12 principles of 3D animation

Squash and stretch

This principles gives objects and characters flexibility, elasticity, and a sense of weight

Anticipation

This principles gives objects and characters flexibility, elasticity, and sense of weight.

Staging

is about presenting an idea clearly to the audience it’s like the “cinematography” of animation

Straight ahead

you animate frame by frame in chronological order

Pose to pose

you create key poses first, then fill in breakdowns and in-betweens later

Follow through

This means that when a main action stops, other connected parts continue to move before settling into place

Overlapping action

This describes how different parts of the body move at different times and speeds, not all at once

Slow in and slow out

The principles that describes how movements in animation should gradually accelerate when starting and gradually decelerate when stopping, instead of moving at a constant speed

Arcs

make motion looks smooth, realistic, and pleasing to the eye.

Secondary action

is an additional movement that supports, emphasizes, or enriches the main action, making the animation more interesting and believable without distracting from the primary motion

Timing

is the principle that determines when and how long an action occurs in animation, by controlling the number of frames or the spacing of drawings/keyframes

Exaggeration

in animation means pushing actions, poses, or expressions beyond realism to make them clearer, more dynamic, and more entertaining, while still keeping the believable

Solid drawing

means giving animated forms weight, balance, volume, and sense of 3-dimensionality, so they don’t appear flat or floaty

Appeal

in animation means making characters, poses, and movements engaging, interesting, and easy to watch.