I've seen a few videos, from this site, and some others - and to be honest, I've been left a little confused.

What's the best way of animating a character? I know there's more than one way to skin a cat, but what would you guys suggest?

I've seen on one video, I think it was a gnomon one, the guy use stepped tangents, block everything out, then only to go back and smooth everything out. I'm sure this is pose-to-pose animation

I've seen on here, esp. the Alien door video from this site, what seems to be straight ahead animation, where clamped and spline curves were the norm.

What's the most effective and most efficient/quickest?

Any advice anyone?

Thanks

James