Timing and Spacing in Animation | The Most Important Animation Concept

I've had a few people request a video on the difference between timing and spacing in animation, and an explanation of what they actually are. Timing and spacing are probably the two most important animation concepts to grasp, annd timing is one of the 12 principles of animation for a reason. It can be difficult to understand the difference between the two when you're first starting out or trying to learn animation or even if you've been in it for a while. Or maybe you can execute it pretty well but if someone asked you, you wouldn't be able to explain the difference between the two concepts. While timing and spacing go hand in hand, they are actually different concepts- it's not different terminology used for the same concept, which some people seem to think because I've heard the terms used interchangably which is not accurate. Understanding timing and spacing and how to use and manipulate the two will improve your animations and motion graphics tenfold!
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[@NickKhoo]

The story of the linear keyframes is that a heartless robot moved it …
Well explained. Waaay better than I could explain it

[@RobynO_O]

Thanks Nick!

[@PeterRobieArt]

Great video as always and I love the bluntness, lol! I think something that people miss along with the timing and spacing are arcs too. I've seen a lot of students reels where they don't pay attention to arcs and they focus in on a few of the principles as if they get hyper focused. Making a check list can help with this a lot.

[@RobynO_O]

Thanks Peter! Totally, arcs are so important but it seems like its something a lot of people need to consciously make a habit of using. I guess all these things take time to build a habit of. Once youve been animating for long enough and doing all these things and they become second nature, you forget how hard it can be to remember to pay attention to them all when you're new to animation

[@rodrigodgbatista7810]

Wow you really answered my request and made a video about what is timing and what is spacing This is awesome. Thank you ! ! !
It is very well explained and it was very easy to understand now
Thank you very much

[@RobynO_O]

Yes, I'm so glad you saw the video and it helped ! You're welcome !

[@Lila.artvagabon]

Oh thank you so much I was struggling understand the difference between spacing and timing 🙏

[@RobynO_O]

You’re welcome , glad to help !

[@justincase7773]

Thanks Robyn! This will be very helpful for me. I'm currently going through and re-learning the animation tools in Maya While I work on a Hard Surface course. Now I can add in some exercises!

[@RobynO_O]

You're welcome, good luck with your hard surface course !

[@RealStarkinder]

Thanks, Robyn! I will be sure to practice once I'm able to get the time

[@RobynO_O]

I hope you get some free time soon!

[@brandonleerajkumar]

Great video Robyn. Thank you.

[@RobynO_O]

Thanks Brandon !

[@bertoonz]

"MISTERY OF TIME(ing) AND SPACE(ing)"
Nice to see you in my dark times...

[@RobynO_O]

Sorry you're in dark times, I hope it gets lighter soon

[@bertoonz]

@@RobynO_O well thats life. Hahaha. Well it is getting better. Thanks im still learning animation and drawing and it is a lifetime learning process. Your videos helped a lot

[@julianocastro]

ohhh...I have this same wallpaper on my wokstation for ages 😁

[@RobynO_O]

oh snap! I love Calvin and Hobbes!

[@dhairyavijay2006]

Thank you, Robyn.
Btw, looking Gorgeous!!

[@RobynO_O]

You're welcome, and thank you!

[@sassi7190]

sehr ausreischend, vielen Dank شكرا جزيلا

[@ayurvedicanbscaart7137]

Thank you ☺️

[@theheadmessage2934]

Great explanation! So in a sense would spacing be similar to ease in and ease out?🤔

[@RaulDiaz3d]

Thank you for this

[@RobynO_O]

You're welcome

[@majazkhan672]

Thanks you so much ❤

[@RobynO_O]

you're welcome!

[@FantasticMario]

Do certain animation genres put more value on certain principles than others? For example, would an action short film rely more on anticipation, staging and timing, than the other principles? I would assume they all have there purpose, but with specific genres. Would more principles stand out more than the others?

[@RobynO_O]

I think generally most of the principles would have equal importance across the genres but some principles would be more exaggerated or more apparent for certain effects. But they're all quite necessary no matter the genre.

[@stcreativ9090]

nice video!

[@RobynO_O]

Thanks!

[@nixantcreatives]

yay! RobynO video

[@RobynO_O]

😁

[@tripzero0]

"Get your shit together, mmmkay?" 😂🤣

[@RobynO_O]

😅 a harsh truth

[@jaye6612]

Graph editor video?

[@RobynO_O]

sure, I'll put it in my content calendar

[@KamiKillerzoid-cx5fm]

I love you

[@Mrsmifff]

Here let me simplify it the way my mentor did.
Think of timing as your beats or rhythm of a song. When the beat hits that's the timing.
Spacing literally equates to easing in or out and works by favoring either your key to the left or right.
P.s I don't know why you're referring to every frame as a "key" frame. Key frames are story telling actions the rest are extremes, break downs and inbetweens.
Sorry not arguing just curious as to why you're calling them all the same thing

[@miirabgurbanow6915]

You are very beautiful ;) thanks

[@majazkhan672]

I am new student in Animation

[@RobynO_O]

that's awesome, good luck!

[@joeym1635]

You look like my mom used to. Lol. 🙂

[@RobynO_O]

Noice