Originally developed by Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, these principles form the foundation of all great animation:
1. Squash and Stretch
- Gives objects flexibility and weight.
- Example: A bouncing ball squashes upon impact and stretches when moving fast.
2. Anticipation
- Prepares the audience for an action.
- Example: A character bends their knees before jumping.
3. Staging
- Present actions clearly using composition, timing, and camera angles.
- Example: Silhouetting a character’s pose to make it readable.
4. Straight Ahead vs. Pose-to-Pose
- Straight Ahead: Drawing frame-by-frame for spontaneous movement.
- Pose-to-Pose: Creating key poses first, then filling in the in-betweens.
5. Follow-Through and Overlapping Action
- Follow-Through: Parts of an object continue moving after the main motion stops.
- Overlapping Action: Different body parts move at different rates.
- Example: A character’s hair or cape continues to move after stopping.
6. Slow In & Slow Out (Easing)
- Actions start and end gradually rather than suddenly.
- Adds realism and smoothness.
7. Arcs
- Natural movement follows curved paths, not straight lines.
- Example: A swinging pendulum or a moving limb.
8. Secondary Action
- Smaller movements that enhance the main action.
- Example: A character scratching their head while talking.
9. Timing
- The speed of an action affects realism and emotion.
- Fewer frames = faster movement; more frames = slower movement.
10. Exaggeration
- Amplifies movement to enhance appeal and emotion.
- Example: A character’s jaw dropping dramatically in shock.
11. Solid Drawing (For 2D Animation)
- Understanding volume, weight, and perspective for believable characters.
12. Appeal
- Creating characters with charm, personality, and visual interest.
2. The Animation Pipeline
The workflow from concept to final animation includes:
1. Pre-Production:
- Storyboarding: Sketching key scenes.
- Character & Background Design: Developing visuals.
- Animatic: Rough timing of scenes with sound.
2. Production:
- Key Animation: Drawing main poses (keyframes).
- In-Betweening: Adding frames between key poses.
- Clean-Up & Coloring: Refining and adding color.
3. Post-Production:
- Compositing: Merging animation with effects, lighting, and backgrounds.
- Sound Design: Adding music, voices, and sound effects.
3. Types of Animation
1. Traditional (Frame-by-Frame) Animation
- Hand-drawn on paper or digitally (e.g., Toon Boom, Adobe Animate).
- Best for expressive, fluid movement.
2. 2D Vector Animation
- Uses rigs and motion tweens (e.g., Adobe Animate, Moho).
- More efficient for explainer videos and motion graphics.
3. 3D Animation
- Character and object movement in a 3D space (e.g., Blender, Maya).
- Used in movies, games, and VFX.
4. Motion Graphics
- Moving text, shapes, and designs (e.g., After Effects).
- Common in branding, ads, and infographics.
5. Stop Motion
- Uses real objects and frame-by-frame photography (e.g., claymation).
- Requires physical setup and lighting.
Want to improve your animation skills?
- Study classic animations and films.
- Practice gesture drawing to improve movement understanding.
- Learn software like Toon Boom, Adobe Animate, After Effects, Blender, or Maya.
- Experiment with timing and spacing in simple animations like bouncing balls or walk cycles.