Animation Principles Universal Reference

Community

dylantarre

Animation Principles - Universal Reference

Use when discussing animation principles with users of unknown skill level, or when providing a balanced reference that works for any experience level

Overview

Publisher	dylantarre
Repository	`animation-principles`
Skill name	`Animation Principles - Universal Reference`
Stars	84
Forks	12
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by dylantarre on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Animation Principles Universal Reference AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Store

Installed

Skills

Add skills

Import one or more skills from a public GitHub folder or a local .skill or .zip archive, or SKILL.md file.

From GitHub URLFrom .skill, .zip, or SKILL.md

GitHub repo or folder

https://github.com/dylantarre/animation-principles/tree/main/skills/04-by-skill-level/universal-reference

Points to a single skill folder, or any folder that contains multiple skills. Public repos only.

CancelContinue

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/dylantarre/animation-principles.git /tmp/animation-principles
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/animation-principles/skills/04-by-skill-level/universal-reference .claude/skills/dylantarre-animation-principles-universal-reference

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Animation Principles Universal Reference in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Animation Principles Universal Reference on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Animation Principles Universal Reference is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Animation Principles - Universal Reference

Disney's 12 principles work at every skill level. Here's each principle with scalable depth.

1. Squash and Stretch

Core idea: Objects deform to show motion and impact. Beginner: Ball flattens when it hits ground. Advanced: Volume must remain constant. Facial animation uses micro-squash for expression. Key insight: Even "rigid" objects can use the principle through camera shake or motion blur.

2. Anticipation

Core idea: Prepare the viewer for action. Beginner: Crouch before jump. Advanced: Anticipation size controls audience expectation. Absence creates surprise. Key insight: Every action that needs to read clearly needs setup.

3. Staging

Core idea: Present one clear idea at a time. Beginner: Put important things where viewers will look. Advanced: Silhouette test, negative space, compositional psychology. Key insight: Confusion is never the viewer's fault.

4. Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose

Core idea: Two methods - sequential vs. key-pose-first. Beginner: Different ways to approach the same animation. Advanced: Choose based on need: control vs. spontaneity. Hybrid approaches for complex shots. Key insight: The method shapes the result's energy.

5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action

Core idea: Different parts stop at different times. Beginner: Hair keeps moving after head stops. Advanced: Drag, settle, overlap hierarchy. Emotional implications of follow through weight. Key insight: Simultaneous stopping looks robotic.

6. Slow In and Slow Out

Core idea: Things accelerate and decelerate. Beginner: More drawings at start and end, fewer in middle. Advanced: Custom easing curves. Snap, bounce, drift variations. Key insight: Even spacing reads mechanical.

7. Arc

Core idea: Natural motion follows curves. Beginner: Arms swing in arcs, not straight lines. Advanced: Track all motion paths. Breaking arcs intentionally for mechanical/sudden effects. Key insight: Straight paths require justification.

8. Secondary Action

Core idea: Additional movement supporting the main action. Beginner: Whistling while walking. Advanced: Can create emotional counterpoint. Must support, never compete. Key insight: If it distracts, remove it.

9. Timing

Core idea: Frame count creates weight, mood, meaning. Beginner: Fast = light/quick. Slow = heavy/deliberate. Advanced: Frame-level sensitivity. Same pose, different timing = different meaning. Key insight: Timing is the acting.

10. Exaggeration

Core idea: Push reality further for clarity and impact. Beginner: Bigger reactions than real life. Advanced: Style-calibrated exaggeration. Finding essence to amplify. Key insight: Usually push further than instinct suggests.

11. Solid Drawing

Core idea: Create sense of three-dimensional form. Beginner: Make drawings feel like they have weight and depth. Advanced: Consistent volume through motion. Strategic flatness for graphic impact. Key insight: Viewers have touched things their whole lives. Drawings should feel touchable.

12. Appeal

Core idea: Make characters compelling to watch. Beginner: Interesting, clear, distinctive design. Advanced: Appeal isn't beauty - villains need it too. Compelling through any aesthetic. Key insight: Would you want to keep watching?

Principle Groups

Physics: 1, 5, 6, 7, 9 | Clarity: 2, 3, 11 | Interest: 8, 10, 12 | Method: 4

Frequently asked questions

What does the Animation Principles Universal Reference AI skill do?

Use when discussing animation principles with users of unknown skill level, or when providing a balanced reference that works for any experience level

Why use Animation Principles Universal Reference on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Animation Principles Universal Reference is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Animation Principles Universal Reference in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/dylantarre/animation-principles/tree/main/skills/04-by-skill-level/universal-reference. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Animation Principles Universal Reference?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Animation Principles Universal Reference?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Animation Principles Universal Reference with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Animation Principles Universal Reference AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by dylantarre under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

View all

Canvas Design

anthropics

OrganizationPopular

Create beautiful visual art in .png and .pdf documents using design philosophy. You should use this skill when the user asks to create a poster, piece of art, design, or other static piece. Create…

Frontend Design

Guidance for distinctive, intentional visual design when building new UI or reshaping an existing one. Helps with aesthetic direction, typography, and making choices that don't read as templated…

Web Artifacts Builder

anthropics

OrganizationPopular

Suite of tools for creating elaborate, multi-component claude.ai HTML artifacts using modern frontend web technologies (React, Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui). Use for complex artifacts requiring state…

Agent Development

This skill should be used when the user asks to "create an agent", "add an agent", "write a subagent", "agent frontmatter", "when to use description", "agent examples", "agent tools", "agent colors",…

Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Animation Principles - Universal Reference

1. Squash and Stretch

2. Anticipation

3. Staging

4. Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose

5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action

6. Slow In and Slow Out

7. Arc

8. Secondary Action

9. Timing

10. Exaggeration

11. Solid Drawing

12. Appeal

Principle Groups

Frequently asked questions

Related AI Skills

Set up your own AI workspace now