Understanding the Principles of Animation

These principles are applicable to any type of animation and can be adjusted to fit the style of the project. A skilled animator must be able to quickly learn new styles. The animation style is usually determined by the director. Sometimes, the director or creator of the project will agree. It is important to understand the principles and application of animation to specific projects.

The basic principle of animation, "squash" and "stretch", is the basis. It is the way an object will react to impact. These principles give animations a lifelike look by illustrating how shapes can be distorted when outside forces are applied to them. This technique increases the distortion, while still creating a realistic effect. The goal is to make the character as flexible as possible.

Animations often include secondary actions to add depth and life. The right secondary actions can bring life to the character's actions, and enhance the overall scene's feeling. The secondary action must be as fast as possible, but not slower than the main one. Timing is critical for all actions. Animators can alter frames per second depending on the scene or the effect desired.

Another principle is arcing. Characters move in arcs. These arcs create a natural feel in their motions. It creates a natural-looking animation. Animations with arcs are more lifelike than their real-life counterparts. A good animator will use these principles in all of their animations. More articles are available on animation principles. There are so many ways to create animations that it is easy to get lost in the details.

A good animator will have a solid foundation. These concepts may not always be used in every project but animators need to understand them in order to create fun and eye-catching content.

Anticipation is another principle that applies to animation in any form. The anticipation the audience feels guides the eye to the most important elements of the screen. The more action there is, the greater the anticipation. The audience can't predict what the next action will be if there isn't enough anticipation. Timing is crucial. Time should be chosen so that anticipation leads towards a better movement. Professional animators will apply this principle to every project.

You can learn the principles and techniques of animation online or from this famous book. After you have learned the basics you can move on to more difficult projects.