home / skills / dylantarre / animation-principles / novice

novice skill

This skill helps you apply the 12 animation principles to novice projects, guiding squash and stretch, anticipation, timing, and staging.

npx playbooks add skill dylantarre/animation-principles --skill novice

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 - Novice
description: Use when someone has basic awareness of animation principles and wants to start applying them in simple projects
---

# Building Your Animation Foundation

You know the basics. Now let's understand how to actually use these 12 principles in your work.

## 1. Squash and Stretch
**What it does:** Gives weight and flexibility to objects.
**Try this:** Animate a bouncing ball. Squash it 20-30% on impact, stretch it slightly at peak velocity.

## 2. Anticipation
**What it does:** Prepares the viewer for action.
**Try this:** Before a character jumps, have them bend their knees. The bigger the anticipation, the bigger the expected action.

## 3. Staging
**What it does:** Directs attention clearly.
**Try this:** Use silhouettes to test your poses. If you can't tell what's happening in shadow, restage it.

## 4. Straight Ahead vs Pose to Pose
**What it does:** Two animation methods with different results.
**Try this:** Use pose-to-pose for planned actions (walks, dialogue). Use straight ahead for wild, organic motion (fire, water).

## 5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action
**What it does:** Creates natural, fluid movement.
**Try this:** After your character stops, let hair, clothes, and appendages continue moving for a few frames.

## 6. Slow In and Slow Out
**What it does:** Adds weight and smoothness.
**Try this:** Add extra frames at the start and end of movements. Fewer frames in the middle means faster motion.

## 7. Arc
**What it does:** Makes movement feel natural.
**Try this:** Track your character's hand through a wave. It should draw a smooth curve, not zigzag.

## 8. Secondary Action
**What it does:** Adds richness without distraction.
**Try this:** A sad character might wipe their eye while talking. It supports the emotion without stealing focus.

## 9. Timing
**What it does:** Controls the mood and physics.
**Try this:** Same action, different frame counts. 4 frames = snappy/light. 12 frames = heavy/deliberate.

## 10. Exaggeration
**What it does:** Pushes reality for effect.
**Try this:** Find the real movement, then push it 20% further. Scared? Eyes wider. Angry? Lean more forward.

## 11. Solid Drawing
**What it does:** Creates believable 3D forms.
**Try this:** Draw your character from multiple angles. Maintain consistent volume throughout.

## 12. Appeal
**What it does:** Makes characters watchable.
**Try this:** Clear shapes, readable expressions, distinctive silhouettes. Avoid symmetry - asymmetry is more interesting.

## Practice Order
Start with: Timing, Squash/Stretch, Anticipation
Then add: Arcs, Follow Through, Slow In/Out
Finally: Secondary Action, Staging, Appeal

Overview

This skill teaches the 12 core animation principles at a novice level and shows how to begin applying them in simple projects. It breaks down practical tests and a suggested practice order so you can build solid foundational habits quickly. The focus is hands-on: small exercises that make each principle visible and usable.

How this skill works

Each principle is explained with a short purpose statement and a concrete exercise you can try immediately. Start with a few focused drills—bouncing balls, simple walks, silhouette checks—and layer additional principles as you become comfortable. A recommended practice order helps you prioritize learning for fastest payoff.

When to use it

You have basic awareness of animation concepts and want actionable next steps.
Preparing a first demo reel or simple short animation.
Learning to apply theory to motion tests and sketches.
When creating clear, readable poses and timing for character actions.
Practicing core skills before tackling complex scenes or production work.

Best practices

Begin with timing, squash & stretch, and anticipation to internalize motion and weight.
Use short, repeatable exercises (bouncing ball, waving hand, simple jump) to isolate one principle at a time.
Test staging with silhouettes and limit visual clutter to ensure readability.
Layer principles progressively: add arcs and follow-through after you can time actions reliably.
Record references or film yourself to capture real-world timing and subtle secondary actions.

Example use cases

Animate a bouncing ball: practice squash/stretch and timing to convey weight.
Create a short jump cycle: apply anticipation, arcs, and slow in/slow out for clarity.
Design a simple walk: use pose-to-pose for planning, then refine follow-through and overlapping action.
Animate a character reaction: add secondary actions (hand gestures, hair movement) without stealing focus.
Sketch thumbnails and silhouettes to improve staging and appeal before full animation.

FAQ

Which principles should I learn first?

Start with Timing, Squash & Stretch, and Anticipation—they establish weight, speed, and readable action.

When to use straight-ahead vs pose-to-pose?

Use pose-to-pose for planned, controlled motion like walks and dialogue; use straight-ahead for chaotic, organic motion like fire or fluid effects.

How do I avoid overdoing exaggeration?

Find the real movement first, then push about 20% beyond it. Keep exaggeration consistent with the character and scene tone.