Rules of Animation

Twelve Principles; Fred's Fourteen; Twelve Additional; Nine Economical; Five Emotional

There are 12 principles in animation. These 12 principles were developed by the men of Walt Disney dating back to the 1930’s. The principles still apply to animation today and are the base of ever creator’s animations.

The first principle in animation is squash and stretch. Squash and stretch give the illusion of weight and volume to the character. Squash and stretch are apparent in the face of animations as it gives them more character. 

The second principle is anticipation. Anticipation prepares the audience for the action that the character is about to perform. For example, when a character is preparing to jump, they must bend down first to gain momentum and then spring upwards to jump in order for the action to look accurate. 

The third principle is staging. This is a pose or action that gives the audience an idea of the attitude or reaction of the character as it relates to the story. Staging can depend on the camera angles that give the audience an idea of the current mood. 

The fourth principle is straight ahead and pose to pose. This principle begins with the first scene and draws to the very en of a scene. This seems very chaotic and may lose actual accuracy of the animation’s proportion; however it makes for a very action packed scene. Pose to pose is much more tedious and planned out. These scenes are done at intervals with very carefully drawn movements of the character to ensure that they flow as smoothly as possible. 

The fifth principle is follow through and overlapping action.  Follow through is when separate parts of the body continue moving, even after the character has stopped. A great example of this is a long haired character running and suddenly coming to a complete stop. Even though the characters body has stopped, his/ her hair continues to move in the direction that the body was going. 

The sixth principle is slow-in-slow-out. Running is another great example of this principle. This means that a character slow gains the maximum speed they will reach and will also slow out of the maximum speed back into the minimum speed or completely stopped. 

The seventh principle is arcs. Nearly all actions will involve in arc somewhere within the movement of the character or thing. Arcs allow animation more natural action and to appear more believable.

The eighth principle is secondary action. This gives the scene more life and can help to support the main action. A person walking can simultaneously swing his/ her arms or keep them in his/her pockets. He/ she can speak or white, or can express emotion through facial expressions.  

The ninth principle is timing, which is a very crucial part in the development of your animation. The most important thing to remember is the point A to point B being perfect doesn’t mean that the whole thing will be perfect. Timing is frame rate x seconds = frames.

The tenth principle is exaggeration. Exaggeration does not necessarily mean that the animation will be extreme action all the time. This is more related to facial expressions, body position, features, and attitudes.

The eleventh principle is solid drawing. Solid drawing consists of using pencil sketches and drawings for the animation of your characters. Your drawing should mimic life using expressions, color, and movement.

The twelfth and final principle is appeal. Appeal consists of an enticing personality to capture your audience’s interest. By giving life to your animation through expressions, voice, wardrobe, and more...the audience will relate to your character on a more personal level.

Fred Moore was an animator for Walt Disney, and was known as one of the great “natural” Disney animators in the 1930’s. Some of Moore’s most brilliant creations included the seven dwarfs in Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Before his passing at the early age of 42,  he created:

 Fred’s 14 Points of Animation.

1    1. Appeal in drawing

This point is defined in the twelfth principle above. The audience should feel about certain interest to the character and even feelings that make the audience worry and care for what happens to our character.  It is about giving your character a personality that the audience will fall in love with.

2.       2. Staging

Staging is another point explained in the above principles. Staging gains importance from a particular scene. By staging, we are giving the audience a view point that set a certain tone for the action that is going to happen next

3.       3. Most interesting way?

This is an important point because we want our animations and storylines to attract to everyone of all ages. Pixar and Disney have done a fantastic job about making their storylines  and creations appealing to everybody.

4.       4. Is it the most entertaining way?

This point goes along with the description above. You want to interest and entertain everybody to gain more likability to your characters. The bigger the audience, the better.

5.       5. Are you in character?

This point is directly for animators themselves. In order to create a believable animation, you must believe in it as well. Getting yourself into the character mentally is something that will only benefit you as your animation begins to come to life.

6.       6. Are you advancing the character?

Ensuring that you give your character room to grow is vital for the success of your story. By allowing your audience to see how your character grows either physically or mentally, you are passing on the positivity and important of growing as a person.

7.       7. Is it the simplest statement of the idea of the scene?

It’s important to remember that keeping your work simple isn’t always boring. By ensuring simple ideas and messages in your scene, everyone is able to understand that message you are spreading in that given scene.

8.       8. Is the story point clear?

Make sense of your ideas before you begin! I cannot stress the importance of have a clear vision and idea of the story you are trying to tell. Too often people begin a story and have a thousand new ideas coming into action during the middle of the storyline.  Make sense of your ideas before putting them on paper. This way, your audience is able to follow along perfectly with no confusion.

9.       9. Are the secondary actions working with the main action?

This point is all about techniques that make your character look as realistic as possible. Secondary action, as explain above, is one that enhances the realism of your character. If your character turns their head, their hair should move along in that direction as well.

1      10. Is the presentation best for the medium?

Remember, people will be viewing this animation in all different ways. Ensure that you have the best quality creations so that they will look amazing no matter how people are watching.

1      11. Does it have 2 dimensional clarity?

