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Animation movement refers to the process of creating the illusion of motion in a sequence of static images. This fundamental principle of animation is what brings characters, objects, and scenes to life on screen. It involves carefully planning and executing the visual changes between each frame to convey a sense of fluidity, realism, or stylized dynamism. Key elements of animation movement include timing, spacing, and the application of principles like anticipation, follow-through, and overlapping action.

Timing dictates the speed at which an action occurs, influencing whether it appears fast and energetic or slow and deliberate. Spacing refers to the distance between successive drawings or frames, which directly impacts the perceived speed and smoothness of the motion. A common technique is the use of keyframes, which define the most important poses or positions in an animation sequence. In-between frames, also known as tweens, are then generated to fill the gaps and create a seamless transition between these key poses.

The historical development of animation movement began with early optical toys and evolved through hand-drawn cel animation, stop-motion, and eventually digital techniques. Each method, while differing in its technical execution, aims to achieve the same goal: to trick the viewer's eye into perceiving continuous motion from a series of discrete images. Understanding and mastering animation movement is crucial for animators to create compelling and believable performances for their animated creations.