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Animation: The Twelve Principles of Animation
Animation: The Twelve Principles of Animation
The Twelve
Principles of
Animation
Principles of Animation
2. Arcs
3. Timing
6. Anticipation
8. Secondary Actions
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9. Staging
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10. Exaggeration
Exaggeration is used to
increase the readability of
emotions and actions.
Animation is not a subtle
medium.
Individual exaggerated poses
may look silly as stills but
add dramatic impact when
viewed for a split second.
Animators should use
exaggeration to increase
understanding of feeling, but
be careful to not overexaggerate everything.
Image 14. Used with permission.
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12. Appeal
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Image Credits
Image 01. Photos of running horse. Photos taken by Eadweard Muybridge (died 1904), first published in
1887 at Philadelphia (Animal Locomotion). This image (or other media file) is in the public
domain because its copyright has expired.
Image 02. Photo of Walt Disney. This work is in the public domain because it was published in the United
States between 1923 and 1963 and although there may or may not have been a copyright notice,
the copyright was not renewed.
Image 03. Growing flower animation. Created by Mark Harman. Used with permission.
Image 04. Drinking soda animation. Created by Mark Harman. Used with permission.
Image 05. Bouncing ball path. Created by Mark Harman. Used with permission.
Image 06. Girl moving arm. Created by Mark Harman. Used with permission.
Image 07. Stopwatch on cellphone. Photography by Mark Harman. Used with permission.
Image 08. Swinging pendulum. Created by Mark Harman. Used with permission.
Image 09. Ball squash and stretch. Created by Mark Harman. Used with permission.
Image 10. Girl swatting fly. Created by Julie Stevens. Used with permission.
Image 11. Boy jumping off ledge. Created by Rachel Racanelli. Used with permission.
Image 12. Bowling ball hitting pins. Created by Mark Harman. Used with permission.
Image 13. Old man reading newspaper. Created by Alex Moran. Used with permission.
Image 14. Girl hitting golf ball. Created by Sam Ko. Used with permission.
Image 15. Sherlock Holmes Drawing. Created by Hailey Pier. Used with permission.
Image 16. Man holding wand. Created by Sophia Hopping. Used with permission.
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