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Writer's pictureHan Choi

12 Principles of animation

Updated: Dec 5, 2022



Squash and stretch: Squash and stretch is a principle of objects becoming longer and shorter. The use of this method is to show volume and weight when something is in more. Squash and stretch is useful because it overexaggerates 2D making it less stiff and more fluid.



Anticipation: Anticipation is a way to show the audience that something is about to happen. Anticipation is needed because it gets rid of further confusion by letting the audience know what is about to happen, without anticipation the audience might get confused on how the character has achieved something.




Staging: staging is a way to show the audience that the idea in the animation is clear. This can be when the animation wants to tell the audience something indirectly. Like changing the settings and background into a cold place to show that the character lives in a cold environment.





Straight ahead and pose to pose: pose to pose animation is when the animator draws the keyframes and then fill the frames between. This is good for drawing moving objects which requires form. Straight ahead animation is good for objects which do not require any form or shape.






Follow through and drag: Follow through is when the object moves even when the motion stops. This is such as having a cape on a character, when the character moves the cape follows behind slowly.







Slow in and slow out: slow in and slow out is when a moving object slows down when it reaches towards the end. This is to express mass on the object and make it look more realistic and less mechanic.








Arcs: Arcs are a way to show realistic movements. An arc creates a guide to moving objects and figure movements. It can also make a moving object more interesting by adding more details to the motion.







Secondary Action: A secondary action enhances the scene in an animation or in a character. A secondary action gives the audience clues to show what the character is feeling or thinking. This can be small details such as when a character moves with their hands closed, it might hint that they are angry.




Timing: Timing is when a distance between an object varies. Such as a moving object with more gap between shows that the object is moving at a high speed.







Exaggeration: Exaggeration is a way to convince the viewer that the character is feeling in a certain mood. Exaggeration adds more impact in a scene.






Solid Drawing: Solid drawing is when a solid form does not change shape. This is when a character remains in a solid position with no exaggeration. Solid exaggeration can also mean shape and size remaining as they are.






Appeal: is when a character has some design that makes them appeal out to the audience. This can be done by changing a character's structural shape by over exaggerating their body.

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