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Squash and Stretch

'Squash and stretch' is the first principle of animation.

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When squashed and stretched, an object will show more elasticity and communicate dynamic motion. Stiff objects by contrast will not compress in the same way.

​Exaggerating the squashing and stretching of objects can create a vast range of motion effects. The more something is stretched, the more it can show an extreme cartoony snap.  

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Sketchbook penguin.

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The principle of 'squash and stretch' is best illustrated with a simple bouncing ball animation.

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The sketchbook illustration above demonstrates where the ball can be stretched and squashed to create a fluid illusion of a bounce. When speeding up before impact, the ball stretches into a longer oval. It's important to remember that the object should always remain consistent in volume when the shape is contorted.

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We naturally interpret the squashed circle as a bouncy ball; the more it squashes into a flat shape when hitting the ground the more it seems to be soft and stretchy. Alternately, a circle which doesn't compress at all will appear to us as a ping pong ball, a hard marble or bowling ball, depending on how much it then bounces.

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Within the arc of the bounce, the spacing of the ball also communicates a specific timing. The ball hangs in the air at the top of each arc because there are more drawings of the unaltered ball bunched together. Then fewer drawings are required when the ball picks up speed.

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​​The principle applies to simple shapes and more complex constructions like a human face or body. It's worth experimenting with different degrees of stretch to see what the various effects are. This face illustration is a good example of how the artist is originally building basic shapes underneath, bringing it back to the ball structure. It may be easier to stretch and squash a simple shape before considering details.

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