PRimciples of Animation
12 Basic Principles of Animation in Motion Design
By: James Pannafino | March 11, 2015
With the growing ubiquity of digital devices, moving interfaces and adapting technology, motion design has become an important part of a designers creative options. Understanding the grammar of what molds the craft and the reason why things are happening is key to creating a meaningful design. The grammar of motion has been around since long before designers had advanced tools, and it will continue to guide designers after the tools have evolved.
An influential work on the grammar of motion is the 12 Basic Principles of Animation, first introduced in the book The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation. The Illusion of Life was written by Disney animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, two of the master animators referred to by Walt Disney as the “Nine Old Men.” No matter the style of animation—be it hand drawn, 3D or experimental animation—the 12 principles can be seen in almost any motion-based design.
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The following are some exsmple of the 12 principles as they relate to motion design.
Squash and Stretch
Adding exaggeration to an object in motion gives it a greater sense of weight and volume. This principle is often demonstrated with a bouncing ball: the ball appears stretched when it is falling and squashed when it hits the ground. By squashing and stretching the ball, an animator gives a more realistic feel.
StagingInfluenced by theatrical principles, staging helps establish mood, create focus and clarify what is happening in the scene.
Slow In and Slow Out
In the physical world, objects and humans need to pick up momentum before they can reach full speed. Similarly, it takes time to decrease speed before something can come to a complete stop.
Arc
When someone shoots an arrow, it rarely flies completely straight. Gravity causes objects in motion to arc between the start and end points. Even many of the natural movements in the human body move on arcs, such as the arm, hand, fingers, etc.
Timing
In a true animation, timing is an essential aspect of the way frames are drawn. Timing also helps in establishing personality of characters and the emotions they express.
Appeal
A character with appeal isn’t always attractive. He or she can be an ugly or evil character with a certain level of charisma that is makes sense within the story. In motion design, appeal can be established before anything moves by choosing an interesting typeface, creating a visual translation, or juxtaposing images.
