How do I install the Animation Principles - Intermediate skill?

Run npx skillmds add majiayu000/animation-principles-intermediate in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Animation Principles - Intermediate safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Animation Principles - Intermediate?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Animation Principles - Intermediate free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Animation Principles - Intermediate?

majiayu000 (@majiayu000) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Animation Principles - Intermediate by majiayu000

Name: Animation Principles - Intermediate
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: majiayu000

File contents

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:

Staging: Camera angle shows full body profile
Anticipation: Slight upward before descent
Arcs: Hips trace a curved path down
Timing: Faster drop, slower settle
Squash: Compress on contact
Follow Through: Arms/head continue after hips land
Overlapping: Hair settles last
Secondary: Adjusting clothing
Slow Out: Gradual stop to final pose

Layer principles one at a time. Blocking first, then refinement passes for each principle category.

---name: animation-principles-intermediatedescription: Use when someone has working knowledge of animation principles and needs guidance on combining them effectively in more complex animations--- # 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. **Timing:** Faster drop, slower settle 5. **Squash:** Compress on contact 6. **Follow Through:** Arms/head continue after hips land 7. **Overlapping:** Hair settles last 8. **Secondary:** Adjusting clothing 9. **Slow Out:** Gradual stop to final pose Layer principles one at a time. Blocking first, then refinement passes for each principle category.

Frequently asked questions