12 Principles of Animation

This principle of animation explains that animated objects will get longer or flatter to emphasize speed, momentum, weight, or mass

• Arcs

• Appeal

• Squatch & Stretch

• Follow Through

This principle depicts a character preparing to do an action which gives the audience a clue of what will happen next.

• Arcs

• Staging

• Follow Through

• Anticipation

This principle of animation is greatly affected by the number of frames inserted between each main action.

• Appeal

• Timing

• Slow In & Slow Out

• Arcs

This principle is when a movement begins slowly, builds speed, & finishes slowly achieving "life-like" motion.

• Slow In & Slow Out

• Arcs

• Squash & Stretch

• Staging

This principle is a presentation of any idea so that it is completely & unmistakingly clear to the audience. Acting, Timing, Camera Angle, Position & Setting are used to achieve this.

• Arcs

• Staging

• Timing

• Appeal

These principles are the two methods used to animate drawings. One is drawing as you go, the other is drawing the beginning & the end, & then going back to fill in the drawings in between.

• Appeal & Solid Drawing

• Timing & Exaggeration

• Straight Ahead & Pose to Pose

• Arcs & Timing

This principle is that most living creatures will move in a "circular path."

• Timing

• Arcs

• Staging

• Anticipation

This principle states that every action, pose, & expression can be taken to the next level to increase the amount of impact on the viewer

• Appeal

• Exaggeration

• Staging

• Arcs

This principle states that the character you animate should be pleasing to look at. Use different shapes & proportions.

• Appeal

• Timing

• Arcs

• Staging

This principle makes sure that forms feel like they are in 3 dimensional space using Volume, Weight, & Balance.

• Arcs

• Anticipation

• Solid Drawing

• Staging