In this episode of the Shot List, we break down the 12 principles of animation, how they work, and why animators continue to use them to this day.
APPLY THE 12 PRINCIPLES OF ANIMATION
Squash and Stretch: Deforming objects or characters to emphasize their weight, elasticity, or flexibility.
Anticipation: Preparing the audience for an upcoming action by showing a brief movement or change in expression.
Staging: Presenting ideas or actions in a clear and visually interesting way, directing the audience’s attention to convey the intended message.
Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose: Two different approaches to animating movement. Straight ahead animates each frame in sequence, while pose to pose plans key poses first.
Follow Through and Overlapping Action: Continuing movement after the main action stops and parts of a character or object moving at different speeds or times.
Slow In and Slow Out: Gradually increasing or decreasing the speed of movement at the beginning and end of an action.
Arcs: Animating objects and characters along curved trajectories, mimicking real-world motion.
Secondary Action: Additional movements that complement the main action, adding depth and context to a character’s performance.
Timing: The speed and rhythm of movements in animation, essential for conveying weight, energy, and emotion effectively.
Exaggeration: Pushing movements and expressions beyond reality to make them more dynamic and expressive.
Solid Drawing: Creating characters and objects with volume, weight, and dimensionality, making animation appear more believable and three-dimensional.
Appeal: Making characters and animation visually interesting and appealing, designing characters with unique personalities and maintaining consistency in design and performance.