Look at any of the recent movies in the 2000’s that Disney and Pixar have created. All though we are watching 2D movies, the characters appear very life-like because of quality attention put towards the creation of the characters.

1       12. Does it have 3 dimensional solidarity?

If these characters will be viewed in 3D, they should be created so well that your audience doe not view false or weak edges, noisy pixels, or poor filters. Your characters should still stand out in 3D format.  

1       13. Does it have 4 dimensional drawing?

When initially planning your character, and drawing them step by step, they should already be created with dimension.

1       14. Are you trying to do something that shouldn’t be attempted?

Playing with expressions, movements, and angles is acceptable in practice, but should not be attempted when developing scenes for your characters. You want your audience to feel that they are viewing a well put together creation rather than an amateur animation.

 

There are 12 additional points to animation that all creators and lovers of animation should keep in mind.

1.       Inner feelings and emotions  

Relate your animation to your audience. Reveal their thoughts and show expressions in order for people to connect with them.

2.       Acting with clear and definite action

What are you trying to portray in this scene? What message are you giving to the audience? Whatever it may be, ensure that it is clear and focused to make it as understandable as possible.

3.       Character and Personality

Again, give your animation life. Make them do things that people can relate to or give them feelings that your audience has felt before. This will connect animation and people together.

4.       Thought Process Through Expression Changes

Imagine yourself changing your expression in reaction to something. Knowing exactly how your expressions will change is something that will benefit the way your change the expressions of your characters.

5.       Ability to Analyze

It is important as an animator, to have the ability to analyze your own work. Know what is good and what needs to be fixed in order to make your animations successful.

6.       Clear Staging

As previously stated, know exactly what you want your audience to see and know about that scene at that given time. Clear staging will ensure that your storyline flows together.

7.       Good Composition

Every scene should be visually interesting to your viewer. Keeping the scene neat with varieties of things or characters to at will be more appealing to your audience.

8.       Timing

Again, timing is a key part in every animation. Frames per second will show you just how much time you have to explain the scene in your storyline.

9.       Solidity in drawing

The skill of drawing is a plus when developing animation. You can create your character based off of the accurate drawing you’ve developed.

10.   Power in drawing

Your power in drawing is your ability to attract people to your story. Make your drawings detailed and interesting so that people want to see more.

11.   Strength in Movement

Draw in your crowd by showing the movement of your characters. This will add visual interest.

12.   Imagination

It’s difficult to think the way we once did as children. Then, anything was possible and there were no boundaries at all. Channel that inner creativity and develop something amazing!

Nine Economical Ways that Animation Can Build Emotions in the Imaginations of the Audience:

1.       Rear View

Rear view in a scene builds a personal and vulnerable mood for a scene. When a characters back is to the audience, it feels as though you are watching a personal scene from the distance. Rear view should be used in animation, but in the correct way.

2.       Shadows

Shadows give a scene suspense that draws the audience to what is happening in the next scene.

3.       Shadows over the character

Shadows over your character will add drama and excitement that cause anticipation for action.

4.       Overlays

Overlays are used by covering parts of the character that often focus the attention to one part of the character.

5.       Dramatic layout

A dramatic layout makes a sense visually interesting but is also exciting for the viewer to follow the character along in their interesting scenery.

6.       Pictorial Shot

A pictorial shot is a picture that somewhat blends as or into the background. This does not involve animation therefore makes the scene easier to create.

7.       Effects animation

Any effects that you add to your animation will change or give a set mood or feeling to the scene.

8.       Held drawing with camera moves

Creating a scene with a slow moving camera to a stopped position will add anticipation and importance to that shot. It gives a vital feeling to that scene that the audience simply should not miss.

9.       Off stage sounds

Off stages sounds take a lot of the work out of creating in different scenes for animators. This makes the audience have to listen in to understand what is happening in that scene which the character may be inside a building, behind a wall, or under and cover.

There are five additional points to remember about emotion:

 1.   Ensure that the character's emotional state is defined 
The character should be easy to read by the audience so that the story is better understood. Every emotion should be readable and clearly understood so that the scene makes sense to everyone.

2.   The thought process reveals feeling. Sometimes it can be shown with a single held drawing or a simple move. Other times there should be gestures, body moves, or full action. Determine which is best. 

Uses the best movements at the best times in order to make your animations as believable as possible.

3. Be alert to use of cutting and camera in helping to accentuate the emotion

Cutting means that the scene is being cropped in order to focus in on the thing or character. This will give the audience a better understanding of what you are trying to tell them. 

4. Ask yourself constantly: What am I trying to say here? What do I really want to show? How do I want the audience to react?

Keeping your thoughts and ideas together will help you better tell your story to the audience. By doing this, you will not be confused of your message and your audience will understand exactly what your message is saying. 

5. Use the element of time wisely: to establish the emotion of the character, to convey it to the viewers, to let them savor the situation. Don’t be ponderous, but don’t take it away from them just as they start to enjoy it.

Know the right time to give your audience what they've been waiting to know or see. Present the climax of your story in a satisfying way, and don't steal the excitement away too early before your audience can appreciate the work you have put in to developing such an entertaining storyline.