If you’re exploring the world of 2D or 3D animation, you’ve probably wondered how major studios like Disney achieve such fluid motion and expressive characters. The answer lies in the 12 principles of animation, laid out by legendary Disney animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in their influential book The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation. These principles are at the core of any animated work and can be applied to both traditional and digital techniques.
Below, we explain each principle with clear examples so you can apply them to your projects and take your work to the next level.
What are the 12 principles of animation?
First of all, we wanted to clarify that the principles are the same for both 2D and 3D animation. They are as follows: 1. Stretch and Squash
- Description: This principle brings flexibility and life to objects and characters, helping to communicate weight, volume and elasticity.
- How it works: An object or character changes its shape (squashes or stretches) while retaining its volume. This creates dynamic movement that looks more realistic.
- Practical example: Imagine a bouncing ball. When it hits the ground, it flattens out to indicate impact. When it takes off, it stretches out to convey speed and force. In characters, this can be applied to muscles or facial expressions for added impact. In this video you can see how it works.
2. Anticipation
Anticipation in animation prepares the viewer for the main action, creating anticipation and increasing the clarity of the scene. This principle is vital to guide the audience’s attention and avoid confusing movements.
- Practical example: Before jumping, a character crouches slightly, building up energy. This movement prepares the viewer for the jump and makes it look more realistic.
Why it matters: Anticipation not only adds fluidity, it also enhances visual storytelling by keeping the viewer focused.
3. Staging
Staging is basically how an action or emotion is presented so that it is clearly understandable. In 2D and 3D animation, this involves using composition, lighting, and character gestures to communicate intent.
- Practical example: In a danger scene, the light can focus on the eyes of a character, while the rest of the environment remains dark, reinforcing the drama.
Why it matters: Good staging helps the audience understand the story without distractions, enhancing the visual and narrative impact.
4. Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose
These approaches are fundamental in animation techniques:
- Direct Action: The animator creates each frame consecutively, ideal for fluid, spontaneous movements.
- Pose by Pose: Key poses are established first and then intermediate poses are completed, ideal for planned and complex movements.
- Practical example: A dance may benefit from straight action to capture fluidity, while an intense action scene, such as a jump or spin, is best planned with a pose-to-pose approach.
Why it matters: Choosing the right method ensures that movements are organic and tailored to the narrative needs. Another tutorial to see how it works.
5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action
Dynamic realism in animation is achieved by applying the principle of tracking and superimposed action. This shows how different body parts or props continue to move after the main action.
- Practical example: When a character stops a sudden movement, his hair, clothes or limbs continue moving before stopping completely.
Why it matters: Ignore this principle can make movements appear robotic or unnatural.
6. Ease In and Ease Out
Smoothness in motion is achieved by using realistic accelerations and decelerations. Natural motions are rarely abrupt; they start slowly, accelerate, and then stop smoothly. This is achieved by using animation curves. Curve graphs allow 3D software to control the speed at every moment of the animation.
- Practical example: A car that starts progressively and stops smoothly conveys realism and fluidity.
Why it matters: This principle adds a sense of naturalness that is essential to engaging the viewer.
7. Arc
Real-life motions tend to follow curved paths or arcs, rather than straight lines. Applying this principle to 2D or 3D animation creates more fluid and organic motion.
- Practical example: When a character throws a ball, his arm follows a curved path, which adds realism to the movement.
Why it matters: Arcs provide naturalness and make movements more visually pleasing.
8. Secondary Action
Secondary action in animation complements the main action, adding depth and context without distracting.
- Practical example: As a character walks, his facial expression reflects determination and his arms swing slightly, reinforcing the emotion of the scene.
Why it matters: This principle enriches the animation, making the characters appear more alive and complex.
9. Timing
Timing in animation refers to the speed and rhythm of movements, essential for conveying emotions, weight and energy.
- Practical example: A falling bowling ball has a slow, heavy rhythm, while a ping-pong ball bounces quickly, showing lightness.
Why it matters: Controling timing improves the perception of weight and realism in objects and characters.
10. Exaggeration
Exaggeration in animation enhances movements and expressions to make them clearer and more visually appealing.
- Practical example: A surprised character may open his eyes and mouth far beyond normal limits to emphasize his emotion.
Why it matters: Exaggeration captures the audience’s attention and reinforces the emotional impact.
11. Solid Drawing
Even in 2D animation, characters must have volume, weight and depth to appear anchored in their surroundings.
- Practical example: Drawing a character with clear structural lines and well-placed shadows makes it look three-dimensional, even in a 2D environment.
Why it matters: A solid drawing ensures that characters look believable in any animation technique.
12. Appeal
Visual appeal in animation refers to the ability of a character or scene to capture the viewer’s interest.
- Practical example: Designing characters with balanced proportions, expressive gestures and a unique personality makes them memorable, as is the case with Mickey Mouse or Wall-E.
Why it matter: Sin appealing, even the most technically correct animation can look boring or disconnected.
CONCLUSION
The 12 principles of animation are essential tools for creating fluid movement, expressive characters, and visual narratives that connect with your audience. Mastering these concepts not only elevates the quality of your work, but also makes the difference between good animation and great animation.
If you’re interested in honing your 2D and 3D animation skills, experiment with software like Blender, Toon Boom, or After Effects and apply these principles to every project. With our courses You will learn to enhance animations with good lighting, good visual effects (water, fire…) and composition.
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