Animation isn’t just about moving pictures; it’s an art form that brings stories to life. So, what makes animations believable and super engaging?
It’s all about the 12 principles of animation. Developed by Disney legends Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, these guidelines help create realistic and expressive animations.
Let’s explore how animation works. We’ll dive into the 12 principles of animation that can produce amazing results for your business.
The 12 Principles of Animation
1. Squash and Stretch
Think of a bouncing ball that hits the ground, squashes and stretches as it bounces back up. That is the squash and stretch from the 12 principles of animation. It gives characters weight and flexibility.
A heavy object, like a bowling ball, squashes less than a soft object, like a water balloon. The amount an object squashes and stretches indicates its mass— softer objects squash and stretch more than stiffer ones.
This principle of animation applies to characters too. Take, for instance, a character stretching from the speed they’re coming down with, and then squashing upon landing before settling into their pose.
When animating facial expressions, you can squash the face when the eyes close and stretch it when they open in disbelief. Remember, it’s important to keep the volume consistent: as the ball elongates, it should get narrower, and as it flattens, it should get wider.
Why It Matters
Adds realism and depth to your characters and objects.
2. Anticipation
Anticipation is all about preparing your audience for what’s next. Before a character jumps, they might bend their knees to build energy, making the jump look more believable and impactful. It’s like a spring coiling up before releasing.
Think of a character winding up their arm before a punch. This adds power to the action and makes it realistic. Without anticipation, actions can look sudden and unnatural, as if the energy comes from nowhere.
For instance, a character might reach their arm back before punching to build momentum. If a character is about to take something out of their pocket, they might make their hand visible and up in the air before reaching into the pocket to ensure the audience doesn’t miss it.
Why It Matters
Helps your audience understand and predict what’s coming next.
3. Staging
Staging is the 3rd principle from the 12 animation principles. It is like directing a movie. It’s about guiding the audience’s eyes to the most important part of the scene. You can use character positions, lighting, and camera angles to achieve this. For example, if a character is about to speak, place them in the center with a spotlight for emphasis.
If something important is happening on the right, a character might look in that direction to guide the viewer’s attention. So always make sure the main action is clear and not upstaged by other elements in a staging animation.
Why It Matters
Keeps the audience focused on what’s important.
4. Straight Ahead Animation and Pose to Pose
There are two ways to animate: straight-ahead action and pose to pose. Straight ahead means drawing frame by frame from start to finish.
Pose to pose means drawing the key poses first and then filling in the in-between poses. Both methods have their perks. Straight ahead offers fluidity, while pose to pose gives you more control.
The 4th from the 12 basic principles of animation, Straight ahead, is great for unpredictable actions like fire or water, while pose to pose is better for controlled movements. For example, animating a character’s floppy ears might be easier with pose to pose, followed by adding the ear movements with straight-ahead animation.
This way, you can focus on the figure’s movements without the distraction of the ears, and then add the ear movements later.
Why It Matters
Offers flexible styles and approaches for different animations.
5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action
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Ever noticed how a character’s hair or clothes keep moving after the character stops? That’s follow through and overlapping action. It makes movements look more realistic. If a character stops walking, their hair might still move slightly, adding a layer of realism.
When the main body moves, the tip of an appendage should be the last to catch up. And when the body stops, the tip should follow through the farthest before settling back. This is true not just for appendages but for the whole body as well.
For instance, when a character jumps and lands, their body moves first, then their clothes follow. Arms can also demonstrate follow through, with the elbows leading the arms’ actions.
Why It Matters
Adds realism and fluidity to your animations.
6. Slow In and Slow Out
Actions in animation usually start slowly, speed up, and then slow down again before stopping. This principle, known as slow in and slow out, makes movements appear natural. For instance, a car doesn’t start at full speed immediately; it accelerates gradually.
Adjusting motion curves in 3D animation or adding more frames in traditional animation can achieve a smooth start and stop. For example, when a ball bounces, it slows down as it reaches the highest point, then speeds up as it falls. It’s all about spacing your frames closer together at the beginning and end of an action and spreading them out in the middle.
Why It Matters
Creates natural and realistic animations.
7. Arcs
Most natural movements follow an arc or a slightly circular path. When a character throws a ball or swings an arm, the motion should follow an arc. This helps maintain realism and fluidity.
Adding arcs to movements, like a character’s head turn or a ball’s bounce, makes the motion smoother and more lifelike. For instance, a character’s arm might move in an arc when they wave, making the action look natural.
Forgetting about arc in animation can make movements look mechanical and unnatural.
Why It Matters
Ensures movements look natural and fluid.
8. Secondary Action
Secondary actions are those additional movements that support the main action and add more dimension. For example, if a character is walking, they might swing their arms or whistle. These actions enrich the scene and add depth.
Imagine a character licking their lips before taking a bite—it adds personality to the primary action. If a character is sad, a secondary action might be them wiping away a tear. Just make sure the secondary action doesn’t overshadow the main action.
Why It Matters
Adds complexity and realism to animations.
9. Timing
Timing refers to the number of frames between actions, affecting the speed and rhythm. Correct timing can convey different emotions and characteristics. For instance, a quick action shows excitement, while a slow action can convey sadness.
Varying the number of frames changes the perceived intensity and emotion. For example, fewer frames between poses make the action faster and more urgent. A character’s head turn, with no in-betweens, might look like a twitch. With more in-betweens, it could look like a thoughtful movement.
Why It Matters
Adds emotional depth and realism.
10. Exaggeration
Exaggeration intensifies actions and expressions, making them more noticeable. For example, a surprised character might have their eyes pop out dramatically. This principles examples show what makes animation engaging.
Pushing actions to the extreme can make them impactful. For instance, exaggerating a character’s happiness might involve them jumping high in the air. It’s about making the essence of the action more apparent and real.
Why It Matters
Makes animations more expressive and engaging.
11. Solid Drawing
Solid drawing means understanding anatomy, weight, balance, as well as lighting and shadows. It applies more to traditional hand-drawn animation but is important for creating believable characters in any form of animation.
Practicing drawing characters from different angles ensures they feel solid and grounded. For example, drawing a character with proper weight and balance makes them look realistic. Avoiding symmetrical lines and adding overlap can make drawings appear more dynamic.
Why It Matters
Ensures characters have realistic weight and volume.
12. Appeal
Appeal is about creating characters that are interesting and engaging. This doesn’t mean they all need to be cute or beautiful, but they should be compelling and have a clear personality. Think of iconic Disney characters—they’re memorable and charming.
Using a variety of shapes and proportions can create visually interesting and appealing characters. For example, a villain should still be interesting to look at, even if they’re not traditionally “good-looking.”
Why It Matters
Makes characters more relatable and engaging.
Make Your Animations Real by Partnering Up with Professionals
Understanding and applying the 12 animation rules can breathe life to static images and make believable characters and actions. Whether you’re a business owner looking to create engaging 2D animations or an animator aiming to improve your craft, these principles are essential.
When you are ready to build your dream project, reach out to our animators, who are ready to bring your animations to life using the best industry practices!
