Agent skill · design visual · dylantarre
Animation Principles - Deep Dive
Use when someone needs comprehensive reference material on animation principles with technical depth and extensive context
Why this skill is useful
Provides detailed technical implementation of animation principles that the AI wouldn't reliably generate on its own.
What it needs
About 2k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2025-12-30. 69 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Complete Animation Principles Reference Comprehensive technical guide to Disney's 12 principles with implementation details. 1. Squash and Stretch Definition: Deformation of objects to show flexibility, weight, and motion. Technical implementation: Volume must remain constant (area preserved) Stretch along motion path at velocity peaks Squash perpendicular to impact surface Ratio guidelines: 20-50% for cartoony, 5-15% for realistic Applications: Facial expressions, body mechanics, object interactions, impact effects. 2. Anticipation Definition: Preparatory action preceding main action. Technical implementation: Direction opposite to main action Duration proportional to action magnitude Typical ratio: 1:3 anticipation to action frames Can be minimized for surprise effects Applications: Jumps, throws, emotional shifts, scene transitions. 3. Staging Definition: Presentation of idea for maximum clarity. Technical implementation: Silhouette test: action readable as solid black shape Single focal point per composition Background contrast supports subject Camera angle serves story point Applications: Every shot, pose choice, camera placement, lighting design. 4. Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose Definition: Two fundamental animation approaches. Straight ahead: Sequential frame creation. Organic, spontaneous, harder to control timing. Pose to pose: Key poses first, breakdowns second, inbetweens last. Controlled, plannable, can feel stiff. Hybrid: Keys pose-to-pose, overlapping elements straight ahead. 5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action Definition: Continuation of motion after primary action stops. Technical implementation: Drag: appendages trail behind main mass Follow through: continuation past stop point Overlap: different parts move at different rates Settle: oscillating return to rest Hierarchy: Root leads, extremities follow. Heavy before light. 6. Slow In and Slow Out Definition: Spacing variation showing acceleration/deceleration. …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills dylantarre/deep-dive