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Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in their book The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation
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Ollie Johnston
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Gives your animated characters and objects the illusion of gravity, weight, mass and flexibility.
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Anticipation helps to prepare the viewer for what's about to happen. When applied, it has the effect of making the object's action more realistic.
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Motion to guide the viewer's eye and draw attention to what's important within the scene.
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Drawing frame-by-frame from start to finish compared to having more control over it by doing some then going back to do the part you skipped.
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When your shape doesn't move at the same rate.
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It will start moving slowly, before gaining momentum and speeding up. The reverse will happen when the car brakes
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Most objects follow an arc or a path when they're moving, and your animations should reflect that arc.
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Secondary actions are used to support or emphasise the main action going on within a scene. Adding secondary actions help add more dimension to your characters and objects.
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If you move an object more quickly or slowly than it would naturally move in the real world, the effect won't be believable. Using the correct timing allows you to control the mood and the reaction of your characters and objects.
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Add some exaggeration to your characters and objects to make them more dynamic.
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This includes knowing how to draw in three-dimensional space and understanding form and anatomy, weight and volume, and lights and shadows.
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This includes having an easy-to-read design, solid drawing, and a personality. There is no formula for getting this right, but it starts with strong character development and being able to tell your story through the art of animation.
