Principles of Animation: The Art of Appealing Motion

Master squash and stretch in animation by preserving volume from macro silhouettes to micro details, using water balloons, a bouncing ball, 2d digital animation, and Maya for precision.

Learn squash and stretch in 2D animation by making a dancing water balloon in Brush Ninja. Use onion skinning and in-between frames for fluid motion, export as a gif.

Master slow in and slow out to reflect gravity, friction, and mass in animation, using spacing to convey weight and avoid robotic motion.

Demonstrates slow in and slow out stop motion using a fixed camera and tripod, Stop Motion Studio, timer, and onionskin to choreograph a bouncing post-it note.

Explore how anticipation precedes action to clarify upcoming motion in animation, from wind-up before throws to subtle cues that convey emotion or suspense.

Create a stop motion animation with scissors to demonstrate anticipation, squash and stretch, and easing in and out, using careful planning, a basic tripod setup, and onionskin tool.

Master overlapping action and secondary action in animation, guided by kinetic energy to create natural movement. Enhance character performance with subtle supporting actions.

Demonstrates overlapping action and secondary action using After Effects, with a fish eating another fish; animate a tentacle and tongue to add life and motion.

Explore arcs as a natural motion path, observe how joints create arc shapes, and apply planning and polishing to ensure smooth, fluid motion in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional animation.

Create a head-turn animation using Procreate or alternative tools. Establish construction lines, arcs, and perspective to craft in-between poses with overlapping action.

Explore pose to pose versus straight ahead animation, showing how key poses, in-betweens, and breakdowns plan action, maintain proportions, and adapt methods across stop-motion, 3D, and CG workflows.

Learn to craft a three-dimensional head turn using anticipation, overshoot, and extremes, applying straight-ahead and pose-to-pose timing, onionskin, and held frames in Procreate.

Master timing in animation by exploring slow in and slow out, frame rates, and timing charts; compare two-dimensional and three-dimensional workflows, discuss spacing, and emphasize mastering every key frame.

Watch a procreate head-turn demonstration where timing charts guide expressive poses, from anticipation to overshoot, with in-betweens, easing, and arc-driven motion.

Learn how staging, exaggeration, solid drawing, and appeal create clear, appealing animation by directing audience attention, calibrating exaggeration, maintaining on-model posing, and seeking feedback.

Explore claymation stop-motion by animating a bouncing ball with plasticine, applying squash and stretch, consistent forward motion, and diminishing bounces, while planning frames for clean background removal.

Revisit animation principles by animating a line, using contrast, rhythm, timing, and sound to boost audience appeal and inspire ongoing study in motion graphics.