

Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston’s love of animation comes through on every page, and their enthusiasm is infectious. One of the great things about “The Illusion of Life” is that it is written in a clear and engaging style. The third section focuses on character animation, providing detailed guidance on how to create believable characters with realistic movements and expressions. These principles include squash and stretch, anticipation, and timing, among others. The second section covers the 12 principles of animation, which are the building blocks of animation technique.

The first section provides a brief history of animation, from its earliest beginnings to the present day. “The Illusion of Life” is their tribute to the art of animation, and it is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to learn about the history and techniques of animation. They were responsible for creating some of the most iconic animated characters in history, including Snow White, Bambi, and Pinocchio.


I think they’ve stuck around for a reason, even if that reason is sometimes to “learn the rules before you break them.Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston were two of the legendary animators who worked at Disney Studios during its golden age. While I don’t think they’re the only important things to learn about animation, I think the 12 Principles are a really good launching point, especially for students studying to be professional animators. We caught up with Animation faculty Alex Salsberg to get his take on the Principles and if they play a role in the classes he teaches and his own animation work. So what are the 12 Principles of Animation? While technology and industries have evolved with new and different ideas being integrated into animation, the principles can still be seen in movies and web design today. Many of these foundational ideas are still utilized in classrooms and studios around the world almost 40 years later. The list has served Disney animators since the 1930s and was outlined by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in the 1981 book The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation. The 12 Principles of Animation is a group of key teachings for the professional animator.
