Individual skill

anticipation-payoff

Use when designing action sequences, gags, reveals, or any motion that needs setup before delivery—preparing audiences for what's coming and maximizing impact.

skills/02-by-thinking-style/anticipation-payoff/SKILL.md

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# Anticipation & Payoff

Think like a comedian setting up a punchline. Every great moment is earned by what came before. The windup is half the pitch.

## Core Mental Model

Before animating any action, ask: **What prepares the audience for this?**

Anticipation isn't just physical preparation—it's a promise. You're telling the audience "something's coming" so they're primed to receive it. The payoff is keeping that promise with interest.

## The 12 Principles Through Setup-Delivery

**Anticipation** — The principle itself. Before going right, go left. Before jumping up, crouch down. The opposite direction creates spring-loaded energy.