Solid Drawing – The Tenth Principle | Principles Of Animation

SOLID DRAWING – In this topic, we will now discuss and learn the eleventh principle of the 12 principles of animation, solid drawing.

The 12 principles were introduced by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, both of which are Disney animators who wrote this in their book called The Illusion of Life: Disney.

The eleventh principle, according to AnimationMentor, refers to the ability to render a three-dimensional character or object in a two dimensional space in order to give the object or character weight, depth, and balance.

Thomas and Johnston wrote this back in the days before computer-generated graphics or CGI even existed. This can be achieved by the animator if he is able to draw anything at any angles. For example when drawing something out of a circle, the guidelines have to be curved instead of a straight line.

This principle also prompts you to study science as well, since you must learn how things work in life especially when it comes to drawing people, which requires the study of anatomy.

Here are some things you must know when applying this principle:

Line of Action
- This goes through the whole body of a drawn object. This illustrates the force of the action, unifies the pose and make a clear statement. So, basically Staging.
Add Weight and Balance
Avoid Twinning
- Twinning refers to the symmetrical movement of parts of a character. Avoid twinning by making asymmetrical poses.
Silhouette
- Like the line of action, it lets the viewer understand the pose.
Twists
- These are good for adding 3d elements on a 2d character.
Contrapposto or Counterpose
- One of the most common methods in making a figure even in the ancient times. Basically if the hip tilts in one direction, the shoulders tilt the other way.