There are 12 principles of animation created by Disney animators Ollie Johnston Oliver Martin Johnston, Jr. was an American motion picture animator. He was one of Disney's Nine Old Men, and the last surviving at the time of his death from natural causes. He was recognized by The Walt Disney Company with its Disney Legend Award in 1989. His work was recognized … Franklin Rosborough "Frank" Thomas was an American animator and pianist. He was one of Walt Disney's team of animators known as the Nine Old Men.Ollie Johnston
Frank Thomas
What are the principles of animation?
These principles of animation are based on the work of animators at Disney since the 1930s, when they strived to produce realistic animations of cartoon characters. The principles were used to create the illusion that Disney’s characters followed the basic laws of physics. Abstract issues were also covered – including emotional timing.
What are the most important techniques in animation?
Staging: The setting up of the scene, from placement of characters to the background and foreground elements, to how the camera angle is set up, the lighting and shadows, and more. The 12 principles of animation are the most crucial techniques you must master as an animator.
What is the best book on animation timing?
Timing for Animation. Focal Press. ISBN 978-0-240-51714-8. White, Tony (1998). The Animator's Workbook: Step-By-Step Techniques of Drawn Animation. Watson-Guptill. ISBN 978-0-8230-0229-0. The illusion of life, a simple animated illustration of the twelve principles.
What makes a good animator?
Animators have no way of conveying the physical properties of a character or object other than through visual, on-screen cues. Many animators will tell you that good animation has less to do with the design and mannerisms of your characters, and more to do with how reactive their personalities and appearances are to what's going on around them.
Who were the two animators that wrote the twelve principles of animation?
Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston: The Fathers of the Twelve Principles of Animation.
What are the 2 main types of animating?
Traditional Animation. 2D Animation (Vector-based) 3D Animation.
What are the first 2 animation principles that you will consider?
The 12 Principles of Animation (With Examples)Squash and Stretch.Anticipation.Staging.Straight Ahead Action and Pose-to-Pose.Follow Through and Overlapping Action.Ease In, Ease Out.Arcs.Secondary Action.More items...•
What are the 12 principles of animation?
The 12 principles of animationSquash and stretch.Anticipation.Staging.Straight ahead action and pose to pose.Follow through and overlapping action.Slow in and slow out.Arc.Secondary action.More items...
Who is the father of animation?
French cartoonist and animator Émile Cohl is often referred to as "the father of the animated cartoon." The legend goes that in in 1907, when motion pictures were reaching critical mass, the 50-year-old Cohl was walking down the street and spotted a poster for a movie clearly stolen from one of his comic strips.
Who invented animation?
In 1907, the French artist Émile Cohl started his filmmaking career with Japon de faintasie, with imaginative use of stop motion techniques. His next short can be regarded as the first animated film using what came to be known as traditional animation methods: the 1908 Fantasmagorie.
Who invented the 12 principles of animation?
The 12 Principles of Animation is a group of key teachings for the professional animator. The list has served Disney animators since the 1930s and was outlined by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in the 1981 book The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation.
Who invented squash and stretch?
Squash and Stretch. The 12 principles of animation are guidelines created by ex-Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. They were made to teach animators how to create lifelike characters.
How does Disney create their characters?
Character Models Modelers create the most engaging characters by considering dimensionality, weight, and presence of how they interact with the world. Characters are sculpted and examined at every angle to ensure they look their best before progressing down the pipeline.
Who are the inventors of rotoscoping animation?
development by Fleischer brothers The Fleischers invented the rotoscoping process, still in use today, in which a strip of live-action footage can be traced and redrawn as a cartoon. The Fleischers exploited this technique in their pioneering series Out of the Inkwell (1919–29).
Which was the first ever fully animated cartoon?
FantasmagorieOn August 17, 1908, the Gaumont company in Paris released Fantasmagorie, the world's first fully animated cartoon created by Emile Cohl in the traditional hand-drawn animation style.
What is animation history?
The history of animation dates back to the ancient world. From the pottery of the ancient Greeks to the ocular toys of the seventeenth century to the computer-generated imagery (CGI) of the twenty-first century, animation has existed in many forms, evolving into the technological feat we see today.
What are the different types of animation?
5 Forms of AnimationTraditional Animation.2D Animation.3D Animation.Motion Graphics.Stop Motion.
How many types of animation are there?
There are four main types of animation: 2D animation. 3D animation. Stop motion animation. Motion graphics.
What is animation and its types?
Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most animations are made with computer-generated imagery (CGI).
Which is the most basic form of animation?
(2D, Cel, Hand Drawn) The first type of 2D animation might be called traditional animation or cel animation. I prefer the term hand-drawn animation because that define its most important aspect - the fact that it is drawn by hand. This is the classic type of animation you're probably most familiar with.
