Agent skill · design visual · dylantarre
Animation Principles - Universal Reference
Use when discussing animation principles with users of unknown skill level, or when providing a balanced reference that works for any experience level
Why this skill is useful
Provides a comprehensive reference on animation principles that enhances the AI's understanding of both basic and advanced concepts in animation.
What it needs
About 2k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2025-12-30. 69 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Animation Principles - Universal Reference Disney's 12 principles work at every skill level. Here's each principle with scalable depth. 1. Squash and Stretch Core idea: Objects deform to show motion and impact. Beginner: Ball flattens when it hits ground. Advanced: Volume must remain constant. Facial animation uses micro-squash for expression. Key insight: Even "rigid" objects can use the principle through camera shake or motion blur. 2. Anticipation Core idea: Prepare the viewer for action. Beginner: Crouch before jump. Advanced: Anticipation size controls audience expectation. Absence creates surprise. Key insight: Every action that needs to read clearly needs setup. 3. Staging Core idea: Present one clear idea at a time. Beginner: Put important things where viewers will look. Advanced: Silhouette test, negative space, compositional psychology. Key insight: Confusion is never the viewer's fault. 4. Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose Core idea: Two methods - sequential vs. key-pose-first. Beginner: Different ways to approach the same animation. Advanced: Choose based on need: control vs. spontaneity. Hybrid approaches for complex shots. Key insight: The method shapes the result's energy. 5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action Core idea: Different parts stop at different times. Beginner: Hair keeps moving after head stops. Advanced: Drag, settle, overlap hierarchy. Emotional implications of follow through weight. Key insight: Simultaneous stopping looks robotic. 6. Slow In and Slow Out Core idea: Things accelerate and decelerate. Beginner: More drawings at start and end, fewer in middle. Advanced: Custom easing curves. Snap, bounce, drift variations. Key insight: Even spacing reads mechanical. 7. Arc Core idea: Natural motion follows curves. Beginner: Arms swing in arcs, not straight lines. Advanced: Track all motion paths. Breaking arcs intentionally for mechanical/sudden effects. Key insight: Straight paths require justification. 8. …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills dylantarre/universal-reference