Animation Principles 2

Looking at both good and bad examples of the 12 principles of animation

4. Staging - Presenting an idea so that it is clear to the audience.

Good Example.

In Pixar's short: Luxo Jr. the staging of this scene means the audience follows the ball along with the Father lamp.


 Bad Example.

In CAD: The Animated Series the main character's gaming session is interrupted by a phone call from work. However there is no phone in shot in the character has to reach off-camera to pick up the phone. The lack of staging here means that the conflict regarding the phone ringing whilst the character tries to play video games has no drama to it.


5. Follow through and over-lapping action. This is when one action seamlessly flows into a following action.

Good Example.

In Luxo Jr the Father lamp shifts backwards to avoid being hit by the Child lamp. After this action he watches the Child lamp move into shot and run after the ball.

Bad Example.

In CAD: The animated series the main character imagines he is being chased. Whilst running he stops entirely to grab a piece of chicken to throw backwards at his imaginary assailant. Then he continues to run. The lack of follow through here makes the whole scene stilted and makes it lack any sense of urgency.

6. Slow In and Slow Out. The spacing of inbetween frames to create a sense of movement that has nuance to it.


Example

In the well established ball bounce animation the placement of the inbetween frames gives the ball a sense of weight and the animation some gravity. As the ball moves slower the frames bunch up closer, whereas when the ball falls it speeds up so the frames space it out further and further.

7. Arcs. The best expression of dynamic movement when animating is through the use of an arc as that is the most efficient course of travel from one point to another in nature.

Good Example

 In Luxo Jr. When the Father lamp hits the ball the lamp's "head" goes up in an arc. It feels natural and gives a real sense of life to the inanimate lamp.