What are the 12 principles of animation?
The 12 Principles of Animation. (link is external) is a group of key teachings for the professional animator. The list has served Disney animators since the 1930s and was outlined by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in the 1981 book The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation. Many of these foundational ideas are still utilized in classrooms ...
When did you first learn about the Principles?
I remember reading about them in a giant coffee table book when I was a kid, but it wasn’t until I had them demonstrated by animation professors right in front of me that I really started to understand them. I think once you know them, you start observing them in real life, like the overlapping action of someone’s hair.
What do students respond to in a character's movement?
Students tend to respond more to the ones that visibly and quickly enhance their character’s movement, like anticipation or follow-through.
Do you teach the Principles in your classes?
I’ve taught Principles of Animation II, so teaching them is usually pretty direct and academic: we study movement, watch examples, and I demonstrate before students create work that reflects what they’ve learned.
What are the principles of animation?
The principles are based on the work of Disney animators from the 1930s onwards, in their quest to produce more realistic animations. The main purpose of these principles was to produce an illusion that cartoon characters adhered to the basic laws of physics, but they also dealt with more abstract issues, such as emotional timing and character appeal.
What is the best animation book of all time?
In 1999, The Illusion of Life was voted the number one "best animation book [...] of all time" in an online poll done by Animation World Network. While originally intended to apply to traditional, hand-drawn animation, the principles still have great relevance for today's more prevalent computer animation .
Why draw more pictures in animation?
The movement of objects in the real world, such as the human body, animals, vehicles, etc. needs time to accelerate and slow down. For this reason, more pictures are drawn near the beginning and end of an action, creating a slow in and slow out effect in order to achieve more realistic movements. This concept emphasizes the object's extreme poses. Inversely, fewer pictures are drawn within the middle of the animation to emphasize faster action. This principle applies to characters moving between two extreme poses, such as sitting down and standing up, but also for inanimate, moving objects, like the bouncing ball in the above illustration.
What is the purpose of the Bible of Animation?
The main purpose of these principles was to produce an illusion that cartoon characters adhered to the basic laws of physics, but they also dealt with more abstract issues, such as emotional timing and character appeal. The book has been referred to by some as the " Bible of animation", and some of its principles have been adopted by traditional ...
Why is pose to pose still used in computer animation?
Computer animation removes the problems of proportion related to "straight ahead action" drawing; however, "pose to pose" is still used for computer animation, because of the advantages it brings in composition.
How do arcs work?
This technique can be applied to a moving limb by rotating a joint, or a thrown object moving along a parabolic trajectory. The exception is mechanical movement, which typically moves in straight lines. As an object's speed or momentum increases, arcs tend to flatten out in moving ahead and broaden in turns.
Who paraphrased the 12 principles?
a. ^ The twelve principles have been paraphrased and shortened by Nataha Lightfoot for Animation Toolworks. Johnston and Thomas themselves found this version good enough to put it up on their own website.
How many principles are there in animation?
Now that you know the meaning and purpose behind the 12 principles of animation, take care to implement them and you’ll be sure to create stunning work. Don’t stop there, though. Continue on your animation learning journey by signing up for Pluralsight tutorials so you can become a professional with all the skills you need to succeed in your career!
When was animation invented?
Created in the 1930s (and first introduced in The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation) by the pioneers of animation, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, these 12 principles of animation adhere to the basic laws of physics and also account for emotions and appeal.
What is the meaning of timing and spacing in animation?
Timing and Spacing. Timing and Spacing in animation is what gives objects and characters the illusion of moving within the laws of physics. Timing refers to the number of frames between two poses, or the speed of action. For example, if a ball travels from screen left to screen right in 24 frames, that would be timing.
How to ease in and out in animation?
The same must be accomplished in animation and the easiest way to accomplish ease in and ease out is to utilize the principle of spacing. As a character stands up from a sitting position, the spacing of each pose will be closer together at the start so that they can ease into the movement.
What is the movement hold in a cartoon?
Additionally, characters who are remaining still need to display some sort of movement (blinking eyes, breathing, etc.) to prevent the animation from becoming “dead.” This is called “moving hold.”
What is the principle that smooths animation and moves action in a realistic way?
Arcs : The principle that smooths animation and moves action in a realistic way.
What is secondary action in animation?
Secondary Action: The actions that emphasize or support the main action of the animation. Staging: The setting up of the scene, from placement of characters to the background and foreground elements, to how the camera angle is set up, the lighting and shadows, and more. The 12 principles of animation are the most crucial techniques you must master ...
