Timing for Animation, 40th Anniversary Edition, 3rd Edition

Timing a Fast Action

Fast rather than slow action suits animation best. It gives the animator an opportunity to create an illusion of pace and energy which is much more difficult to achieve with live action.

The important point to remember about timing fast action is that the faster the movement is, the more important it is to make sure the audience can follow what is happening. The action must not be so fast that the audience cannot read it and understand the meaning of it.

With fast action, anticipation is very important indeed. The character prepares for the action he is about to do so that the audience is ready for the quick movement when it comes and so can follow it even though it may be very rapid. In an extreme case, for example where ...