What are the benefits of squash and stretch for conveying emotions and expressions in character animation?

1 What is squash and stretch?

Squash and stretch is a principle of animation that was developed by the legendary animators of Disney in the 1930s. It refers to the distortion of a character's shape and volume in response to external forces, such as gravity, speed, impact, or tension. Squashing means compressing a character's form along one axis, while stretching means elongating it along another axis. Squash and stretch can be applied to any part of a character, from the whole body to the facial features, depending on the desired effect.

2 Why use squash and stretch?

Squash and stretch can help you create more realistic and appealing animations by adding three key elements: weight, flexibility, and exaggeration. Weight is the sense of mass and gravity that a character has. By squashing and stretching a character, you can show how it reacts to different forces and how it balances itself. For example, when a character jumps, you can squash it as it prepares to launch, stretch it as it flies in the air, and squash it again as it lands. Flexibility is the ability of a character to bend and twist its shape. By squashing and stretching a character, you can show how it moves fluidly and dynamically. For example, when a character swings a sword, you can stretch its arm and torso to emphasize the speed and power of the swing. Exaggeration is the enhancement of a character's motion, emotion, and expression. By squashing and stretching a character, you can show how it feels and communicates. For example, when a character is angry, you can squash its eyebrows and mouth to show its frown, or when a character is surprised, you can stretch its eyes and mouth to show its shock.

3 How to apply squash and stretch?

Squash and stretch can be applied to any type of character animation, whether it is 2D or 3D, hand-drawn or computer-generated. However, there are some general guidelines to follow to ensure that your squash and stretch is effective and consistent. First, you need to decide how much squash and stretch you want to use for your character and your style. Some characters and genres may require more or less squash and stretch than others, depending on the level of realism or cartoonishness you want to achieve. Second, you need to maintain the volume of your character as you squash and stretch it. This means that when you squash a character, you need to compensate by expanding it in another direction, and vice versa. This way, you avoid making your character look too thin or too fat. Third, you need to follow the arc of motion of your character as you squash and stretch it. This means that you need to align your squash and stretch with the direction and curvature of your character's movement. This way, you create a smooth and natural flow of animation.

5 What are some tips and tricks for squash and stretch?

Squash and stretch can be a fun and powerful technique for character animation, but it can also be challenging and tricky. To help you master it, use reference to observe how real objects and creatures behave under different forces and situations. Analyze the methods and choices of other animators. Timing is a key factor that affects the impact of squash and stretch; use timing to create contrast, rhythm, and anticipation. Exaggeration is the amplification of your squash and stretch beyond reality; use it to create more expression, emotion, and humor. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to create snappy, energetic, soft, elastic, distorted, exaggerated or refined squash and stretch.