The 12 Principles of Animation

Written By Wyman Jones

You ever watch your favorite cartoon or animated movie and wonder, how are they able to make those people move so real?

They’re able to do so by using this thing called 12 Principles of Animation.

The 12 Principles of Animation were developed in 1981 by Disney Animators, Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas. 

Johnston and Thomas later went on to write a book titled “The Illusion of life: Disney Animation” which was released that same year, unpacking these fundamental principles.

See, all of these principles where designed by animators, for animators and have been around since the 1930’s when animators at Disney were working to produce more realistic animations of cartoons. 

The whole purpose of these principles or rules are to create the illusion that the characters you seen on scene follow the basic laws of physics, you know..the ones we follow.

Now I know 1930’s is a while ago, but these same principles are still fundamental to the tool kit of an animator and even used to this day, as animation advances.

I’m sure you’re probably wondering this…just what exactly are they?

The 12 Principles of Animation are:

  1. Squash and Stretch

  2. Anticipation

  3. Staging

  4. Straight Ahead Action & Pose to Pose Action

  5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action

  6. Slow In and Slow Out

  7. Arc

  8. Secondary Action

  9. Timing

  10. Exaggeration

  11. Solid Drawing

  12. Appeal

Now, I know that’s a lot, and I’m sure you’re probably still wondering so what do these principles do. Well for the month of May, we’re going to break down each one of these and how using them effects Animation. So keep it locked here and as always follow and like for more content.

Wyman Jones
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Squash and Stretch