What are the 12 Principles of Animation?

The 12 Principles of Animation are a concept introduced by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in their 1981 book The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation. The ideas came from years of hands-on work at The Walt Disney Company, where animators had been sharpening their skills and experimenting with new techniques since the 1930s.

These principles explain how to create movement that feels believable and emotionally engaging. They’re grounded in basic physics, but they’re also about personality, storytelling and timing. In short, they help bring characters to life in a way that connects with an audience.

Johnston and Thomas were two of Disney’s legendary ‘Nine Old Men’, the core team who shaped the golden age of animation. Their influence is still felt today. While tools and technology have changed, the fundamentals haven’t. The 12 Principles remain at the heart of strong character animation across film, games and the wider screen industries. If you’re thinking about studying game art and game design, this is where your journey begins.

1. Squash and Stretch

This principle adds flexibility and weight to objects. Imagine a ball hitting the ground: it squashes on impact, then stretches as it bounces back up. The key rule is to keep the volume consistent. If the ball stretches upwards, it should become narrower; if it squashes down, it should widen. This keeps the movement believable.

2. Anticipation

Anticipation prepares the audience for what’s about to happen. A character might draw their arm back before throwing a ball, or a footballer might swing their leg back before a kick. These small preparatory movements make the main action feel more natural and realistic.

3. Staging

Staging is about clarity. It ensures the audience instantly understands the idea, emotion, or action being shown. This involves thoughtful positioning of characters, props, background elements and even the camera angle. Good staging guides the viewer’s eye to what matters most.

4. Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose

These are two different animation methods. Straight-ahead action means drawing frame by frame in sequence, which can create fluid, spontaneous movement. Pose to pose starts with key poses, then fills in the frames between them. This approach helps with planning and structure.

5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action

When a character stops moving, not everything halts at once. Loose clothing, hair, or accessories will continue to move briefly. For example, if a character wearing a long cape comes to a stop, the cape will sway before settling. This adds realism and softness to movement.

6. Slow In and Slow Out

Most movements don’t happen at a constant speed. Actions usually build momentum, move at their fastest point, then ease into a stop. Adding more frames at the beginning and end of an action creates a smoother, more natural result and avoids stiff, mechanical motion.

7. Arc

Arc animation makes movements feel natural and smooth. Natural movement often follows curved paths rather than straight lines. Whether it’s a swinging arm or a bouncing ball, motion tends to travel in arcs. Using arcs helps animation feel fluid and lifelike.

8. Secondary Action

Secondary actions support and enhance the main movement. For example, when a character walks, they might swing their arms or nod their head. These extra touches add personality and depth without distracting from the primary action.

9. Timing

Timing controls the speed and rhythm of movement. It depends on the number of frames used for an action. Fewer frames create quicker movement; more frames slow it down. Good timing gives weight to objects and emotion to characters.

10. Exaggeration

Exaggeration pushes movements and expressions slightly beyond realism to create impact, humour and clarity. It doesn’t mean making things wild or chaotic; it means enhancing the essence of an action so it reads clearly and feels entertaining.

11. Solid Drawing

Solid drawing gives characters a sense of volume and balance, making the animation feel three-dimensional. Even in a stylised design, figures should feel three-dimensional. Careful use of perspective, shading, and structure helps create that sense of weight and form.

12. Appeal

Appeal makes a character engaging to watch. It’s about charm, charisma and strong design. A character should be interesting and visually clear, drawing the audience in. Learn more about this.

The 12 principles are the essential ingredients that make animation believable, compelling and full of emotion.

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