IN3D Wk 11 Elearning

Squash and Stretch Animation

Why is squash and stretch so useful in animation?

It is useful in animation because this is to give the drawn objects a sense of weight and flexibility. It also creates a comical effect to the character.

Think of a situation in which extreme squash and stretch could be applied to a character - try to be original.

An example is a sponge. A sponge is being squashed when a person use force to squeeze it. It also can be stretched when the person tries to make it longer.

Think of an animation example where squash and stretch would NOT be appropriate.

Squash and stretch could not be applied to real life humans and animals. Our bodies are not flexible enough to add the effect. Unlike animation, we can use a software like flash and Maya to change the flexibility of the character.

If squash and stretch doesn't really happen so obviously in real life, why do you think is it so effective in animation?
 (Look at the title of Disney animator Ollie Johnston's famous book about animation - do an Amazon search ... there's a clue in the title!)

One of the famous book about animation by Ollie Johnston is The Illusion of Life. It was also written by Frank Thomas. Inside the book, they had included the 12 basic principles of animation. Squash and stretch is the most important principle. It gives the drawn objects a sense of weight and flexibility. This can be applied to objects or even human faces. A figure can have a comical effect if it is squashed or stretched to an exaggerated degree. The purpose of using squash and stretch is related to the laws of physics - based on observations of physical behaviour. Given from the book title "Illusion" means visual stimuli, which represents what is perceived in a way different from the way it is in reality. Therefore, when "squash and stretch" is applied in animation, the character turns out to be even funnier whereas in real life, we can't possibly squash and stretch a person because we are not objects.