Anticipation
Anticipation is the motion that prepares the viewer for the next action. For example, the few seconds before a person jumps, they bend their knees. Or how a baseball pitcher pulls their arm back before throwing it to the batter.
Staging
Just like in a movie, staging involves anything from the lighting to the position of the camera and actors. Close-ups, medium shots, and master shots each convey a different effect that can change how a viewer follows the story. Staging helps focus the viewer to where the story is being told.
Ease-in and Ease-out
This principle of animation refers to the idea that no object moves at a constant speed. Not even a Tesla. Objects accelerate and decelerate. To create the effect of certain speeds, animators either need to draw more frames in slower speed and less frames in higher speeds.
Arcs
All natural being’s movements do not move in a straight line, but an arc. For instance, try waving your arm with your hand moving in a straight line. Looks weird doesn’t it? That’s because the natural movement of hand-waving is in an arc pattern. Without arcs, your animation will look quite stiff and unrealistic.
Secondary Action
The secondary action of a scene is the movement that accentuates the main movement but doesn’t distract away from it. For instance, the main action could be a man playing the piano and his secondary action is his head moving back and forth.
Exaggeration
In animation, the more dramatic the better! Well, sometimes. Creating exaggeration to normal facial expressions can convey the behavior and personality traits of a character. More realistic animation like Snow White differ stylistically from exaggerated animations like Looney Toons.
Solid Drawing and Solid Posing
In order to create a life-like character, animators must be knowledgeable about the various aspects of life drawing. This includes: three-dimensional shapes, anatomy, balance, weight, light and shadow, etc. Poses should be express the thoughts, personality, and emotions of the character.
What are the 12 principles of animation?
Just like their own Ten (or Twelve) Commandments, animators and animation companies also have an important set of guidelines to follow. This is called the 12 Principles of Animation. The 12 Principles of Animation were originally introduced by ex-Disney animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in 1981, in their book The Illusion ...
What is anticipation animation?
Anticipation animation basically hints at what’s about to happen to the viewer. For example, before a character falls over, they might stumble around or sway a little before gravity gets the better of them.
Why is squash animation important?
Why? Because a huge chunk of what makes something look ‘realistic’ is its weight, mass, and flexibility.
What is staging animation?
Staging animation. Staging animation is when the animator makes it completely clear what the idea is, or what you’re supposed to be looking at. For example, a moving object in a group of stationary ones would be the clear thing to focus on in a scene.
What is slow in slow out animation?
Slow in slow out animation in the 12 principles of animation refers to how an object needs time to accelerate and decelerate when moving. So, before an object accelerates in a frame, it needs to accelerate FROM something. This is the ‘slow in’. When it leaves the frame, it slows back down.
What is secondary action animation?
However, secondary action animation is when an action isn’t necessarily directly CAUSED by the main movement, but usually happens alongside it.
Why is arc important in animation?
This is in the 12 principles of animation because it’s easier for things to get from A to B in arcs rather than straight lines. What’s more, arcs are usually more expressive, and therefore are more likely to be used in animation.
How many principles of animation are there?
There you have it! Animation tools and techniques might change over time but Disney’s 12 principles of animation will help you create fundamentally sound animation.
What does animator do in animation?
An animator would control the changing speeds of an object carefully to make the movements fluid, life-like, and believable.
Why do we need anticipation when animating?
Applying anticipation when animating movements helps prepare the viewers as the scene unfolds, taking them to the edge of their seat. When applied, anticipation gives life to animated movements, making the scene natural, realistic, and full of life. Without it, the movements appear stale, awkward, unnatural, and/or lifeless.
What is staging in animation?
Staging is a principle that’s based on theatrical values to set the mood and draw the viewer’s attention to the important elements of the scene to advance the story. This animation principle eliminates extra details in the background so the audience is focused on what’s happening in the scene even if the center of the scene is always moving.
When do we turn to animation?
We turn to the world of animation when our vision goes beyond what can be done physically. When we have to draw everything in the scene from the bottom up, we end up with a lot of authority over how everything ends up looking, feeling, and playing out.
How many timeless principles are there?
These 12 timeless principles are just as relevant today as they were at the time of their conception.
What is pose to pose animation?
Pose to pose animation is a great way to work if you're somebody who likes knowing what's ahead before setting out. These first few frames are known as keyframes. Traditionally, these frames would be drawn by the most experienced members of an animation team.
How many terrible drawings do artists make?
They say that every artist creates 10,000 terrible drawings before they really start doing their best work. Our philosophy: the sooner that you start, the better off that you're going to end up.
Why is timing important in storytelling?
As a storyteller, developing a sense of effective timing will not only make your work look and feel better—it will make your story more coherent, more impactful, and likely much easier for your audience to digest.
