Principles of Animation The Art of Appealing Motion by Lucas Ridley

This course breaks down the 12 Principles of Animation into practical, hands-on projects. You’ll apply them across multiple mediums—from flipbooks and claymation to Procreate and After Effects—using free tools and stuff you already have at home. No drawing skills? No problem. It’s about how things move, not what moves.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• The history and science behind animation
• All 12 foundational principles of animation
• How to apply principles in 2D digital, stop motion, and claymation
• Animating in Procreate on the iPad
• Basic After Effects animation with provided project files
• Techniques to add appeal and professional polish to any animation

✅ Requirements

• Skills: No prior animation or drawing experience needed
• Tools: A cell phone with a camera for stop motion; free software found online
• Hardware: Access to a computer or iPad (optional for Procreate section)

📝 Description

This isn’t just a lecture series. After each principle is explained, you get a demonstration and an assignment you can follow along with using free tools or items around your house. You’ll build flipbooks, thaumatropes, 2D digital animations, and even a claymation bouncing ball.

The course covers the full set of 12 Principles of Animation—from Squash & Stretch to Appeal—and shows you how they work across different mediums. You’ll animate in Procreate on the iPad, rig a simple puppet in After Effects (project file included), and shoot stop motion with a free phone app. Each assignment can be completed in any medium, so there’s no pressure to own fancy gear.

Lucas shares his professional insights from working on big movies like Avengers: Infinity War and Ready Player One, explaining how he uses these principles daily. The concepts here aren’t just for beginners—they’re a resource for any animator stuck on how to add more appeal to their work.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Animation students looking for a solid foundation in the principles
• Hobbyists who want to learn animation with free tools and household items
• Artists who struggle with making their animations feel fluid and appealing
• Anyone curious about animation but intimidated by expensive software or drawing skills

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Lucas Ridley is a professional animator and commercial director whose work has appeared in Annie-nominated, Emmy-winning, and Oscar short-listed short films. He’s created content for brands like LEGO, Braun, Nestle, and Anheuser-Busch. Lucas worked at Industrial Light & Magic on films by Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg, and most recently on Avengers: Infinity War as an animator. He brings real studio experience to every lesson.

🏁 Final Result

• A portfolio of animation exercises across multiple mediums (flipbook, 2D digital, stop motion, claymation)
• A solid understanding of all 12 principles and how to apply them to any animation project
• Confidence to tackle more advanced animation software and techniques