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absolute-beginner skill

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This skill introduces animation basics for beginners, explaining the twelve principles in simple terms and showing how to start practicing.

npx playbooks add skill dylantarre/animation-principles --skill absolute-beginner

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

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SKILL.md
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---
name: Animation Principles - Absolute Beginner
description: Use when someone has never heard of animation principles, needs the simplest explanation possible, or is a complete newcomer to animation
---

# Your First Look at Animation Magic

Animation makes drawings move in ways that feel real and fun. Disney animators discovered 12 tricks that make animation look great. Here they are in simple words:

## 1. Squash and Stretch
Things squish when they hit something and stretch when they move fast. Drop a ball - it flattens on the ground, then bounces back round.

## 2. Anticipation
Before a big move, there's a small move the other way. Before jumping up, you crouch down first.

## 3. Staging
Put important things where people will see them. Like putting the main actor in a spotlight on stage.

## 4. Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose
Two ways to draw: either draw every picture in order, or draw the important pictures first and fill in between.

## 5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action
When you stop, your hair keeps moving. Different parts move at different times, not all at once.

## 6. Slow In and Slow Out
Things speed up when starting and slow down when stopping. Like a car at a traffic light.

## 7. Arc
Most things move in curves, not straight lines. Throw a ball - it makes a rainbow shape in the air.

## 8. Secondary Action
Little movements that happen along with the main movement. Walking while whistling and swinging your arms.

## 9. Timing
How fast or slow something happens changes how it feels. Fast = exciting. Slow = calm or heavy.

## 10. Exaggeration
Make things bigger and more dramatic than real life. Cartoon characters can stretch their eyes wide when surprised.

## 11. Solid Drawing
Make flat pictures look like they have weight and depth. Things should feel like you could pick them up.

## 12. Appeal
Make characters interesting to watch. They should have something special that makes you want to keep looking.

## Remember
You don't need to use all 12 at once. Start with one or two. The more you practice, the more natural they become.

Overview

This skill introduces Disney's 12 principles of animation in the simplest possible way for complete beginners. It breaks each principle into a short, friendly explanation and gives practical starting points. You will learn what to notice and which small steps to try first. No prior knowledge is required.

How this skill works

The skill walks through each principle using clear, everyday examples (like a bouncing ball or a person jumping). It explains what each principle changes in movement, why it makes animation feel better, and how to try it in a sketch or simple animation. You can start by practicing one or two principles and combine more as you improve.

When to use it

  • When you have never heard of animation principles and need a clear, simple intro.
  • When you want quick, memorable rules to make drawings feel alive.
  • When planning a first animated test or simple flipbook.
  • When teaching kids or beginners basic animation ideas.
  • When reviewing rough motion to spot obvious improvements.

Best practices

  • Start with one principle (e.g., squash and stretch or timing) and practice it until it feels natural.
  • Use simple tests like a bouncing ball to see principles in action.
  • Observe real life: watch how hair, clothes, and limbs follow and overlap.
  • Combine principles slowly — add anticipation, then refine timing and follow-through.
  • Keep sketches loose; exaggeration helps make intent readable.

Example use cases

  • Draw a bouncing ball exercise to learn squash, stretch, timing, and arcs.
  • Animate a character jump using anticipation, slow in/slow out, and follow-through.
  • Create a short walk cycle focusing on secondary action and overlapping movement.
  • Teach a classroom demo showing staging and appeal with a simple pose.
  • Polish a rough scene by checking timing, weight (solid drawing), and exaggeration.

FAQ

Do I need to learn all 12 principles at once?

No. Start with one or two principles and add more as you practice.

Are these rules only for cartoons?

No. They apply to any animation style because they explain how motion reads to the eye.