Tradigital Maya

CHAPTER 11

Squash and Stretch

Anything composed of living flesh, no matter how bony, will show considerable movement within it’s shape in progressing through an action.

The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation – Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston

Many would consider squash and stretch to be an animation principle solely for use in traditional cartoon animation. Although squash and stretch can be over exaggerated in traditional cartoon cell animation, it is still applicable to modern computer animation.

The principle is based on the need to represent the change of mass and weight on soft-bodied organic objects. It can clearly be seen in most motions ...