There is a difference from 2D and 3D. 2D you can get away with less as in South Park example. But then again, that is a style of it's own and not the norm in 2D.Could you imagine trying to watch Shrek done that way. Yes there are a couple that don't use as much body, Cars, Finding Nemo, but they are not the norm either.

Shrek as a good example. Fantastic facial expressions. but also different rigged meshes for different distances. The farther the scene shot the less rigged and lower poly the face is and the body movement takes over. It's those body movements that help make it look alive.

I never said that facial expressions weren't the main focus. I'm saying that body motion enhances it all. On a distance shot, you can blur the face and still convey the mood/expression with just body movement. Shrek is a great exaple of that. They put a lot of time into the body movements.

Spiderman, Space ghost were a couple I remember as a kid that used more body than facial. Maybe the masks had something to do with that. Transformers, PowerRangers, yes, I too am amazed they still make that one. These make the same point for body movement as using South Park for facial.