#ryan plaisance

[paulkisling]

Please direct your attention to Ryan Plaisance. I got a hold of his sketchbook and had to do something.

[animationdesk]

The Bouncing Ball: Why It is Important

Hey guys! Just wanted to share a little bit of the importance of doing the bouncing ball exercise when it comes to learning animation. Yes, it is one of the very first exercises taught to animators, and while it may seem low key, it actually provides nearly all of the 12 Principles of Animation, just within this exercise alone!

We all know that Squash and Stretch is the main principle taught with this exercise. It allows the believability that the characters are alive in how they act and behave (walking, dialogue, reaction, etc.). What this exercise also does, it helps you understand Staging, Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose, Follow Through and Overlap, Slow In and Slow Out, Arcs, Timing, Exaggeration (if you want), Solid Drawing, and Appeal. That’s already 10 out of 12 Principles of Animation that you actually tackle when using this exercise. 

As you get better using the principles from the bouncing ball, you can apply them to your animations. You will discover your own Timing, understanding certain actions that need to Arc, deciding if something should be done by Straight Ahead or by Pose to Pose. The list goes on. 

Why not give the bouncing ball a try? And if so, share it! Grow from your mistakes and your triumphs, it’ll make you a better animator! 

Animation of the bouncing balls done by animator ryanplaisance. Visit his tumblr!