home / skills / dylantarre / animation-principles / refresher
This skill helps seasoned animators quickly refresh the 12 animation principles without basic explanations for faster correct decisions during blocking and
npx playbooks add skill dylantarre/animation-principles --skill refresherReview the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.
---
name: Animation Principles - Refresher
description: Use when an experienced animator needs a quick reminder of the 12 principles without basic explanations
---
# Quick Principles Refresher
You know these. Here's the checklist.
## The 12
1. **Squash/Stretch** - Volume constant, shape varies. Check your impacts and fast motion.
2. **Anticipation** - Is the audience prepared? Opposite direction, proportional to action.
3. **Staging** - Silhouette test. One idea. Where's the eye going?
4. **Straight Ahead / Pose to Pose** - Right method for this shot? Maybe hybrid.
5. **Follow Through / Overlap** - Does everything stop at once? (It shouldn't.) Hierarchy: root leads, tips lag.
6. **Slow In / Out** - Checked your spacing charts? Bunched at ends, spread in middle.
7. **Arcs** - Track the paths. Everything curves unless intentionally broken.
8. **Secondary Action** - Supporting, not competing. Add after primary works.
9. **Timing** - Frame count matches intent? Weight, mood, pacing all live here.
10. **Exaggeration** - Did you push it enough? (Probably not.) Find real, then go 20% past.
11. **Solid Drawing** - Does it have weight? Volume consistent through motion?
12. **Appeal** - Would you watch this? Clear shapes, readable pose, distinctive design?
## Quick Diagnosis
**Floaty?** Check timing and slow in/out. Probably too even.
**Stiff?** Add overlap. Offset timing. Break symmetry.
**Confusing?** Staging issue. Simplify. One idea per shot.
**Mechanical?** Arcs are probably too straight. Add anticipation variety.
**Dead?** Secondary action missing. Overlap insufficient.
**Boring?** Push exaggeration. Check appeal. Vary timing.
## Shot Checklist
Before calling it done:
- [ ] Silhouette reads
- [ ] Arcs tracked
- [ ] Spacing varied (slow in/out)
- [ ] Overlap on all appendages
- [ ] Secondary action supports (doesn't compete)
- [ ] Exaggeration appropriate to style
- [ ] Timing matches weight and mood
- [ ] Anticipation proportional
- [ ] Volume consistent
- [ ] Appeal present
## Principle Priority by Shot Type
**Action:** Timing > Arcs > Anticipation > Squash/Stretch
**Dialogue:** Staging > Secondary > Timing > Appeal
**Comedy:** Timing > Exaggeration > Anticipation > Staging
**Subtle acting:** Secondary > Overlap > Timing > Staging
Trust your instincts. You've done this. This is just calibration.
This skill is a compact refresher for experienced animators who need a fast checklist of Disney's 12 animation principles without basic definitions. It gives a focused diagnostic flow, a shot-ready checklist, and principle priorities by shot type so you can quickly calibrate work-in-progress shots. Use it when you want direct, actionable reminders to improve silhouette, timing, appeal, and motion quality.
The skill inspects an animator’s shot through three lenses: the 12 principles, common symptoms (floaty, stiff, confusing, etc.), and a short shot checklist. It highlights which principles to prioritize for action, dialogue, comedy, or subtle acting. Apply the checklist, run the quick diagnoses, and follow the principle priority guidance to make targeted fixes.
If a shot feels ‘dead’, what’s the first thing to check?
Look for missing secondary action and insufficient overlap; add brief, supporting motion that doesn’t compete with the primary action.
How far should I push exaggeration?
Find the believable baseline, then push roughly 20% beyond it until the intent reads clearly without breaking volume or appeal.