Layering Basics

[Steffan Ralph DelPiano]

Hello, I am attempting to create my first puppet in the style of cardboard paper cutouts.  Here's a pic:

I'm not in love with the mouth etc., but for my first attempt I'm happy with the product.  I'm making it in Illustrator.

Now, I like the layering as is.

Would I be able to simply add mouth positions and blink/lid/pupil etc. and have the puppet work?  Or, do I have to have the layering the way the Blank character has been layered?

[alank99101739]

The hierarchy in the artwork is very important to character animator. Many behaviors assume particular hierarchies of layers to work correctly. Eg the mouth positions should be in a group under a mouth layer. Strange results can occur if this is not the case. Things can also go wrong adding additional unexpected layers at times.