making things. There's a solitary aspect to animating... It's ultimately the animator and the puppet coaxing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-knight/i-always-loved-that-solitary-experience-of-making-things-there-s-a/) [Travis Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-knight/) > [Unlike other voice-over situations which are done in a recording studio, Roger Rabbit was live action and animation combined, and there was a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fleischer/unlike-other-voice-over-situations-which-are-done-in-a-recording/) [Charles Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fleischer/) ## More by Rob Minkoff > [Mr. Peabody is this genetic anomaly. He does have brothers and sisters, all of them non-speaking, not super-smart dogs. He's an outcast, but has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/mr-peabody-is-this-genetic-anomaly-he-does-have-brothers-and-sisters/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [What's unique about Disney Animation, many of the films have this perennial quality about them. They don't seem like old films, they still seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/what-s-unique-about-disney-animation-many-of-the-films-have-this/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [I mean, when you really look at it, Mr. Peabody and Sherman were the original 'Modern Family.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/i-mean-when-you-really-look-at-it-mr-peabody-and-sherman-were-the/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [If you're in the movies and you haven't been to Beijing, you're kind of missing where things are really happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/if-you-re-in-the-movies-and-you-haven-t-been-to-beijing-you-re-kind/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [Some people might look askance at a dog driving a scooter. But not everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/some-people-might-look-askance-at-a-dog-driving-a-scooter-but-not/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [History turned out to be my favorite subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/history-turned-out-to-be-my-favorite-subject/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [I'm breaking all the rules directing a picture with animals, kids - and talking mice!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/i-m-breaking-all-the-rules-directing-a-picture-with-animals-kids-and/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [I loved the fact that Peabody was a teacher and that he would take Sherman on these incredible adventures to meet these crazy characters.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/i-loved-the-fact-that-peabody-was-a-teacher-and-that-he-would-take/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [In fact, if you look at the early Warner Brothers cartoons, you'll see the precedent for Roger Rabbit was really the earliest Daffy Duck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/in-fact-if-you-look-at-the-early-warner-brothers-cartoons-you-ll-see/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [There was something raw and intense about Simba tugging on his dead father's ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/there-was-something-raw-and-intense-about-simba-tugging-on-his-dead/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [When you work in animation, everyone starts on the bottom rung. 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Like with any family, things become complicated, so they both must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/mr-peabody-adopted-sherman-and-raised-him-the-best-way-he-knows-how/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [When I was little, I really loved movies and I also did a lot of performing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/when-i-was-little-i-really-loved-movies-and-i-also-did-a-lot-of/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [A big part of filmmaking, and a big part of the power of filmmaking, is creating characters that people fall in love with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/a-big-part-of-filmmaking-and-a-big-part-of-the-power-of-filmmaking-is/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [Stuart Little will go down in history as the most expensive actor in motion pictures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/stuart-little-will-go-down-in-history-as-the-most-expensive-actor-in/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) [Explore all 63 Rob Minkoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) ## More Animation quotes > [If I'm doing a voice-over session, like animation or something, and I'm doing three different voices, you've gotta separate them. You've gotta find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-adlon/if-i-m-doing-a-voice-over-session-like-animation-or-something-and-i-m/) [Pamela Adlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-adlon/) > [I was always into cartoons and animation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nonito-donaire/i-was-always-into-cartoons-and-animation/) [Nonito Donaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nonito-donaire/) > [What's unique about Disney Animation, many of the films have this perennial quality about them. They don't seem like old films, they still seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/what-s-unique-about-disney-animation-many-of-the-films-have-this/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [I was always tinkering around with stuff but nothing serious at the time. I was doing animations and drawing like crazy, but I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-vangaalen/i-was-always-tinkering-around-with-stuff-but-nothing-serious-at-the/) Chad VanGaalen > [In feature animation, cartoony or exaggerated animation is almost taboo. There is this precedent that if you do that kind of stuff people won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genndy-tartakovsky/in-feature-animation-cartoony-or-exaggerated-animation-is-almost/) [Genndy Tartakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genndy-tartakovsky/) > [CGI has fully ruined car crashes. Because how can you be impressed with them now? When you watch them in the '70s, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/cgi-has-fully-ruined-car-crashes-because-how-can-you-be-impressed/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [To this day I over prepare. I draw storyboards for every scene - chicken scratches so crude that they amuse and horrify the crew.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/to-this-day-i-over-prepare-i-draw-storyboards-for-every-scene-chicken/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [I was invited to join the MGM cartoon department. But if I'd started work in animation I'd have had to take a cut in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-was-invited-to-join-the-mgm-cartoon-department-but-if-i-d-started/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I took a lot of influences from Studio Ghibli, which is the Japanese animation studio that made 'Spirited Away' and 'Castle in the Sky.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-took-a-lot-of-influences-from-studio-ghibli-which-is-the-japanese/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [I've worked in animation for a long time. I started in Spain and I wanted to make feature films. That desire to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-garcia/i-ve-worked-in-animation-for-a-long-time-i-started-in-spain-and-i/) [Raul Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-garcia/) > [If you were to look at an old 'Betty Boop' cartoon or an 'Out of the Ink Well' animation, there are many things about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-seibert/if-you-were-to-look-at-an-old-betty-boop-cartoon-or-an-out-of-the-ink/) [Fred Seibert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-seibert/) > [Animation has always been about technology. You can't have animation without technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wedge/animation-has-always-been-about-technology-you-can-t-have-animation/) [Chris Wedge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wedge/) > [In a movie, it's often important to have aliens whose gestures and facial expressions can be 'read' by humans. And in the days before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/in-a-movie-it-s-often-important-to-have-aliens-whose-gestures-and/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Tigress is my alternate personality, especially with children. I love animation because you get to do things you don't normally get to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/tigress-is-my-alternate-personality-especially-with-children-i-love/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [With live-action I think we'd have lost the universal appeal of the Persepolis story. With live-action, it would have turned into a story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/with-live-action-i-think-we-d-have-lost-the-universal-appeal-of-the/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) [Browse all 837 Animation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't think of animation as anything less than a performance and a show.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rob Minkoff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/you-can-t-think-of-animation-as-anything-less-than-a-performance-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/you-can-t-think-of-animation-as-anything-less-than-a-performance-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/rob-minkoff-10869_animation_you-can-t-think-of-animation-as-anything_783531.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/rob-minkoff-10869_animation_you-can-t-think-of-animation-as-anything_783531.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/rob-minkoff-10869_animation_you-can-t-think-of-animation-as-anything_783531.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't think of animation as anything less than a performance and a show.” — Rob Minkoff", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rob Minkoff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't think of animation as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/you-can-t-think-of-animation-as-anything-less-than-a-performance-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/you-can-t-think-of-animation-as-anything-less-than-a-performance-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```