The principles of animation are majorly known as Disney’s 12 principles of animation. These were introduced in the book ‘The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation’ authored by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in the year 1981. These principles lay down the foundation of animation learning as well as industrial operations in the present times.
The primary use of these principles ranges from animating any character to introducing any motion in the animation work. The closer look at these principles will develop a clear understanding of the use of these principles. The twelve principles are as follows –
1. Squash and Stretch
It is the most important principle amongst the rest. The illusion of mass, weight, gravity, and flexibility for any animated character are achieved through this principle only. This principle is largely used in animation and television studios.
2. Anticipation
This principle is all about giving an apprehension to the viewers about the very next move of a given animated character. The application of this principle brings a sense of reality in the animation work. This principle adds anticipation to the movements of animating characters.
3. Staging
This principle allows for setting up the composition of any animating work. It allows an animator to draw the attention of viewers on important scenes, and keep the non-important scenes out the attention of viewers.
4. Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose Technique
Straight Ahead actions emphasize frame-by-frame scenes from beginning to end. Pose to Pose technique, several keyframes are brought between the start frame and the concluding frame.
5. Follow through and Overlapping Actions
This fifth principle of animation is used when a moving animating character comes to standstill. When an animating character moves, its limbs may mover at speed or rate. This is called overlapping actions. Further, when such animating character stops, the several parts of the animating character may take a while to stop. This is called follow-through.
6. Slow in and Slow out
This principle helps in achieving the animation effects relating to starting up, speeding up, and slowing down any animating character. This provides a more realistic approach to the movements of any animating character.
7. Arc
As the name suggests, this principle is all about the physics of the movements of any animating character. The animating characters are always made to follow an arc or path to reflect realistic movements.
8. Secondary Actions
This principle allows an animator to manage the secondary action along with the main action in an ongoing animation scene. It facilitates adding the dimensions to objects and characters.
9. Timing
This principle allows an animator to give realistic effects to any animation scene. It allows an animator to take control of the reaction and mood of animating characters.
10. Exaggeration
The real essence of the animation lies in the dynamic effects and not in the realistic effects. This principle allows an animator to exaggerate the effects of animating character and make it a fun-filled experience for viewers.
11. Solid Drawing
This principle helps to introduce 3-D space, weight, volume, light, and shadows of a solid object in an animation scene.
12. Appeal
The animation work must be appealing to its viewers. This principle is all about bringing together the entire animation work to life and making it look dynamic to its viewers.
These are principles of Animations. To become an expert animator, you need to have a solid command over these animation principles. One of the leading institutes in Pune, Arena Animation, offers you a variety of animation learning courses with hands-on training to make you an expert in incorporating these animation principles in your animation work.
