SQUASH & STRETCH - The 12 Principles of Animation in Games

Summary

In this episode of New Frame Plus, the focus is on the animation principle of Squash & Stretch. The video explains how this principle exaggerates movement, impact, and elasticity, using a bouncing rubber ball as a primary example. It demonstrates how Squash & Stretch can bring life and organic flexibility to animated characters, from cartoony exaggeration to more subtle applications in realistic animations. The episode also covers the challenges of applying this principle in 3D games and highlights notable examples from games like Jak & Daxter and Overwatch. Ultimately, Squash & Stretch remains a powerful tool for creating dynamic and visually engaging animations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Squash & Stretch is a fundamental animation principle used to exaggerate movement, show impact, and convey weight and elasticity in characters and objects.
• 😀 The principle is best demonstrated with a bouncing ball, where exaggerating its squashing when it hits the ground and stretching when it rebounds shows its rubbery nature.
• 😀 Squash & Stretch is a hallmark of cartoony styles of animation, where extreme exaggeration is used to enhance the appeal of character movement.
• 😀 While Squash & Stretch works well in exaggerated, cartoony animation, it may not be appropriate for more realistic character designs like Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn.
• 😀 Even realistic characters can benefit from subtle Squash & Stretch, like when a character moves quickly or makes expressive gestures, adding a softer, more organic feel.
• 😀 This principle is often underused in video games, especially in 3D, because extreme deformations of character models are difficult to achieve and render in real time.
• 😀 3D games often still use Squash & Stretch, but in more subtle ways, such as emphasizing a character’s body compression and extension in certain poses or actions.
• 😀 Spider-Man’s movements, like his Zip-To-Point move, are a good example of Squash & Stretch applied in a subtle 3D environment.
• 😀 Games like Jak & Daxter push Squash & Stretch further in their 3D animations, showing exaggerated movements and body deformations, especially in character actions.
• 😀 2D and pixel art games often showcase extreme Squash & Stretch, making them visually dynamic and fun to watch, a key element that attracts viewers' attention.

Q & A

What is the main concept behind Squash & Stretch in animation?

Squash & Stretch refers to the exaggeration of the compression and elongation of characters and objects in animation to convey movement, impact, weight, elasticity, and flexibility. It emphasizes contrast between poses and helps characters feel organic while preserving their volume.

How does Squash & Stretch enhance the realism of an animated object?

Squash & Stretch helps to simulate the natural behavior of real-world objects. For example, a rubber ball compresses when it hits the floor and stretches when it bounces back, which adds a sense of weight and elasticity, making the object feel more lifelike.

Why does a bouncing ball look more 'rubbery' with Squash & Stretch applied?

When Squash & Stretch is applied to the ball, its shape distorts on impact, becoming a flatter oval. This exaggeration of compression and expansion mimics the behavior of a rubber ball, making it appear more flexible and elastic compared to a rigid, marble-like ball.

What types of animation benefit most from extreme Squash & Stretch?

Cartoony styles of animation benefit the most from extreme Squash & Stretch. This principle can be pushed to physically impossible extremes in exaggerated movements, making the characters appear elastic and emphasizing their exaggerated features, like when a character moves quickly and their body stretches to emphasize speed.

Can Squash & Stretch be applied to realistic characters, and if so, how?

Yes, even realistic characters can benefit from Squash & Stretch. For example, subtle compression and extension can make a character feel softer and more organic. Movements like jumping, facial expressions, and even speed-related stretches can add a touch of Squash & Stretch to maintain a natural, yet dynamic, look.

What challenges does 3D animation pose in applying Squash & Stretch?

In 3D animation, applying Squash & Stretch is more difficult because the character’s proportions are defined by a skeleton of joints inside the model. Extreme deformations are challenging without a complex rig, and in games, real-time rendering constraints add further difficulty due to memory and performance limitations.

How does Spider-Man’s movement in animation demonstrate Squash & Stretch?

Spider-Man’s 'Zip-To-Point' move demonstrates Squash & Stretch by showing how his body compresses and stretches in the course of his movement. As he coils up, launches, and then absorbs the momentum at his destination, his body deforms slightly to emphasize the force and speed of the movement.

What example from Anthem illustrates Squash & Stretch subtly in 3D animation?

In Anthem, the Javelin's jump launch uses Squash & Stretch subtly. Although the Javelin’s proportions are not deformed, the way the body compresses and then sharply extends emphasizes the power and speed of the jump, showing a more realistic application of the principle.

Why is the use of Squash & Stretch in Jak & Daxter considered impressive for its time?

Jak & Daxter’s use of Squash & Stretch is impressive because it pushed the limits of 3D animation on the PS2. Despite technical constraints, the game displayed exaggerated stretching in character movements and attacks, particularly in Jak’s body and Daxter’s cartoony stretches, which were rare for early 3D games.

How does Squash & Stretch differ between 2D and 3D animation in games?

In 2D games, Squash & Stretch is much more exaggerated and easier to implement due to the nature of drawing frames. However, in 3D games, especially in realistic visual styles, the principle is often more subtle because of technical limitations, though it can still be applied in the way characters move and pose.