Animation Guide: How to Squash and Stretch   

Recently, I posted a YouTube shorts that summarizes the 1st principle of animation: Squash and Stretch.

Tell me if you find it clear enough to understand that concept.

Is it?

I had doubts. So I decided to back it up and make this little guide as a refreshing tool you can come back to, later on, and whenever you want.

This educational graphic illustrates squash & stretch, a fundamental concept used to create realistic motion in animation. 

Master the Vertical Bounce: A Beginner’s Guide to 2D Animation and the Magic of “Squash and Stretch”

How to Squash and Stretch 101

Whether it’s from Western Cartoons (mostly there!) or from Japanese Animation, you most likely have witnessed the power of the “Bouncing Ball”. 

In the industry, it is considered as the root basics, the ABC of Animation.

Why? Because it is the simpler version of any physical objects going through that kind of motion.

So today, by using the vertical bouncing ball as an example, you will learn how an object deforms through speed, momentum, and impact. In other words: how to squash & stretch 101.

Consider this as a the guide that breaks down the most vital principle of movement: Squash and Stretch.

Use it wisely! 

Why Most Beginners in Animation Fail ?

Before coming here, you probably tried and got a rigid result that looks like a robot was moving..

Unsatisfied, frustrated, you did not get what you missed during the process..

Do not worry. I’ve been there too! And thanks to that, I have clear idea in why most beginners fail and why you can easily succeed at that.

All 12 principles of animation are united during the animation. It’s extremely rare to find only 1 concept animated without another one glued to it. Especially here. There’s actually a bit of exaggeration that you need to add. This principle appears almost everywhere during animation. 

Have I already said it’s my favorite one? Hehe I say it again! 😎

So, you need to apply a bit of exaggeration on the subject’s shape. Here it is the ball.

To create a visual mpact, you must manipulate the shape in order to convey its speed, the force of gravity that occur during the bounce and fall motion.

The squash and stretch principle is actually a fundamental concept based on realistic motion. 

For you clarity, I divided it into 4 distinct phases that helps you understand how the ball reacts during that movement.

Squash and Stretch: Summary 

In summary, think of the Squash and Stretch in 4 phases: 

• 1) original shape 

• 2) stretch zone

• 3) squash zone

• 4) bounces back up [stretch zone again]

Basically, when the bounce is initiated, the ball moves rapidly through the air, it enters a stretch zone. 

There, you draw its elongated shape. 

Once the ball reaches the peak of the bounce, the ball enters to little moment of “stillness”.

This makes it returns to its original shape. There, you draw the ball “well rounded”.

Upon hitting the ground, it enters a squash zone and flattens out to show the gravity and force of the collision. 

There, you draw a very oval flattened ball.

Finally, the ball bounces back up and gets into stretch zone again.

This is how you can easily draw each pose of the ball:

Animation Tips: How to Animate Squash & Stretch   

Here are some animation tips that will help you learn how to animate Squash and Stretch during the bouncing ball exercise.

Use them with caution so that you can enjoy that exercise as I do. In my opinion, the bouncing ball exercise is the easiest and funniest animation exercise to do. 

Be careful! Not all balls are the same. We’re getting to that next.

For now, focus and follow these tips:

tip №1: Start with the Original Shape • The Peak is The Moment of Stillness

Your first frame should start with the Original shape of the ball. Round.

The order of how you start your animation does not matter much. But what’s matter is how efficiently you draw each pose. By starting with the original phase of the object, you get clean data about it’s original volume, shape & size and how high it bounces from the floor.

Keep in mind that at the very top of the bounce, gravity and upward momentum reach a stalemate. 

This is where the ball must return to its original shape. 

By starting with it’s original shape you also efficiently put the mark for a seamless loop animation!

tip №2: Entering The “Stretch Zone”

Now, gravity takes over and the ball gains velocity. So the ball is entering the Stretch Zone.

How to draw the ball stretching? You elongate the ball vertically along its path of action. Your drawings need to convey speed to your audience.

Even if it is stylized, you must respect the ball’s volume. So to keep it realistic, as you stretch it longer, you must make it thinner. This creates the illusion of a fast-moving, elastic object slicing through the air.

Generally, 2 or 3 drawings are enough. Start with the most elongated version touching the ground. Then draw the 2 other ones relatively closer to the original shape but with enough space between them so you can “feel” it’s shape evolution towards the ground. 

tip №3: The Impact or The “Squash Zone”

Now, it’s time for you to draw the impact.

That’s where all the mass & gravity translating the energy of the fall is conveyed to your audience. 

It’s when the ball enters the squash zone that we know if that ball is heavy or light. That moment will give your stylized animation some good juice for the viewers. 

Draw the ball flattened against the ground, compress it and expand it horizontally according to the nature your ball. This frame should be “felt rather than seen” so, for a light plastic ball, I generally let it last no more than one frame. 

It’s subtle and do the job, visually.

tip №4. The Bounce Back up to the Sky

Immediately after the squash, the ball bounces back up to the sky in order to return to its original shape.

It will briefly enter the Stretch Zone again as it shoots upward. 

Draw or copy-paste or duplicate the most elongated state you drew earlier and put it in a new frame.

Now, by still following the straight path, place up that drawing farther from the ground. 

Duplicate the other less elongated shapes, out place their drawing closer and closer to the original form. 

NOW, PUSH PLAY!

THAT’S iT !

Now, you know how to animate Squash & Stretch for your bouncing ball animation exercise! 😃

Of course, you need to tweak its timing & spacing, and it only takes a few minutes.

Now you have the basics skills to animate EVERYTHiNG YOU WANT !!

That’s crazy 🤯

Ready to Level Up Your Animation Skills?

If you found this breakdown valuable, subscribe to the newsletter for a free PDF guide  about the Principles of Animation that’s coming soon! 

•• AM² ••

– Animation with simple words.

#animangamagic #squashandstretch

#12animationprinciples #learnanimation #learnanime

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Sources: 

• YouTube shorts: https://youtube.com/shorts/cOJeHf2Scfc

• Physicshub • gravity ball animation: https://physicshub.github.io/simulations/BallGravity

• Science Buddies • The Physics Of A Bouncing Ball: https://youtu.be/kzJ480muh4U

• 12 Principles of Animation 

• illusion Of Life

• exaggeration

• bouncing ball animation exercise

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