Rules of Animation 5.3

1.  Timing

The most important aspect of animation, this is what sets animation apart from any other art form. A big portion of animation relies solely on timing. Messages or feelings that cannot be portrayed by a still picture can be more easily communicated with the addition of timing. A common well-noticed example is dramatic pause(s).

2. Squash & Stretch

 For an object to look convincing, it must “give” when external forces are applied to it, meaning squash or stretch. These forces include gravity, directional force, and the mass of the object, as well as other surfaces it comes into contact with. 

3. Exaggeration

As you can tell from the name, literally speaking, exaggeration is a method of emphasizing something to increase its significance or draw attention to it. In a situation in a scene where there is a lot of action, you should emphasize the action that is most relevant in/to the scene.

4. Anticipation

A good direct technique to grasp viewers attention to a certain part of the screen and it's also combined with staging. However, there are differences that make it a rule unto itself. Some anticipation occurs naturally that isn't altered to emphasize it.

5. Overlap

This when one action overlaps another, and it is an important key to apply this rule to make your animations flow seamlessly and have a natural rhythm. You should avoid animating actions in a sequence-like fashion, one after another. Doing this because it can make your animations look rigid and unnatural if you don’t overlap the actions.