12 Principles of Animation

The 12 Principles of Animation only apply to Stop Motion Animation.

The 12 Principles of Animation is a group of key teachings for animators.

Describes how an object changes shape in response to forces acting on it. It gives flexibility to an object.

Drawing and posing characters in a way that creates a sense of volume, weight, and balance.

The process of drawing key poses for each action first and then fill in the poses that come in between.

Smaller movements or gestures designed to support the primary actions of a character.

The principle that living things don’t move in straight lines but rather in curved motions.

The idea that different parts of the body move at different times and speeds. This may also be called ‘drag’.

The 12 Principles was outlined in a book by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in the 1981 called The Illusion of Life.

The tendency of objects to gradually accelerate and decelerate when moving from one position to another.

Walt Disney himself, came up with the 12 Principles of Animation

The idea that separate parts of the body will continue to move after the character has come to a stop. Superman’s cape.

Controlling the speed of an action through the number of frames between two poses used to represent that action.

A broad term for any qualities of a character’s design that makes them compelling to watch. Makes them charismatic.

Creating each frame in the animation sequence from beginning to end. Drawing the key frames without planning in advance.

What type of animation is the film Coraline?

Representing a subject in an extreme way rather than strictly realistically. Pushing a movement further to add appeal.

A smaller movement that comes before a major movement and signals that the major movement is about to happen.

The 12 principles of animation adhere to the basic laws of physics and also account for emotions and appeal.

The presentation of a shot in a way that makes the content of the shot as clear as possible. Setting up your scene.