The 12 Principles of animation

The 12 principles of animation are a set of guidelines originally developed by Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston that serve as fundamental principles for creating appealing and lifelike animated movement.

 

Squash and Stretch: To give objects weight and flexibility.

Anticipation: Preparing the audience for an action.

Staging: Clearly presenting the main idea or action.

Straight Ahead and Pose-to-Pose: Different approaches to creating animation.

Follow Through and Overlapping Action: Adding realism to movement.

Slow In and Slow Out: Adding smoothness to motion.

Arcs: Emphasizing natural paths of movement.

Secondary Action: Supporting the main action with additional movements.

Timing: Adjusting the speed and rhythm of actions.

Exaggeration: Amplifying movements for emphasis or humor.

Solid Drawing: Creating 3D form and depth in 2D animation.

Appeal: Ensuring characters are visually engaging and relatable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Squash and Stretch

                    

This principle emphasizes the importance of exaggerating the shape and form of objects or characters during motion. It adds a sense of weight, flexibility, and vitality to the animation. In creative media production, this can be applied to characters, objects, or elements to make them feel more dynamic and expressive.

 

Anticipation

             

Anticipation involves preparing the audience for an upcoming action. This principle can be applied in various ways, such as having a character's body language indicate they are about to do something or using camera movements to foreshadow an event. It helps build anticipation and engagement.

 

Staging

                                 

Staging focuses on presenting an idea or action clearly to the audience. In film and animation, this means careful composition, framing, and placement of elements to guide the viewer's attention. Proper staging ensures that the audience understands the narrative or action being depicted.

 

Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose

                   

These are two different approaches to creating animation. "Straight ahead" involves animating frame by frame in a continuous flow, while "pose to pose" starts with keyframes and builds the animation around them. The choice between these techniques depends on the specific creative goals and production constraints.

 

Follow Through and Overlapping Action

                                

These principles deal with the way different parts of a character or object continue to move after the primary action has ceased. In creative media production, this can be applied to clothing, hair, or secondary elements to make them feel more natural and dynamic.

 

Slow In and Slow Out

                       

Objects and characters typically start and stop slowly and accelerate in the middle of their motion. This principal mimic real-world physics and helps animations feel more natural. In creative media, it ensures that movements don't appear abrupt or robotic.

 

Arcs

                             

Most natural movements follow curved paths, or arcs, rather than straight lines. Applying this principle in creative media production helps characters and objects move more realistically and smoothly.

 

Secondary Action

Secondary actions complement the primary action and add depth to a scene. For example, a character speaking may have secondary actions like hand gestures or facial expressions. In filmmaking, this can include background action or visual details that enhance the story.

 

 

Timing

      

Timing is crucial for conveying a character's emotions and actions effectively. It involves determining the appropriate duration for each action or movement, which can vary depending on the creative intent, whether it's a fast-paced action sequence or a slow, emotional scene.

 

Exaggeration

                                 

Exaggeration involves amplifying certain aspects of movement or expression to make them more noticeable and entertaining. In creative media production, exaggeration can be used to emphasize emotions, actions, or storytelling elements.

 

Solid Drawing

                  

This principle emphasizes the importance of understanding the principles of traditional drawing, including form, weight, and perspective. Even in 3D animation or computer-generated graphics, a strong foundation in solid drawing helps in creating convincing and visually appealing animations.

 

Appeal

                         

Appeal is about creating characters and designs that are visually interesting and engaging to the audience. It involves combining various artistic elements to make characters and scenes attractive and memorable.