The 12 Principles of Animation

The 12 Principles of Animation


"The 12 Principles of Animation" were created by the men who worked at Walt Disney Studios in the 1930s. They are known today as the 'old men' of Disney but when these principles were developed they were young men with many interesting and wonderful ideas to put towards this new art form for animation. They created this principles because Disney wanted to create a new way to animate their characters and objects that made them seem more life-like and realistic. They wanted these motions to express personality and character. 'The Illusion of Life' written by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston was the book they created containing the following 12 principles of animation.


1. Squash and Stretch

The 'Squash and Stretch' method of animation gives the illusion of volume and weight to a character.
It can be used to animate dialogue and movement, as well as body language/posture and facial expression. It works well for many characters and is commonly used for people walking. It is the most important principle of animation.

2. Anticipation

Anticipation is another method which prepares the audience for something that the particular character or animated object is about to do. It is an interesting technique, as it shows the actions we do building up to the main action. For example, if we want to reach up to pick an apple from a high branch, we haver to stand on tiptoe, reach our arm up and then pick the apple, we cannot just simply pick the apple.

3. Staging

Staging is a simple technique used to demonstrate a character with a particular feeling or emotion, it also demonstrates a single object. It is meant to make this character or object stand out to the viewer, so that it is their main focus and they want to know what is about to happen to them/it.

4. Straight Ahead and & Pose to Pose

This type of animation begins at the very first drawing, showing the characters' very first movement or idea, however, the animators then draw the continuation of the scene from drawing to drawing. They do not plan each different part of the scene. 

5. Follow Through & Overlapping

These techniques of animation allow the animation to seem more life-like. It adds a lot of movement and character to the scene. It can easily be spotted when the body of a character is moving rapidly, and all of the other parts of the character seem to rapidly catch up with the rest of it's body. For example: arms and legs, clothes, long hair, any objects or bags the character is carrying. 

6. Slow-out & Slow-In

This technique makes the object or character appear to be moving slower than it really is. This is achieved by adding fewer drawings to the frame at the start and the end of the particular movement. This type of animation makes the character seem a lot more life-like and the fewer drawings also soften the object, making the scene a lot more snappy and easy to view. 

7. Arcs

This is the simple idea that all animations naturally follow a circular action - with a few exceptions such as the animation of a mechanical device. This is true to animals and humans. Using this technique allows the animation to appear more natural and life-like.

8. Secondary Action

Secondary Action is a technique in which the animator is able to make the action seem more realistic and have more dimension to it. It may show a second object or an exaggerated, interesting way that they are moving/walking. This technique adds depth and a new interest to the character being viewed. 

9. Timing 

This is the theory of animation that means that the more drawings means a slower action and the less drawings you use means a faster action. 

10. Exaggeration 

The principle of exaggeration in animation is similar to that of a caricature or amusing drawing. It distorts the features to express a particular emotion or action. Exaggeration is displayed in such a way that the main action, character or object captures the attention of the viewer. 

11. Solid Drawing

Each drawing is drawn separately drawn in a solid form.The volume, weight and size must be taken into account for the animation.

12. Appeal

Appeal is the idea that the animation must be appealing to whomever may be viewing it. It must appear simplistic enough for the viewer to become interested and follow, and must have firm characteristics.