Ultimate Animation Cheatsheet: Principles, Techniques & Workflows

Introduction to Animation

Animation is the art of creating the illusion of movement through a sequence of images or frames displayed in rapid succession. More than just moving pictures, animation is a powerful storytelling medium that brings characters, worlds, and ideas to life through controlled motion and timing. Understanding animation matters because it combines artistic expression with technical precision, enables creators to visualize anything imaginable unconstrained by physical limitations, serves as a universal language that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, provides essential skills for numerous creative industries (entertainment, advertising, education, UI/UX design), and offers unique ways to explain complex concepts through visual metaphor and simplification. Whether creating entertainment, educational content, or professional presentations, animation principles apply across all forms and technologies.

12 Principles of Animation

Core Principles

• Squash & Stretch: Deformation of objects to simulate weight and flexibility

  • Application: Ball bounce (maximum stretch during falling, squash on impact)
  • Key point: Volume should remain consistent regardless of deformation
  • Example: Character’s cheeks stretching during fast movement, then squashing on impact

• Anticipation: Preparation movement before main action

  • Application: Wind-up before a punch or jump
  • Key point: Telegraphs upcoming action to audience
  • Example: Character bending knees and leaning back before leaping forward

• Staging: Presenting action clearly for audience understanding

  • Application: Positioning characters and camera to highlight key actions
  • Key point: Avoid competing actions that confuse viewer focus
  • Example: Isolating important character against simple background

• Straight Ahead vs. Pose-to-Pose:

  • Straight Ahead: Drawing each frame sequentially
    • Pros: Fluid, spontaneous motion
    • Cons: Difficult to maintain proportions, timing challenges
  • Pose-to-Pose: Creating key poses first, then in-betweens
    • Pros: Better control of timing, consistent proportions
    • Cons: Can look mechanical without proper finessing

Motion Principles

• Follow Through & Overlapping Action:

  • Follow Through: Parts continuing to move after main body stops
  • Overlapping: Different parts moving at different rates
  • Key point: Creates natural, connected movement
  • Example: Hair continuing to move after character stops; cloth settling after movement

• Slow In & Slow Out (Ease In/Out):

  • Application: Most movements accelerate and decelerate
  • Key point: More drawings/frames near beginning and end of action
  • Example: Car accelerating from stop, then decelerating to rest

• Arcs: Natural movements follow curved paths

  • Application: Almost all living creature movements
  • Key point: Straight-line movements appear mechanical
  • Example: Tip of hand moving in arc during arm gesture

• Secondary Action: Supplementary movements that support main action

  • Application: Actions that emphasize or add dimension to primary movement
  • Key point: Should enhance, not distract from main action
  • Example: Character scratching head while thinking

Artistic Principles

• Timing: Spacing of frames to control movement speed and character

  • Application: Number of frames used for an action
  • Key point: Fewer frames = faster/more energetic movement
  • Example: Quick head turn (3-4 frames) vs. slow contemplative movement (12+ frames)

• Exaggeration: Amplifying essence of an idea for impact

  • Application: Pushing expressions or movements beyond reality
  • Key point: Aim for believability, not necessarily realism
  • Example: Character’s jaw dropping to floor in surprise

• Solid Drawing: Creating forms with volume and weight in 3D space

  • Application: Understanding form, weight, anatomy, perspective
  • Key point: Characters should feel three-dimensional even in 2D
  • Example: Maintaining consistent volume when character turns

• Appeal: Creating charismatic, engaging design and movement

  • Application: Character design, movement style, visual charm
  • Key point: Not just about being “cute” but creating visual interest
  • Example: Distinctive silhouettes, dynamic pose choices

Animation Workflows & Pipelines

Traditional Animation Pipeline

1. Concept & Story Development

   • Script writing and storyboarding
   • Character/environment design concepts
   • Style guides and color scripts

2. Pre-Production

   • Final storyboards and animatics
   • Layout and background design
   • Model/character sheets with turnarounds
   • Color scripts and lighting design

3. Production

   • Key animation (key poses/frames)
   • In-betweening (frames between key poses)
   • Clean-up (final line work)
   • Coloring/painting
   • Effects animation (water, fire, etc.)

4. Post-Production

   • Compositing elements
   • Adding special effects
   • Sound design and music
   • Final color correction
   • Rendering and output

3D Animation Pipeline

1. Pre-Production

   • Concept art and storyboarding
   • Previsualization and layout
   • Design and modeling
   • Rigging and setup

2. Animation Production

   • Blocking (rough key poses)
   • Splining (smoothing motion curves)
   • Polishing (refining timing and weight)
   • Secondary motion and details
   • Facial animation and lip sync

3. Technical Pipeline

   • Texturing and surfacing
   • Lighting setup
   • Effects simulation
   • Rendering

4. Post-Production

   • Compositing
   • Color grading
   • Visual effects integration
   • Final output

Stop Motion Pipeline

1. Pre-Production

   • Character/puppet design and fabrication
   • Set building and prop creation
   • Camera and lighting tests
   • Animatic creation

