Overview of Animation

Animation, whether it be in film, hand draw, computer, or web based, all use some of the same principles.

Animation is actually a series of still images which are displayed rapidly. If enough images are shown in quick succession, then the image appears to move smoothly, as the human eye cannot distinguish the individual images.  Generally this is around 21-25 images per second.

Each image is often known as a frame in an animation sequence.

Flash defaults the frames to 12 per second, so it may appear "jerky", but this helps keep file sizes small.  Old standard definition TV used 30 frames/second (ok actually 29.97) but interleaved the odd and even rows of each image.  Film uses 24 frames / second, and hi-def TV uses a variety based upon the version of Hi Def.

Images often have a fore-ground, a middle ground, and a back ground.  By moving some layers of the image at different speeds than other layers, it helps convey a perception of depth in the animation.

12 basic principles of animation

There  have been 12 basic principles to helping an animation look more realistic.  These were developed by Disney animators, and can be held tightly, or exaggerated for effect when needed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_basic_principles_of_animation

• Squash and stretch
• Anticipation
• Staging
• Straight ahead action and pose to pose
• Follow through and overlapping action
• Slow in and slow out
• Arcs
• Secondary Action
• Timing
• Exaggeration
• Solid Drawing (a solid three dimensional feel, adding weight)
• Appeal (how likable)