In animation, "staying on model" refers to the practice of making sure that drawings of the same object (typically a character) remain consistent with that object's template — its model sheet. This includes keeping the art style consistent, making sure colors match, avoiding drawing errors, and so on. An image that somehow fails to preserve this consistency is said to be "off model".

There are many reasons why this might happen. The drawing may be rushed, the budget might not allow too much attention to detail, the mistake might not have been caught, the animator might not have the skill to follow the template perfectly, or it might have been a conscious choice — although the term "off model" often implies sloppiness on the part of the animators, relaxed template standards can be used for surreal or humorous effect.

The concept of staying on model applies to almost every medium, of course — if the art is inconsistent in a work, it doesn't matter if it's a cartoon or not.

See also Uncanny Valley, when something looks real from a technical perspective, but still fails to convince the audience. Contrast Animation Bump, which is when the quality of animation goes up drastically. Compare with Special Effects Failure, which is a similar concept in live action.

For more detailed information on why this phenomenon can occur, see the Analysis page.

Please do not add examples to work pages, this merely defines the term. Put applicable examples in the following tropes instead:

• Blooper - A mistake that occurs during production.
• Conspicuously Light Patch - A part of the background that is lighter in color than its surroundings.
• Depending on the Artist - The visuals of a work varies, depending on which artist draws it.
• Deranged Animation - Animation that looks deliberately wacky.
• Inconsistent Coloring - Characters' coloration changes at different points in the work/series.
• Special Effect Failure - Cheap-looking Special Effects and Practical Effects.
• Stylistic Suck - An intentionally bad work or part thereof, possibly including intentionally off-model animation.
• Unreliable Illustrator: When a character's appearance doesn't match how they're described in the text.
• Your Size May Vary - Character sizes are inconsistent from scene to scene.