Technique : follow through and overlapping action

The principle of animation called follow through and overlapping action is crucial in creating believable and appealing animations. It adds realism, weight, and fluidity to the movement of characters or objects, making them look more natural and dynamic.

Follow through refers to the idea that different parts of a character or object will continue to move even after the main action has stopped. When an action is performed abruptly, the parts of the body that are not directly involved in the main action will continue to move due to inertia. For example, when a character jumps and lands back on the ground, their hair, clothing, or other extremities will continue to move with momentum before settling into place.

This principle is essential in creating a sense of weight and physics in animations. By animating the different parts of a character independently, it gives the illusion that the character has mass and is subjected to the laws of physics. It also helps to convey the character's personality and adds additional details and subtleties to the overall animation.

Overlapping action, on the other hand, involves creating the illusion of multiple actions happening simultaneously or overlapping each other. It occurs when different parts of a character's body or objects move or change at different times during an action. This principle adds depth and complexity to the movement, making it look more natural and convincing.

For example, when a character runs, their head, arms, and legs will move at different speeds and in slightly different directions. The arms will swing forward while the legs are mid-stride, and the head will remain more or less stable. This overlapping of different body parts creates a visually more interesting and realistic animation.

Both follow through and overlapping action are crucial for character animation, but they can also be applied to inanimate objects. For instance, a bouncing ball can demonstrate follow through as it squashes and stretches during impact and rebounds. Overlapping action can be seen in the movement of a flag or a flowing robe, where different parts exhibit individual motion due to wind or other external forces.

To effectively apply these principles in animation, an understanding of timing, weight distribution, and the physical properties of objects is necessary. It requires careful observation of real-life movements and translating them into the animation medium. By incorporating follow through and overlapping action, animators can create more engaging and believable animations, capturing the attention and imagination of the audience.