{"id":7967,"date":"2023-10-31T14:47:34","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T14:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.animaker.com\/hub\/?p=7967"},"modified":"2025-11-14T12:11:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T12:11:36","slug":"12-principles-of-animation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.animaker.com\/hub\/12-principles-of-animation\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Principles of Animation Explained! [With Examples]"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we think of animation, our mind immediately goes to Disney movies. They have been an integral part of our childhood and hold a special place in the hearts of many of us. Their captivating animations and fairytale stories have made our childhood memorable. Despite being founded a century ago, Disney still manages to charm people of all ages with their timeless creations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Simba<\/p>\n

For aspiring animators, it is important to note that certain fundamentals are necessary for making engaging animations that comply with the laws of physics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These fundamentals of animation were introduced in the 1981 book \u201c<\/span>The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation<\/span><\/i>,\u201d by animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas. They introduced the 12 principles of animation, which serve as a benchmark for animation techniques to this day, even though the process has evolved from traditional methods.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 12 principles of animation are:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Squash and Stretch<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Anticipation<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Staging<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Slow In and Slow Out<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Arc<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Secondary Action<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Timing<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  10. Exaggeration<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  11. Solid Drawing<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  12. Appeal<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So, let\u2019s look at each principle one by one.<\/span><\/p>\n

    1. Squash and Stretch<\/span><\/h2>\n

    The Squash and Stretch technique is used by animators to convey an object’s weight, flexibility, and hardness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    For example, when there is an animation of an object falling, it gets flattened when it touches the ground and stretches out to maintain its volume. This shows that the object is flexible.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Similarly, with characters, their faces and bodies are stretched and compressed to express emotions.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s an example of how the Squash and Stretch technique is used in <\/span>The Lion King <\/span><\/i>movie. Look at how <\/span>Simba\u2019s<\/span><\/i> expressions are showcased using this technique when he tries a bug for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Squash<\/p>\n

    This technique makes the animation a bit more realistic by giving more depth and definition to your scene. However, it can be comical when it is exaggerated to a degree.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s a video that shows the Squash and Stretch animation technique.<\/span><\/p>\n