Fundamental Principles of Animation

Principles of Traditional Animation:
http://www.3dark.com/archives/animation/the_principles.html

1. Squash and Stretch : Defining the rigidity and mass of an object by distorting its shape during an action.

2. Timing : Spacing actions to define the weight and size of objects and the personality of character.

3. Anticipation : The preparation for an action.

4. Staging : Presenting an idea so that it is unmistakably clear.

5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action : The termination of an action and establishing it relationship to the next action.

6. Straight Ahead Action and Pose-To-Pose Action -- The two contrasting approaches to the creation of movement.

7. Slow In and Out : The spacing of the inbetween frames to achieve subtlety of timing and movement.

8. Arcs : The visual path of action for natural movement.

9. Exaggeration : Accentuating the essence of an idea via the design and the action.

10. Secondary Action : The action of an object resulting from another action.

11. Appeal : Creating a design or an action that the audience enjoys watching.

The application of some of these principles mean the same regardless of the medium of animation. 2D hand drawn animation deals with a sequence of two dimensional drawings that simulate motion. 3D animation involves creating a three dimensional model in the computer. Motion is achieved by setting keyframe poses and having the computer generate the inbetween frames. Timing, anticipation, staging, follow through, overlap, exaggeration, and secondary action apply in the same way for both types of animation. While the meaning of squash and stretch, slow in and out, arcs, appeal, straight ahead action, and pose-to-pose action remain the same, their application changes due to the difference in medium.