The 12 Principles of Animation are essential guidelines for professional animators, originally developed by Disney animators in the 1930s. They were formally outlined by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in their 1981 book, „The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation“. These principles continue to be widely taught and applied in animation, despite advancements in technology and industry changes. They remain relevant in modern films, web design, and animation studios worldwide.[1]
The 12 principles are:
- Squash and stretch
This principle gives a sense of weight and flexibility to objects. For example, a bouncing ball will squash upon impact and stretch when ascending, keeping its volume throughout, just like a normal ball would.
- Anticipation
Anticipation prepares the audience for an action, making movements more realistic. For example, a character bending their knees before jumping, signals that the action is about to happen.
- Staging
Staging directs the audience’s attention to the most important elements in a scene, making sure that its clear what is shown. This can be achieved through composition, lighting, and camera angles.
- Straight-ahead action and pose-to-pose
These are two approaches to creating movement. Straight ahead action involves drawing each frame in sequence, leading to fluid, dynamic motion. Pose to pose starts with key frames and fills in the intervals, allowing for more control over timing and positioning.
- Follow through and overlapping action
This principle ensures that different parts of a character or object continue moving after the main action has stopped, reflecting the laws of physics. For example, a character’s hair or clothing will continue to move and weave, after they have stopped walking.
- Slow in and slow out
Movements in the real world typically start slowly, accelerate, and then decelerate. Animating more frames at the beginning and end of an action, with fewer in the middle, gets this effect.
- Arc
Natural actions tend to follow arched trajectories. Incorporating arcs into animation makes movements appear more fluid and realistic.
- Secondary action
Adding secondary actions, like a character’s facial expression or a subtle gesture, supports the main action and adds depth to the scene.
- Timing
The number of frames dedicated to an action determines its speed and conveys aspects of the character’s mood and personality. The correct timing ensures that movements feel natural.
- Exaggeration
Exaggeration enhances actions to make them more dynamic and engaging. While realism is important, amplifying certain elements can add appeal.
- Solid drawing
This principle emphasizes understanding three-dimensional forms, anatomy, and weight. Even in two-dimensional animation, characters should appear to have volume and balance.
- Appeal
Characters should be visually engaging and relatable. This doesn’t mean they must be conventionally attractive; even villains can have appeal through distinctive designs and personalities.[2]
Bibliography
Lesley University. “The 12 Principles of Animation.” Accessed February 7, 2025. https://lesley.edu/article/the-12-principles-of-animation.
Šarec, Eva. “12 Principov animacije.” Hashtag, September 20, 2023. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://hashtag.si/12-principov-animacije/.
[1] Lesley University. “The 12 Principles of Animation.” Accessed February 7, 2025. https://lesley.edu/article/the-12-principles-of-animation.
[2] Šarec, Eva. “12 Principov animacije.” Hashtag, September 20, 2023. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://hashtag.si/12-principov-animacije/.
This blog content was translated by artificial intelligence.
