In television animation production, animation work is often outsourced, either domestically or overseas. Regardless of location, the workflow is generally the same: the animation studio delivers shots, the Director and Animation Supervisor review them, and retake notes are sent back when revisions are required.
Retakes are a normal part of the production process. In fact, you should expect a higher number of retakes during the first few episodes as both teams learn how to work together. But if excessive back-and-forth continues beyond the early stages of production, it is usually a sign of a deeper issue that needs to be addressed.
The key is to identify the root cause of the retakes before attempting to solve the problem.
Step 1: Identify the Type of Retake
Different retakes require different solutions. Start by categorizing the feedback you receive most often.
1. Careless Mistakes
Examples include:
- Missing breakdowns
- Incorrect timing
- Unfinished clean-up
- Technical errors that should have been caught before delivery
What it usually means:
The animation team does not have enough time to review its work before submission. This is often a scheduling or staffing problem rather than a talent issue.
What to do:
- Review whether the production schedule is realistic
- Discuss staffing levels with the vendor
- Consider handling minor corrections in-house when it is faster than sending them back
- Reduce delivery pressure where possible to allow proper quality control
2. References or Style Guidelines Are Not Being Followed
Examples include:
- Character acting that does not match established references
- Ignored animation guidelines
- Inconsistent interpretation of the show's style
What it usually means:
The team may have changed, new artists may have joined the production, or there may be staff turnover at the vendor studio.
What to do:
- Rebrief the team on the project's artistic expectations
- Share updated reference material
- Create a clear style guide
- Allow time for the new team members to adapt
3. Artistic or Creative Retakes
Examples include:
- Changes in acting choices
- New stylistic requests
- Revised creative direction
What it usually means:
The Director or Client has changed expectations after production has already begun.
What to do:
Choose one of the following approaches:
Option A: Update and clarify the creative brief so everyone works toward the same goal.
Option B: Secure additional budget and schedule time to accommodate the new direction.
Creative changes have a direct impact on production costs and timelines. Treat them as scope changes, not routine retakes.
4. Retakes Were Not Addressed Correctly
Examples include:
- Requested changes were misunderstood
- Corrections were only partially completed
- The same issue appears repeatedly
What it usually means:
The retake notes were unclear or lacked sufficient context.
What to do:
- Contact the vendor immediately to identify the source of confusion
- Explain the intent behind the notes, not just the technical correction
- Include draw-overs, visual references, and animated examples whenever possible
- Avoid vague comments such as "make it better" or "add more energy"
Clear communication dramatically reduces repeated retakes.
Step 2: Consider Sending an Animation Supervisor On-Site
If the project is experiencing significant delays or quality issues, placing an Animation Supervisor at the vendor studio is an effective investment.
While travel costs may seem expensive, they are often far lower than the cost of months of production delays.
An on-site supervisor can:
- Maintain consistency across episodes
- Reduce technical retakes
- Train and guide the animation team directly
- Improve communication between studios
- Provide realistic forecasts about schedule risks
The vendor team benefits greatly from having direct access to leadership and immediate feedback.
Step 3: Track Artistic Retakes Separately
Artistic retakes should be monitored independently from technical retakes.
An artistic retake is any revision caused by a change in creative direction rather than an execution error by the animation studio.
Most contracts allow a limited number of these revisions. Beyond that threshold, additional costs may apply because they consume significant time and resources.
Best practices:
- Label artistic retakes clearly
- Track them separately in your production reports
- Monitor trends throughout the season
- Use the data when discussing schedule or budget overruns
Step 4: Monitor Retake Percentages
One of the most useful production metrics is the percentage of shots currently in retake.
Remember that the same artists creating new episodes are often responsible for completing retakes from previous ones.
As retakes accumulate, production capacity decreases.
For example:
- Episode 3: 400 new shots
- Episode 2: 240 first-retake shots (60%)
- Episode 1: 96 second-retake shots (40% of the previous retakes)
Total workload:
400 + 240 + 96 = 736 shots
Instead of focusing on 400 new shots, the team is now managing 736 tasks during the same period.
This leaves significantly less time for new animation and creates a cascading schedule problem.
Practical Guidelines
- Plan retake time into the production schedule from the beginning
- Track first, second, and third retake percentages separately
- Investigate immediately if retake percentages remain high after the first few episodes
- Consider an episode effectively approved when only 3–5% of shots remain in a third retake cycle
At that point, pursuing perfection may cost more than the value it delivers.
Step 5: Use Internal Resources Strategically
Sometimes it is faster to complete a minor correction in-house than to send another round of notes.
When doing so:
- Document the change
- Send the corrected version and explanation to the vendor
- Use the correction as a training opportunity
This improves future deliveries and prevents the same issue from recurring.
Step 6: Reduce Retakes Before They Happen
The best retake is the one you never have to request.
Before production begins:
Create Clear Storyboards
- Eliminate ambiguity
- Ensure acting and staging are easy to interpret
Provide Strong Reference Material
- Include animation samples
- Share visual examples
- Supply timing references when necessary
Create a "Do and Don't" Guide
- Document common mistakes
- Explain preferred approaches
- Share it with both internal and external teams
Delegate Late-Round Reviews
Third- and fourth-round retake checks can often be handled by assistants or coordinators to allow Directors and Animation Supervisors to focus on early review rounds, where their feedback has the greatest impact.
Key Takeaways
Retakes are an inevitable part of animation production, but they should be managed strategically rather than accepted blindly.
To keep production on track:
- Identify the root cause of recurring retakes
- Separate technical and artistic retakes
- Track retake percentages closely
- Communicate feedback clearly with visual references
- Invest in on-site supervision when necessary
- Build retake time into your schedule
- Focus on quality without chasing perfection
Successful production managers balance both the big picture and the details. Retakes are indicators of the overall health of your production pipeline: by tracking them carefully and responding appropriately, you can improve quality, reduce delays, and maintain stronger relationships with your animation partners.
