Part of Lesson Plan: Anticipation

Activity Overview / Details

Share with students the definition of Anticipation as it relates to animation.

Anticipation –

- A preliminary movement that precedes and moves in the opposite direction of the main action.

 - The beginning movement used to accentuate an object’s action by moving in the opposite direction of the main action.

Anticipation prepares an audience for what is to come. A ball about to be thrown for example requires some amount of wind up by the pitcher. The wind up is an example of anticipation; the audience knows a ball will be thrown as soon as they see a pitcher winding up. The wind up prepares the audience for the action that will follow.

Show the second clip of Bugs Bunny throwing a baseball. The act of throwing an object is a great example of anticipation. the wind up leading to the throw is the anticipation of the throw itself. The first move prepares the audience for the move that follows.

Ask students again to describe the scene. How does the first move help sell the second one?