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name: Animation Principles - Intermediate description: Use when someone has working knowledge of animation principles and needs guidance on combining them effectively in more complex animations

Combining Principles for Stronger Animation

You can apply individual principles. Now learn to weave them together and understand their interdependencies.

Principle Synergies

Squash/Stretch + Timing

Volume preservation is key. Faster motion = more stretch. The timing dictates the degree. A 2-frame anticipation needs less squash than a 6-frame one.

Anticipation + Follow Through

These are mirrors. Anticipation magnitude should roughly match follow through. Big wind-up = big settle. They create rhythmic bookends to any action.

Staging + Secondary Action

Secondary actions must support staging, never compete. If staging says "look at the face," secondary action in hands should point attention there, not away.

Arcs + Slow In/Out

Arcs aren't uniform speeds. Apply easing along the arc path. Spacing should bunch at start/end of the arc, spread in the middle.

Pose to Pose + Straight Ahead

Hybrid approach: Key poses first (pose-to-pose), then animate overlapping elements straight ahead. Best of both: structure with spontaneity.

Common Combination Mistakes

Over-anticipation: When every action has massive wind-up, nothing feels spontaneous. Reserve big anticipation for big payoffs.

Competing secondary actions: Three things moving differently splits attention. Hierarchy matters - one leads, others support.

Uniform timing: Every action at 12 frames feels mechanical. Vary your timing: quick decisions, slow realizations.

Arc neglect in follow through: The main action arcs beautifully, then appendages move linearly. Everything arcs.

The 12 Principles by Function

Physics: Squash/Stretch, Timing, Arcs, Slow In/Out Clarity: Staging, Solid Drawing, Anticipation Interest: Secondary Action, Exaggeration, Appeal Technique: Straight Ahead/Pose to Pose, Follow Through/Overlap

Integration Exercise

Animate a character sitting down:

1. Staging: Camera angle shows full body profile
2. Anticipation: Slight upward before descent
3. Arcs: Hips trace a curved path down
4. Timing: Faster drop, slower settle
5. Squash: Compress on contact
6. Follow Through: Arms/head continue after hips land
7. Overlapping: Hair settles last
8. Secondary: Adjusting clothing
9. Slow Out: Gradual stop to final pose

Layer principles one at a time. Blocking first, then refinement passes for each principle category.