The Fundamental Principles of Animation

It all started after the 30s when Walt Disney noticed that the level of animation was
inadequate for some new story lines. Classes for his animators were set up under the
instruction of Don Graham. Before those classes, the animations were made with little or
no reference to nature. Out of these classes grew a new way of drawing moving human
figures and animals, where the analysis of real action became important to the development
of animation. After a while, each technique was named and they became known as the
fundamental principles of animation.
Ultimately, the animator must have a sense of what makes an inanimate character alive.
The principles are:
1. Timing
2. Ease In and Out (or Slow In and Out)
3. Arcs
4. Anticipation
5. Exaggeration
6. Squash and Stretch
7. Secondary Action
8. Follow Through and Overlapping Action
9. Straight Ahead Action and Pose-To-Pose Action
10. Staging
11. Appeal
12. Personality
Simply memorizing these principles isn’t the point. No one will care whether or not you
know this list. It’s whether or not you truly understand and can utilize these ideas that
matter. If you do, it will show automatically in work.