In the 1940s, Disney established the foundation for animation principles, building on the work of Disney animators from the 1930s onwards. Their goal was to create more realistic animations that made cartoon characters appear to follow the fundamental laws of physics. At the same time, they aimed to address more abstract concepts, such as emotional timing and character appeal.

1. Squash and Stretch
2. Anticipation
3. Staging
4. Straight-ahead action and pose-to-pose
5. follow through and overlapping action
6. Slow in and Slow out
7. Arc
8. Secondary Action
9. Timing
10. Exaggeration
11. Solid Drawings
12. Appeal

The principles were introduced by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, who were Disney animators. They created a book in 1981 titled “Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life.” If you’re a student or a fan of animation, I highly recommend reading this book. It not only provides a history of Disney animation but also explains the processes involved in clear, non-technical terms, covering the 12 basic principles of animation.

What does each principle mean?

Squash and Stretch
This foundational technique involves stretching and compressing character shapes to create the illusion of weight and volume, making movements more realistic and believable.

Example: The Bouncing Ball

Anticipation
This technique captivates the viewer just before an action occurs. It features a brief pause, building anticipation for what is about to happen. It holds power for a specific moment.

Staging
This involves arranging objects according to scene requirements. It’s crucial to present a scene in a way that conveys what is happening, taking into account composition, lighting, and camera angles.

Straight Ahead Action and pose-to-pose
Sequential drawing involves creating frames one after another, while pose-to-pose animation focuses on establishing keyframes first and then filling in the intermediate movements. Both techniques are foundational and present advantages and disadvantages, but animators appreciate working with both methods.

Follow-through and overlapping Action
Follow-through and overlapping action both depict how the parts of an object move independently of each other. This method is particularly useful for animating hair and clothing, as it continues to show movement even after the primary action has stopped.

Slow in and slow out.
Slow in and slow out describes how an object accelerates and decelerates. In the real world, things don’t just start and stop instantly. We animators must reflect this accurately. This enlightens how an object accelerates and decelerates. In real life, things don’t just start and stop instantly in the practical world. We animators must reflect this perfectly.

Arcs
Arcs are represented by creating character movements that follow curves rather than straight lines. This concept is essential for producing fluid, realistic, and organic movement.

Secondary Action
Secondary action involves the use of additional movements that complement a character’s primary actions, making the animation more realistic and engaging. This concept is essential as it adds depth and complexity, particularly when secondary actions are intertwined with the main action.

Timing
Timing defines the pace of a scene and influences how characters move and interact with other objects.

Exaggeration
It is an effective strategy for highlighting specific character movements, allowing observers to notice them. For instance, characters can move their arms and legs vigorously or exaggerate their facial features to convey intense emotions like anger.

Solid Drawings
Characters and environments can be perfectly represented through flawless geometric shapes, using the solid drawing principle as a strong foundation. To become an animator in a studio, it is essential to master key artistic techniques such as anatomy, shape, weight, and balance.

Appeal
Creating flawless characters requires a strong appeal through their design, personality nuances, and realistic movements. Manipulating characters’ movements and using subtle facial expressions to convey emotions and personality is essential for expertise.