Animation Basics
Lesson 3 of 3 6 min +40 XP

Principles of Motion

Squash, stretch, and timing.

What you'll learn

  • Understand principles of motion
  • Apply it to real examples
  • Check yourself with a quiz
The bouncing ball with weight

A bouncing ball feels alive when it squashes on impact and stretches as it falls. These little exaggerations — squash, stretch, timing — give animation weight and life.

Life through exaggeration

Squash and stretch give weight and flexibility; timing (how many frames an action takes) sets its speed and feel.

Knowledge Check

+10 XP / correct

1. Squash and stretch give a character…

2. Timing controls an action's…