2. Production

   • Set dressing and preparation
   • Character positioning and incremental movement
   • Frame capture
   • Rig removal planning

3. Post-Production

   • Rig removal and cleanup
   • Compositing and effects
   • Color grading
   • Final assembly

Animation Techniques Comparison

Character Animation Essentials

Character Structure

• Line of Action: Primary curve that defines pose energy and direction
• Contrapposto: Weight shift creating dynamic asymmetry in pose
• Silhouette: Clear readable outline of character pose
• Balance & Weight: Center of gravity positioning for believability

Locomotion Basics

• Walk Cycle:

  • Contact: Forward foot touches ground
  • Down: Body at lowest point as it passes over forward leg
  • Passing: Legs pass each other
  • Up: Body at highest point as it pushes up and forward
  • Repeat with opposite leg leading

• Run Cycle:

  • Contact: One foot touches ground
  • Down: Weight absorption
  • Passing position: Legs pass each other
  • Up: Push off into airborne phase
  • Airborne: Both feet off ground
  • Repeat with opposite leg

• Jump Sequence:

  1. Anticipation: Gathering energy (crouch)
  2. Take-off: Extension and push
  3. Airborne: Body configuration during flight
  4. Anticipating landing: Preparation
  5. Landing: Impact absorption
  6. Recovery: Return to neutral or next action

Facial Animation

• Key Face Areas:

  • Eyes: Primary focus of emotion
  • Eyebrows: Convey surprise, anger, concern
  • Mouth: Shape for speech and expression
  • Jaw: Overall face shape and intensity

• Expressions Guide:

  • Joy: Raised cheeks, curved eyes, upturned mouth
  • Anger: Lowered brows, tight mouth, flared nostrils
  • Sadness: Drooping features, raised inner brows
  • Fear: Raised brows, wide eyes, open mouth
  • Surprise: Arched brows, wide eyes, open mouth
  • Disgust: Wrinkled nose, raised upper lip

• Lip Sync Phonemes:

  • A, I, E: Open mouth shapes
  • O, U: Rounded mouth
  • M, B, P: Closed lips
  • F, V: Lower lip tucked under teeth
  • L, D, T, N: Tongue to roof of mouth
  • Rest position: Neutral, slightly open

Animation Timing and Spacing

Frame Rate Standards

• Film: 24 fps (frames per second)
• PAL TV/Video: 25 fps
• NTSC TV/Video: 29.97 fps
• Modern Games: 30-60 fps
• Web Animation: Variable (12-30 fps)
• Stop Motion: Often 12-15 fps
• Limited Animation: 8-12 fps

Timing Concepts

• Beats: Key moments or accents in motion
• Holds: Pause on a position (typically 6-12 frames)
• Moving Holds: Subtle movement during held position
• Ease In/Out: Acceleration/deceleration (clustered frames)
• Linear Motion: Equal spacing (mechanical, rarely used)
• Slow In/Out: More frames at beginning/end, fewer in middle
• Favoring: More frames near one end than other

Timing Charts

• x-sheets (Exposure Sheets):

  • Vertical columns represent timeline
  • Horizontal rows show multiple elements
  • Notations for actions, dialogue, camera moves
  • Frame numbers and timing notes

• Motion Curves (Digital):

  • X-axis: Time
  • Y-axis: Value (position, rotation, etc.)
  • Bezier handles control easing
  • Stepped curves for sudden changes

Animation Software Tools

2D Animation Software

• Adobe Animate (formerly Flash)

  • Strengths: Vector-based, web integration, symbols library
  • Best for: Web animation, cartoon production, interactive content
  • Key features: Timeline, symbol management, vector drawing

• Toon Boom Harmony

  • Strengths: Industry-standard, comprehensive toolset, node-based
  • Best for: Professional 2D production, TV shows, feature films
  • Key features: Rigging, effects, camera, advanced coloring

• TVPaint

  • Strengths: Natural media simulation, traditional feel
  • Best for: Hand-drawn animation, artistic projects
  • Key features: Brushes, frame-by-frame tools, natural media

• Clip Studio Paint/Moho

  • Strengths: Affordable, artist-friendly, rigging capabilities
  • Best for: Independent animators, smaller studios
  • Key features: Drawing tools, rigging, timeline management

3D Animation Software

• Blender

  • Strengths: Free, open-source, comprehensive feature set
  • Best for: Independent projects, learning, versatile production
  • Key features: Modeling, animation, rendering, simulation, all-in-one

• Autodesk Maya

  • Strengths: Industry-standard, powerful, extensible
  • Best for: Professional 3D animation, VFX, games
  • Key features: Character rigging, animation tools, MEL scripting

• Cinema 4D

  • Strengths: User-friendly, motion graphics integration
  • Best for: Motion graphics, broadcast, visualization
  • Key features: MoGraph toolset, intuitive interface

• 3DS Max

  • Strengths: Modeling tools, architectural visualization
  • Best for: Game development, visualization, modeling
  • Key features: Modifier stack, extensive plugin ecosystem

