How can you pace and time animations effectively?

1 The 12 principles of animation

The 12 principles of animation were developed by Disney animators in the 1930s and are still widely used today. They are guidelines to create realistic and appealing animations, and they cover aspects such as squash and stretch, anticipation, staging, follow through, and more. You can use these principles to enhance your animations and make them more dynamic and expressive.

2 Timing and spacing

Timing and spacing are two key elements of animation that affect the speed, motion, and rhythm of your animations. Timing refers to how long an animation takes to complete, and spacing refers to how much an object moves between each frame. By adjusting the timing and spacing of your animations, you can create different effects and moods, such as fast and energetic, slow and calm, or bouncy and elastic.

3 Easing and overshooting

Easing and overshooting are two techniques that can help you create more natural and appealing animations. Easing means that an animation starts and ends slowly, and accelerates and decelerates in between. This mimics the way objects move in real life, and creates a sense of weight and inertia. Overshooting means that an animation goes beyond its final position and then settles back. This creates a sense of elasticity and bounce, and adds more interest and personality to your animations.

4 The graph editor

The graph editor is a tool that you can use to edit the timing and spacing of your animations in a visual way. It shows you how the values of your animation properties change over time, using curves and keyframes. You can use the graph editor to fine-tune your animations and adjust the easing and overshooting of your movements. The graph editor can also help you create more complex and varied animations, such as loops, cycles, or waves.

5 The 180-degree rule

The 180-degree rule is a rule of thumb that helps you maintain the continuity and clarity of your animations. It states that you should not change the direction or angle of your camera or objects more than 180 degrees between two consecutive shots or frames. This way, you avoid confusing or disorienting your audience, and keep a consistent perspective and orientation of your animations.

6 Feedback and testing

Feedback and testing are essential steps to improve your animations and make sure they work well for your intended purpose and audience. You should always review your animations yourself, and look for any errors, glitches, or inconsistencies. You should also get feedback from other people, such as your peers, clients, or users, and ask for their opinions, suggestions, or critiques. You should also test your animations in different contexts, such as different devices, browsers, or platforms, and check for any technical or performance issues.