Overlapping Action
This example uses the ball movement from the Slo-in / Slo-out example. I've added the smaller ball on the bottom attached to a short string. This principle of overlapping action shows that things dont always move at the same time.

When the larger ball begins to move right, the smaller ball drags behind a bit. The larger ball is showing the primary force and the smaller ball reacts to it by following slightly behind.

When the larger ball comes to a stop, the small ball catches up and then swings to a stop, showing it's own descending energy.

In this example you're seeing: slo-in / slo-out, overlapping action, arcs, pendulum swing, and descending energy.

This principle is evident in a lot of the animation you will do such as the walk cycle (in the arms and legs).

This principle of overlapping action is one of the principles that separates animation into the two realms known as "full" and "limited". You won't see any overlapping action in a Flintstones cartoon or much of the stuff produced for Saturday Morning.


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