12 Principles of Animation

Principle 1: Squash and Stretch

• Animated objects elongate or flatten to emphasize speed, momentum, weight, and mass.
• Example: Bouncing ball with squash/stretch looks like a water balloon; without it looks like a bowling ball.
• Squash and stretch applies to characters for actions and facial expressions.
• Important: Maintain consistent volume; as an object squashes and stretches, its overall volume must remain the same.

Principle 2: Anticipation

• Prepares audience for actions, making them appear more realistic.
• Example: Character crouches before jumping to build energy.
• Anticipation can be used in various actions, like winding up for a punch or looking before reaching for an object.
• Importance: Helps viewers understand actions without confusion.
• Can have multiple levels of anticipation for complex actions.

Principle 3: Staging

• Presents ideas clearly to guide audience’s attention.
• Components: Acting, timing, camera angles, and setting are crucial for effective staging.
• Avoid competing characters/actions in a scene; ensure main actions are clear and well-timed.
• Example: A scene should focus on the main action without distractions.

Principle 4: Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose

• Straight Ahead: Draw each frame sequentially.
• Pose to Pose: Draw keyframes first, then fill in between.
• Pose to pose offers more control over the final action, while straight ahead is better for unpredictable elements (fire, water).
• Use a hierarchy of key poses, extremes, and breakdowns to facilitate in-betweening.

Principle 5: Follow-Through and Overlapping Action

• Body parts continue moving after the main body stops.
• Follow-Through: Parts move after the body has stopped.
• Overlapping Action: Timing differences between the main body and its parts.
• Adds realism by allowing appendages to catch up slowly and be affected by the movement of the body.

Principle 6: Slow In and Slow Out

• Movement typically starts slowly, builds speed, and finishes slowly.
• Application: Use keyframes and in-betweens to create lifelike motion.
• Essential for avoiding mechanical movement; analyze spacing between frames for smooth animation.

Principle 7: Arcs

• Most movements in nature follow a circular path (arc) rather than straight lines.
• Importance: Introduces a more natural look to animations.
• Use arcs for various movements, including character turns, landings, and actions.

Principle 8: Secondary Action

• Gestures that support the main action, adding depth to character animation.
• Example: A character's arms swinging while walking angrily.
• Avoid secondary actions dominating the primary action and ensure they enhance the scene.

Principle 9: Timing

• Affects the personality and nature of animations based on the number of frames.
• More frames = slower action; fewer frames = faster action.
• Standard frame rate is 24 frames per second; common to draw on twos for smoother motion.

Principle 10: Exaggeration

• Amplifying actions, poses, and expressions to enhance the impact on viewers.
• Helps maintain the essence of the action; realism does not mean less exaggeration.
• Find the right balance by pushing the limits of exaggeration before dialing it back.

Principle 11: Solid Drawing

• Ensures characters feel three-dimensional with volume, weight, and balance.
• Use basic shapes to construct characters and avoid flat, symmetrical lines.
• Important to depict weight and balance correctly in poses.

Principle 12: Appeal

• Characters should be visually pleasing and charismatic.
• Tips: Use a variety of shapes, play with proportions, and keep designs simple.
• Adjust designs to enhance the appeal of characters.

Conclusion

• Summary of the 12 principles and their importance in animation.
• Plans for future videos covering topics like walk and run cycles.