Essay and Video- 12 Principles of Animation
Essay and Video- 12 Principles of Animation
In order to
realistically animate 3D and 2D animations, a set of rules should be followed-
these are the 12 principles of animation. They enforce what happens in real
life according to gravity and natural movement. Without these principles,
animations tend to look robotic and lifeless.
The first
principle is Squash and Stretch. Squash and Stretch gives the
appearance of an object having some kind of weight to it- and gives the object
a material. The easiest way to demonstrate this is through animating a bouncing
ball. The ball can be light and hard- like a ping pong ball. This will have
little to no squash and stretch. Something like a rubber ball will have more
squash and stretch, and will continue to bounce for a longer period of time. In
the world of animation, this can be exaggerated to some degree.
The second
principle is anticipation. This also ties in to squash
and stretch, as before an object can move it must store up some energy.
Anticipation helps the viewer understand what is about to happen, something
like a warning. Without this, the object will just move with no apparent force
behind it- making the movement look unrealistic.
Staging is
the third principle of animation. This not only relates to animation, but also composition in art
work. What is important? Where is the viewer meant to be looking? If the
important object is small and off to the side, a viewer might miss it. If the
object is of importance, make sure to have it front and centre so everyone can
see it.
Number 4 is
Straight ahead action or pose to pose. These are the 2
different methods for animating. Pose to pose is where only the important
frames are drawn- or posed, in a 3D animation scenario. All the other frames
are filled in later once the important bits are figured out. This can be used
for heavy exaggeration or dramatic movement. Straight ahead is when all the
frames are drawn- its kind of as if it’s being made up as you go along. This
can be useful for animating water or fire. Things with unpredictable movements.
The next
principle is Follow through and overlap. When an object moves with speed, it
reacts to the force put onto it. This can easily be seen through the hair or
clothing a character wears. It takes longer for the material to react, then
longer for it to come to a stop. If there is no follow through, an object would
have to be moving slowly- or it will look unrealistic.
Principle 6
is slow in and out. Only robots can move in a steady speed, any natural object
will be slow at the start of a movement, speed up, then slow down again before
coming to a stop. This will bring an object to life.
Arcs are
the seventh principle. According to the laws of physics, objects will move with
an arc- a semi-circle. This is thanks to earth’s gravity. An object that
doesn’t move with arcs is likely a robot.
To make an
object’s movement more realistic, there can sometimes be a secondary action.
This is the 8th principle of animation. This can be something like
hair movement or a facial expression- something small that will add to the main
movement.
Timing is
the 9th principle. Timing can control the mood or weight of objects.
A heavier object might take longer to start moving when pushed. Consistency is
key in timing- an object can’t suddenly change weight.
Similar to
anticipation and squash and stretch, the 10th principle is
exaggeration. This can make an object more interesting- it may not be entirely
realistic, but will be more appealing for a viewer. Instead of a person
jumping, they may bring their legs all the way up- like a super hero. Cartoon
characters are often exaggerated.
Number 11
is Solid Drawing. This relates particular to 3D animation and drawings. Objects
have weight and volume, they need to have a consistent shape or it’ll appear
unrealistic. Keep in mind that in the real world, there is a vanishing point
and horizon line.
The final
principle of animation is appeal. This relates to the object having a design
that is pleasing to the eye, and isn’t too busy. Often, a characters backstory
will relate to their appearance- and in turn the appeal of their character.
There is no precise way of knowing, it’s mostly trial and error.
With these
12 principles, an aspiring animator will be able to create a realistic world
and characters, with appealing designs.