The 12 Principles of Animation

1) Squash and Stretch

defining the rigidity and mass of an object by distorting its shape during an action

BAD EXAMPLE             GOOD EXAMPLE

2) Timing and Motion

spacing actions to define the weight and size of objects and the personality of characters

GOOD EXAMPLE

BAD EXAMPLE

3) Anticipation

the preparation for an action

GOOD EXAMPLE

 

BAD EXAMPLE

4) Staging

presenting an idea so that it is unmistakably clear

GOOD EXAMPLE

BAD EXAMPLE

5) Follow Through and Overlapping action

the termination of an action and establishing its relationship to the next action

 GOOD EXAMPLE

6) Straight Ahead action and Pose-to-Pose 

the two contrasting approaches to the creation of movement 

 

7) Slow in and Slow out

the spacing of the in-between frames to achieve subtlety of timing and movement

 GOOD EXAMPLE

8) Arcs

the visual path of action for natural movement

 GOOD EXAMPLE                      BAD EXAMPLE

9) Exaggeration

accentuating the essence of an idea via the design and the action

 BAD EXAMPLE                    GOOD EXAMPLE

10) Secondary Action

the action of an object resulting from another action

 GOOD EXAMPLE

11) Appeal

creating a design or an action that the audience enjoys watching

 GOOD EXAMPLE

BAD EXAMPLE

12) Solid Drawing

the principle of solid drawing means taking into account forms in three-dimensional space, giving them volume and weight. 

 GOOD EXAMPLE

 BAD EXAMPLE