Agent skill · design visual · dylantarre
Animation Principles - Intermediate
Use when someone has working knowledge of animation principles and needs guidance on combining them effectively in more complex animations
Why this skill is useful
Provides specific guidance on combining animation principles effectively, which the AI may not generate on its own.
What it needs
About 1k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2025-12-30. 69 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Combining Principles for Stronger Animation You can apply individual principles. Now learn to weave them together and understand their interdependencies. Principle Synergies Squash/Stretch + Timing Volume preservation is key. Faster motion = more stretch. The timing dictates the degree. A 2-frame anticipation needs less squash than a 6-frame one. Anticipation + Follow Through These are mirrors. Anticipation magnitude should roughly match follow through. Big wind-up = big settle. They create rhythmic bookends to any action. Staging + Secondary Action Secondary actions must support staging, never compete. If staging says "look at the face," secondary action in hands should point attention there, not away. Arcs + Slow In/Out Arcs aren't uniform speeds. Apply easing along the arc path. Spacing should bunch at start/end of the arc, spread in the middle. Pose to Pose + Straight Ahead Hybrid approach: Key poses first (pose-to-pose), then animate overlapping elements straight ahead. Best of both: structure with spontaneity. Common Combination Mistakes Over-anticipation: When every action has massive wind-up, nothing feels spontaneous. Reserve big anticipation for big payoffs. Competing secondary actions: Three things moving differently splits attention. Hierarchy matters - one leads, others support. Uniform timing: Every action at 12 frames feels mechanical. Vary your timing: quick decisions, slow realizations. Arc neglect in follow through: The main action arcs beautifully, then appendages move linearly. Everything arcs. The 12 Principles by Function Physics: Squash/Stretch, Timing, Arcs, Slow In/Out Clarity: Staging, Solid Drawing, Anticipation Interest: Secondary Action, Exaggeration, Appeal Technique: Straight Ahead/Pose to Pose, Follow Through/Overlap Integration Exercise Animate a character sitting down: 1. Staging: Camera angle shows full body profile 2. Anticipation: Slight upward before descent 3. Arcs: Hips trace a curved path down 4. …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills dylantarre/intermediate