Crafting Stylized Gameplay Animation for The Land of Magnates

Introduction 

Hello, I’m Amirhosein Rafighi, an animator with 5 years of experience in the game industry. This article offers an in-depth look at how The Land of Magnates uses stylized hand-keyed animation to create a dynamic and expressive gameplay experience. Developed by Permanent Way, the game leans heavily into exaggerated motion and character-driven storytelling.

Player Animation: Fluidity & Control 

The player's movements are fully hand-animated, giving animators total control over how motion expresses character. The highlights include:  

• Locomotion crafted with anticipation and follow-through.  
• Sharp, readable poses.  
• Seamless transitions between actions.  
• Exaggerated jump arcs and camera syncing.  
• Subtle personality conveyed through idle gestures.  
• Rich secondary animations in props and clothing.  

Enemies: Archetype Through Motion 

Each enemy class is animated to reflect its behavior and personality: agile enemies use snappy, erratic movements; brutes move with slow, heavy force; floating enemies use smooth, sinuous motion for creepiness; death and reaction animations are stylized for drama; enemies dynamically react to terrain and player input; animation cues are aligned with sound design.

Cinematics & Set Pieces: From Sketch to Screen 

Cinematics begin with motion sketches and environment blocks before evolving into expressive storytelling:  

• Simple geometric forms are used to plan movement.
• Camera framing and rhythm dictate scene tempo.
• Character poses are bold for emotional clarity.
• Physics simulations and lighting polish add depth.
• Facial animations use exaggeration to support narrative tone.
• Final passes include effects like VFX and blur to amplify the impact.

Amirhosein Rafighi, Gameplay Animator