Introduction
We can all remember a scene where a character is interrupted mid-action with an awkward pause—just enough to induce a chuckle: this comedic timing is a perfect example of how important timing is in animation for storytelling.
Timing isn't just about getting a sequence right: it's a tool to create more engaging animations, and all animators need to master it.
In this article, we explore what's timing―one of the 12 principles of animation―and how it's refined during the production process to make more impactful animations.
What's Timing
Timing is the number of frames or the amount of time between two key poses or actions: it determines both the speed and the fluidity of motion in an animation.
Timing is not to be confused with frame rate―the number of frames per second―or spacing―the distance between two frames or poses.
A simple change in timing has a noticeable effect on the animation.
Why Timing Is Important
First, timing is key for realism: in the real world, different objects and characters move at different speeds because of their size, weight, and the forces acting upon them. A heavy object takes longer to start or stop moving. Animators create more believable animations by replicating these factors through precise timing.
As mentioned in the introduction, timing is also a powerful tool for storytelling: by manipulating the speed of movements and the duration of pauses, animators emphasize certain moments and bring depth to character actions and reactions. Slowing down a scene underscores a dramatic moment to allow the audience to absorb the significance of what's happening. Speeding up a sequence injects excitement and urgency to propel the story forward with energy.
Good timing is a prerequisite of good pacing, which is crucial for keeping the audience invested. The rhythm of an animation, dictated by how quickly or slowly objects move, keeps viewers attentive. For example, an action sequence with rapid timing captures the audience's attention and conveys a thrilling sense of speed. But in a contemplative scene, a slower timing invites viewers to reflect and connect emotionally with the characters.
Animators have several tools available to improve the timing of a scene.
1. Use Reference Footage
Timing uses reference footage as a practical guide for animators.
Analyzing reference footage offers animators a sense of keyframes—the main poses that define the action of a sequence―and transitions.
You can also use reference footage to precisely measure the timing between keyframes. These time numbers are foundational during the animation process.
Discrepancies or awkward transitions between poses can disrupt sequences, but reference footage helps identify potential posing problems before production.
2. Time Charts
A time chart is a diagram or a series of annotations that indicate how frames are distributed over time: a visual representation of the timing for a particular scene.
Time charts are often found in the margins of exposure sheets (X-sheets) or as part of a storyboard.
A time chart helps maintain consistent timing across a sequence and allows animators to plan the number of frames needed for a particular action. It's a communication tool to help multiple animators understand how their individual segments fit into the overall sequence.
- Plotting keyframes - Animators begin by determining the keyframes, which are then plotted on the time chart at specific intervals.
- In-betweening - The time chart shows how many in-betweens are needed to transition from one keyframe to the next. These in-betweens determine how smooth or fast the movement appears.
- Adjusting timing - By adjusting the spacing between frames on the time chart, animators can fine-tune the timing of the action. Increasing the spacing speeds up an action.
- Ease in and ease out - Time charts can also show easing animations, where actions start slowly (slow in) or conclude slowly (slow out), adding a more natural movement to the animation.
- Review and refinement - Animators frequently refer back to the time chart during reviews to make sure the timing remains consistent throughout the iterative production process.
3. Exposure Sheets
An exposure sheet (X-sheet) is a vertical document divided into rows and columns where each row represents a single frame and columns represent different aspects of the animation like dialogue, music, sound effects, descriptions, and various annotations.
Animators use notations and symbols to represent the timing of different actions, including keyframes, in-betweens, holds, and other timing cues.
Like time charts, an exposure sheet provides a clear reference for every animator working on a project to maintain consistency while planning complex scenes.
4. Onion Skinning
Onion skinning is a feature in animation software that allows animators to see multiple frames simultaneously in a semi-transparent manner, like layers of an onion, hence the name.
Onion skinning is essential for getting a clear understanding of the flow of motion and timing: animators can visually gauge the spacing between frames to edit the timing of movements and transitions. It also helps easily spot discrepancies in motion paths or unintended jumps in sequences for early correction.
For complex sequences with multiple moving parts, onion skinning provides a clear view of how different elements interact over time.
5. Motion Trails
Motion trails represent the path of an object through space over time, often depicted as a sequence of overlapping lines that show the object's previous and future positions:
Motion trails make it sometimes easier than onion skinning to see the distribution of keyframes and in-betweens: animators can assess whether the spacing between frames achieves the desired timing, whether they want quick, snappy motion (with frames closer together) or slow, languid movement (with frames spaced further apart).
They also show the trajectory of the movement. Arcs are a fundamental principle of animation that contributes to fluidity.
Usage With Other Animation Principles
Because timing is such an important part of animation, it's often indistinguishable from other animation principles:
- Slow in/out - Timing determines how an object accelerates and decelerates, giving weight and realism. In the case of a bouncing ball, incorrect timing lacks the organic feel of gravity’s effect.
- Follow through - If a character comes to a sudden halt after running, their clothes and hair would continue to move slightly forward for a few frames due to inertia before settling: if timed too fast, it appears snappy and unrealistic, while if too slow, it loses the sense of energy and momentum.
- Overlapping action - Timing helps distinguish between the overlapping motions of different parts of a character or object. If your character waves a hand while walking, you'll need different timing between the arm and the legs to make the sequence more lifelike.
- Anticipation - Timing is crucial to build up anticipation. If a character is about to jump, anticipation is having the character bend their knees and pull their arms back. If the timing is too short, the jump feels sudden and unprepared, but if too long, it can break the flow and lose the viewer.
If animation is a series of poses, the timing between these poses is always something to consider.
Conclusion
Timing is a fundamental principle for animators to master. To do that, they can rely on tools like reference footage, time charts, exposure sheets, and onion skinning.
Good timing is also a pillar of other animation principles like slow in and slow out, follow through, overlapping action, and anticipation: you need to understand each principle individually but also take into account how they bounce off each other.
Make sure not to underestimate its impact in your next work!