Motion Graphics Software

• Adobe After Effects

  • Strengths: Industry-standard, integration with Adobe suite
  • Best for: Motion graphics, compositing, visual effects
  • Key features: Layers, expressions, effects, keyframes

• Apple Motion

  • Strengths: Real-time playback, template creation for FCPX
  • Best for: Apple ecosystem users, broadcast graphics
  • Key features: Behaviors, particle systems, 3D text

Stop Motion Software

• Dragonframe
  • Strengths: Industry-standard, comprehensive toolset
  • Best for: Professional stop motion production
  • Key features: Camera control, onion skinning, timeline

Technical Animation Concepts

Rigging Fundamentals

• Skeleton Structure:

  • Joints and bones hierarchy
  • Forward Kinematics (FK): Child affected by parent
  • Inverse Kinematics (IK): Parent affected by child position
  • IK/FK switching for different animation needs

• Control Systems:

  • Control curves/objects for animator interface
  • Constraints (aim, point, parent)
  • Set-driven keys for automated relationships
  • Blend shapes/morph targets for facial animation

• Deformation:

  • Skinning: Binding mesh to skeleton
  • Weight painting: Influence distribution
  • Corrective shapes for problem areas
  • Muscle systems for realistic movement

Motion Capture

• Types:

  • Optical: Markers tracked by multiple cameras
  • Inertial: Sensors on body measure movement
  • Markerless: Computer vision analysis of video
  • Facial: Specialized systems for face tracking

• Workflow:

  • Capture planning and setup
  • Performance recording
  • Data cleaning and solving
  • Retargeting to character rig
  • Animation refinement and stylization

Procedural Animation

• Applications:

  • Crowds and background characters
  • Physics-based movement (cloth, hair, liquids)
  • Particle effects (fire, smoke, water)
  • Algorithmic motion (flocking, growth patterns)

• Techniques:

  • Physics simulations
  • Particle systems
  • Noise-driven animation
  • Scripted/programmatic movement
  • AI/Machine learning approaches

Common Challenges & Solutions

Technical Issues

• Challenge: Popping or jerky movement

• Solution:

  • Check for missing keyframes or extreme timing
  • Add ease in/out to smooth transitions
  • Look for conflicting constraints
  • Use motion trails to visualize path

• Challenge: Weight issues (floating or too heavy)

• Solution:

  • Adjust timing of anticipation and follow-through
  • Emphasize squash on impact
  • Check arc of motion for naturalness
  • Exaggerate up/down movement in walks/runs

• Challenge: Robotic or stiff movement

• Solution:

  • Add secondary motion
  • Ensure parts move at different rates (overlapping)
  • Incorporate subtle moving holds
  • Break symmetry in poses and timing

Production Issues

• Challenge: Meeting deadlines with quality

• Solution:

  • Block entire sequence before refining
  • Prioritize scenes by importance/screen time
  • Establish animation libraries for reuse
  • Appropriate level of detail for shot distance/importance

• Challenge: Maintaining consistency

• Solution:

  • Create pose and expression libraries
  • Use model/character sheets
  • Regular team reviews
  • Naming conventions and file organization
  • Animation style guides

Best Practices for Animators

1. Planning

   • Thumbnail key poses before animating
   • Record video reference
   • Create pose tests before full animation
   • Time out actions with stopwatch
   • Use animatics to plan timing

2. Workflow Efficiency

   • Block major poses first, then breakdowns
   • Work in passes (timing → rough → refined → polish)
   • View work at actual speed frequently
   • Test early and often
   • Save iterations (don’t overwrite files)

3. Technical Discipline

   • Clean keys and curves
   • Organize timeline/x-sheets
   • Label actions and sections
   • Consistent naming conventions
   • Regular file backups

4. Creative Development

   • Maintain a reference library
   • Study real-world movement
   • Analyze professional animation
   • Practice quick gesture drawing
   • Join animation communities for feedback

Resources for Further Learning

Books

• “The Animator’s Survival Kit” by Richard Williams
• “Cartoon Animation” by Preston Blair
• “The Illusion of Life” by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston
• “Animation: The Whole Story” by Howard Beckerman
• “Character Animation Crash Course” by Eric Goldberg

Online Learning

• Animation Mentor (animationmentor.com)
• Animschool (animschool.com)
• Proko Animation Courses (proko.com)
• Pluralsight/LinkedIn Learning
• School of Motion (schoolofmotion.com)

Community and Reference

• 11 Second Club (monthly animation contests)
• Animation Meatier (principles analysis)
• Spungella (animation tutorials)
• Animation Guild
• CartoonBrew (industry news)

Software Tutorials

• Blender Guru
• Aaron Blaise’s Courses
• Toniko Pantoja (2D animation)
• Alan Becker (Stick Figure animation)
• Sir Wade Neistadt (Stop motion)

This comprehensive cheatsheet provides a structured overview of animation principles, techniques, and workflows. From traditional hand-drawn animation to cutting-edge 3D and procedural systems, these fundamentals apply across all animation forms and will help create more convincing, engaging animated content regardless of style or medium.