12 Principles of Animation: Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose

(00:00 - 00:23)

In this first example from the Studio Ghibli film, Howl's Moving Castle, it is possible that both styles of animation are presented. Characters movements and action are not so large that Pose to Pose animation is really necessary however there is no way of knowing if they did or did not use this style when animating. On the other hand it is very likely that Straight Ahead animation is used to animate the fire demon Calcifer as he crackles, eats the egg shells and especially when he waves his tongue in the air. These unpredictable and erratic movements are better expressed with Straight Ahead animation. Even the splash of egg as it drops onto the hot pan uses Straight Ahead animation as it follows the rules of physics and would be hard to predict Pose to Pose.

(00:20 - 01:20)

This example from the film Kubo and the Two Strings, is completely animated through stop-motion, which by definition is a Straight Ahead animation because each frame is photographed. It would be extremely difficult to use a Pose to Pose animation style in stop-motion because once you try to fill in the gaps between the key frames you won't be able to make the work look as smooth and seamless.

(00:35 - 01:47)

In the this example from the Avatar: The Last Airbender, there is definitely a combination of Straight Ahead animation and Pose to Pose animation. Poses and stances are crucial to how a bender's abilities work and therefore a character's pose during the fight is important and needs to be defined through Pose to Pose animation. The expression of their abilities (fire, water, earth and air bending) on the other hand is a raw element that acts unpredictably. The fire flares and crackles, water glides and splashes and the rocks crack and break. Even when the characters are thrown to the ground dust clouds emerge. Elements like this within the animation are all done through Straight Ahead animation.