12 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ANIMATION
The following short descriptions are paraphrased by Nataha Lightfoot and expanded upon by me from the "Illusion Of Life" by Frank Thomas & Ollie Johnston.(pp.47-69) Look these up and read the original version for a more complete and thorough understanding.

Click on any of the principles below to go to the definitions

1. Squash and Stretch
2. Anticipation
3. Slow In and Slow Out
4. Arcs
5. Timing
6. Follow Through and Overlapping Action
7. Secondary Action
8. Exaggeration
9. Staging
10. Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose
11. Solid Drawing
12. Appeal

Here are some additional principles that I've added into the list:

• Thumbnailing
• Scene Planning (Storyboarding)
• Lip Synchronization
• Keys
• Inbetweens
• Effects of Gravity
• Weight
• Realistic Timing
• Observation
• Flipping

Back to Book Index

Back to Homepage