- 12 Principles of animation
- Overlapping Action
- Counteraction
- Breaking of joints
- Drag(wave principle)
12 Principles of animation
ANIMATORS SURVIVAL KIT – Pages 231-244
- Pages 231-244
1.Overlapping Action
- Overlapping Action refers to when different parts of a character or object move at different speeds or times. The various parts of the motion don’t stop simultaneously, creating a natural sense of delay and fluidity.
- Overlapping Action can prevents stiff, fully synchronized movements, adding dynamic flow and layers to the overall motion.
Key Principles:
- Primary and secondary actions are not synchronized: The core part of the movement [ most of our body action start from hips (from ANIMATORS SURVIVAL KIT, p227) ] moves first, while secondary parts (like arms, legs, clothes, or hair) lag behind and follow.
- Gradual transmission of movement: When a motion occurs, the various parts of the body or object don’t reach their peak or stop at the same time, producing an “overlapping” effect.
e.g. like the Pendulum exercise in class:
The three balls of a Pendulum have their own hierarchy: The first ball is the first hierarchy, and will react first, and so on. The below hierarchy will not move before the top hierarchy.
- Follow Through: After the main action ends, some parts of the character or object continue to move. Because of the force of inertia, objects don’t usually stop suddenly.
How to set overlapping:
- Delayed and progressive movement: The timing of when different parts of the movement start and stop should set to create a delay in keyframe.
- Avoid complete synchronization: Avoid setting all joints start and end at the same time.
2.Counteraction
Character naturally takes counteractionto maintain balance.
One part pushes forward, the other balances by moving backward; Or one part rises and the other balances by falling.
3.Breaking of joints to give flexibility
a character’s arm moving as 3 solid piece, the movement starts at the shoulder, then the elbow follows, and finally the wrist and hand catch up.
Shoulder – the first hierarchy
The movement starts with the shoulder, which is the starting point of the entire arm movement. Before the elbow rotation, the shoulders will prepare.
Elbow – the second hierarchy
After the shoulder start, the elbow will move after it, slightly lagging behind the shoulder action.
The elbow is the main force that guides the movement throughout the whole process (“elbow leads throughout”), and the curve generated by the elbow movement is the most critical.
Wrist – the third hierarchy
Since the wrist is the most terminal joint, it is not completed until after the shoulder and elbow movements.
3. Reference Daft
4.Drag(wave principle)
The various parts of the object will be transmitted by force, and the force will be passed from the main part to the end, like the pendulum will have the effect of dragging.