Notes on the 12 Principles of Animation

Introduction

Video series dedicated to the 12 principles of animation by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston.

Definition: Animated objects elongate or flatten to emphasize speed, momentum, weight, and mass.
Example: Bouncing ball with squash and stretch vs. without.
Key Points:
- More squash and stretch indicates a softer object (e.g., water balloon).
- Less squash and stretch indicates a stiffer object (e.g., bowling ball).
- Applies to characters as well; can be used for exaggerating facial expressions.
- Important to keep volume consistent while squashing/stretching.
- Avoid elongating and flattening without adjusting volume accordingly.

Definition: Preparing for an action to clue the audience into what is happening next.
Example: Character crouching before jumping, winding up before a punch.
Key Points:
- Helps make actions appear more realistic.
- Can be visually indicated by positioning (e.g., pointing eyes and head in the direction of action).
- Can also mislead the audience for surprise effects.
- Multiple levels of anticipation can be utilized for more complex actions (e.g., a punch).

Definition: Presenting an idea clearly and unmistakably.
Key Points:
- Involves control of audience focus (e.g., character placement, camera angles).
- Avoid competing actions or elements that distract from the main focus.
- Use timing effectively; let one action finish before another starts.
- Convey emotions and ideas clearly through staging.

Definition: Two methods for animating drawings.
- Straight Ahead: Draw frame-by-frame from start to finish.
- Pose to Pose: Create key poses and fill in between later.
Key Points:
- Pose to pose provides more control and helps catch problems earlier.
- Straight ahead is suited for unpredictable animations (e.g., fire, water).

Definition: Techniques for body parts and appendages to continue moving after the main body stops.
Key Points:
- Follow through: Parts of the body continue to move after the action.
- Overlapping action: Offset timing between the main body and its parts.
- Adds realism; e.g., dragging arms while walking.

Definition: Movement starts slowly, accelerates, and finishes slowly.
Key Points:
- Essential for realistic motion; without it, animations feel mechanical.
- In 2D, draw extreme poses with in-betweens; in 3D, adjust motion curves.
- Use it wisely in different animations (e.g., not during quick impacts).

Definition: Natural movement generally follows circular paths (arcs).
Key Points:
- Avoid mechanical movements; instead, use arcs to make animations feel fluid.
- Apply arcs to almost any movement for realism.

Definition: Additional gestures that support the main action to add depth.
Key Points:
- Should not overshadow the primary action; secondary actions add dimension and character.
- Use staging to emphasize secondary actions without detracting from the main action.

Definition: Affects the personality and nature of an animation based on the number of frames between actions.
Key Points:
- More frames mean slower action; fewer frames mean faster action.
- Frame rates: 24 frames/sec is standard; drawing on ones, twos, or threes can change the feel.

Definition: Amplifying actions and expressions for greater impact.
Key Points:
- Make characters' emotions and actions more apparent.
- Exaggeration should increase clarity, not distort reality.

Definition: Ensure forms feel three-dimensional with weight and balance.
Key Points:
- Use basic shapes and avoid symmetry to maintain volume and depth.
- Consider perspective to avoid flatness in drawings.

Definition: Characters should be pleasing or interesting to look at.
Key Points:
- Use dynamic designs, variety in shapes, and appropriate proportions to enhance appeal.
- Keep designs simple for ease of animation while maintaining character personality.