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name: game-development description: Use when implementing game animations, player feedback, character movement, or interactive entertainment in Unity, Unreal, or other game engines.

Game Development Animation

Apply Disney's 12 animation principles to game engines, player feedback, and interactive entertainment.

Quick Reference

Principle Applications

Squash & Stretch: Deform characters on landing impact. Stretch during fast movement. Impact frames freeze and squash for power. Keep volume consistent in deformation.

Anticipation: Attack wind-ups telegraph to players. Jump squats before leaving ground. Charge attacks show buildup. Enemy tells warn of incoming damage.

Staging: Camera frames important action. Environmental lighting guides attention. Enemy placement creates readable combat scenarios. UI doesn't obscure critical gameplay.

Straight Ahead vs Pose to Pose: Procedural animation (ragdoll, physics) is straight ahead. Keyframed attack combos are pose to pose. Blend both—keyframed base with procedural secondary motion.

Follow Through & Overlapping: Secondary elements (hair, cloth, tails) continue after body stops. Weapon trails persist after swing. Landing recovery extends past initial impact.

Slow In / Slow Out: Use animation curves—never linear for character motion. Attack startup fast-out, recovery slow-in. Ease jumps at apex for floatiness control.

Arc: Jumping follows parabolic arc. Sword swings trace curved paths. Projectiles arc naturally unless hitscan. Dodge rolls curve rather than linear translate.

Secondary Action: Screen shake on impact. Particle bursts on hits. Controller rumble synced to action. Sound design reinforces visual timing.

Timing: Hit-stop (freeze frames) emphasizes impact—2-5 frames typical. Attack startup/active/recovery frame data matters for game feel. Response to input under 100ms.

Exaggeration: Game animation reads at distance and speed. Exaggerate poses 20-30% beyond realistic. Hit reactions more dramatic than physics would suggest. Stylization serves clarity.

Solid Drawing: Silhouettes must read at all zoom levels. Consistent character proportions across animations. Strong poses at keyframes. Avoid tangent lines that confuse form.

Appeal: Characters have personality in idle animations. Movement feels satisfying independent of mechanics. Players should enjoy watching their character move.

Engine Patterns

Unity

Copy// Squash and stretch on landing
IEnumerator LandingSquash() {
    transform.localScale = new Vector3(1.2f, 0.8f, 1.2f);
    yield return new WaitForSeconds(0.05f);
    // Ease back to normal
    float t = 0;
    while (t < 1) {
        t += Time.deltaTime * 8f;
        transform.localScale = Vector3.Lerp(
            new Vector3(1.2f, 0.8f, 1.2f),
            Vector3.one,
            EaseOutElastic(t));
        yield return null;
    }
}

// Hit-stop for impact
IEnumerator HitStop(int frames) {
    Time.timeScale = 0f;
    for (int i = 0; i < frames; i++)
        yield return null;
    Time.timeScale = 1f;
}

Unreal

Copy// Animation curve for easing
UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere)
UCurveFloat* JumpArcCurve;

// Apply curve to movement
float CurveValue = JumpArcCurve->GetFloatValue(NormalizedTime);

Timing Reference

Frame data at 60fps. Adjust for target framerate.