# Animation Principles - Universal Reference

A reference guide covering Disney's 12 animation principles with beginner and advanced breakdowns. It helps the agent tailor motion concepts to any experience level.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 505 installs · ★ 129
- Author: dylantarre
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/dylantarre/animation-principles/tree/HEAD/skills/04-by-skill-level/universal-reference/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2025-12-30
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/animation-principles-universal-reference

## What it does

This skill loads Disney's twelve classical animation principles directly into the model's context. Each principle includes a core idea, an entry-level explanation, an advanced breakdown, and a practical insight. That structure ensures balanced answers when the user's animation background is unknown.

The reference organizes concepts into physics, clarity, interest, and method. It touches on volume preservation during squash, silhouette readability, hierarchy in drag and settle, and custom easing variations such as snap or bounce. Motion paths must follow arcs unless a sudden mechanical motion justifies a straight line.

Setup is purely instructional. You do not need any external scripts or API tokens.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dylantarre/animation-principles --skill animation-principles---universal-reference -a claude-code
```
```bash
npx skills add dylantarre/animation-principles --skill universal-reference -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/universal-reference/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/universal-reference/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dylantarre/animation-principles --skill universal-reference -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/universal-reference/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dylantarre/animation-principles --skill universal-reference -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/universal-reference/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install dylantarre/animation-principles universal-reference
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/universal-reference/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dylantarre/animation-principles --skill universal-reference -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/dylantarre/animation-principles --path skills/04-by-skill-level/universal-reference
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/universal-reference/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dylantarre/animation-principles --skill universal-reference -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/dylantarre/animation-principles/tree/HEAD/skills/04-by-skill-level/universal-reference/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- explain motion dynamics using Disney's 12 principles
- adapt animation terminology to a user's experience level
- categorize motion problems by physics, clarity, interest, or method
- tune timing and custom easing curves for interface states

## Example prompts
- Explain slow in and slow out for a beginner working on CSS transitions.
- How do staging and anticipation apply to a modal window opening?
- Break down secondary action and timing for a micro-interaction loader.

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: e770ef560ae66da4.

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```text
---
name: Animation Principles - Universal Reference
description: Use when discussing animation principles with users of unknown skill level, or when providing a balanced reference that works for any experience level
---

# 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. Secondary Action

**Core idea:** Additional movement supporting the main action.
**Beginner:** Whistling while walking.
**Advanced:** Can create emotional counterpoint. Must support, never compete.
**Key insight:** If it distracts, remove it.

## 9. Timing
```
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