Implement all 12 Disney animation principles using Figma's prototyping and Smart Animate features.
1. Squash and Stretch
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Create two frames: normal and squashed states
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Scale element:
width: 120%,height: 80% -
Connect with Smart Animate
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Use "Ease In and Out" timing
Frame 1: Circle 100x100
Frame 2: Circle 120x80 (squashed)
Interaction: Smart Animate, 150ms
2. Anticipation
Create 3 frames:
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Idle - Starting position
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Anticipate - Wind-up (move opposite to action)
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Action - Main movement
Connect: Idle → Anticipate (100ms) → Action (After Delay)
3. Staging
Techniques:
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Use lower opacity on background elements (60-80%)
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Apply blur effect to non-focus areas
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Scale up the hero element
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Use drop shadows for depth hierarchy
4. Straight Ahead / Pose to Pose
Pose to Pose in Figma:
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Design key frames as separate screens
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Connect with Smart Animate
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Figma interpolates between states
Create: Pose A → Pose B → Pose C frames
5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action
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Create component variants for each element
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Stagger the state changes across frames
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Hair/cloth changes 1-2 frames after body
Frame 1: Body at A, Hair at A
Frame 2: Body at B, Hair at A (delayed)
Frame 3: Body at B, Hair at B
6. Slow In and Slow Out
Figma easing options:
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Ease In - Starts slow, ends fast
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Ease Out - Starts fast, ends slow
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Ease In and Out - Slow at both ends (most natural)
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Custom Bezier - Fine-tune curve
Default recommendation: Ease Out for most UI interactions.
7. Arc
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Create multiple frames along arc path
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Position element at key points on the curve
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Use 3+ frames for smooth arc
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Smart Animate interpolates the path
Or use component rotation with transform origin offset.
8. Secondary Action
Layer interactions:
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Primary: Button scales on tap
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Secondary: Icon rotates, shadow expands
On Click:
- Button → Scale 1.1, Smart Animate, 150ms
- Icon → Rotate 15°, Smart Animate, 100ms (starts simultaneously)
9. Timing
| 100ms | Micro-interactions, button feedback
| 200ms | Standard transitions
| 300ms | Page transitions, modals
| 400-500ms | Complex reveals
| 800ms+ | Dramatic, attention-getting
10. Exaggeration
Push beyond subtle:
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Scale hover: 1.1x instead of 1.02x
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Rotation: 15° instead of 5°
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Movement: 20px instead of 8px
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Use "Spring" easing for overshoot effect
11. Solid Drawing
Create depth with:
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Consistent perspective across frames
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Shadow direction consistency
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Layered elements with proper z-order
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3D transforms (rotation with perspective)
12. Appeal
Design principles:
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Rounded corners (friendly)
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Consistent spacing
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Smooth color transitions
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Satisfying interaction feedback
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Clear visual hierarchy
Smart Animate Setup
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Name layers identically across frames
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Use components for consistent naming
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Match layer hierarchy for best results
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Set transform origin before animating
Interaction Settings
Trigger: On Click / While Hovering / After Delay
Action: Navigate To / Smart Animate
Animation: Smart Animate
Easing: Ease Out
Duration: 200ms
Component Variants for States
Create variants:
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State=Default -
State=Hover -
State=Active -
State=Disabled
Use "Change To" interaction with Smart Animate between variants.
Pro Tips
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Use "While Hovering" for reversible animations
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After Delay chains create sequences
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Overflow: Hidden on frames clips animations
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Interactive Components for reusable micro-interactions
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Preview with Present mode (Play button)