Alt text: A stylized illustration of a teal ball in motion with colorful streaks behind it. Bold text reads "Animation Timing & Spacing Guide" in white, black, and yellow letters, with a playful and dynamic design on a light gray background.

Beginner’s Guide to Animation Timing and Spacing

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What Is Timing and Spacing in Animation?

If you’ve ever watched an animated character sprint across a screen or slowly blink in surprise, you’ve witnessed the power of *timing* and *spacing*. These two principles are the heartbeats of animation—they control how your drawings move, feel, and come to life.

  • Timing refers to *when* an action happens—how many frames it takes to complete a movement.
  • Spacing refers to *how* an object moves between frames—the distance or placement of each drawing.

Think of timing as the beat of a song and spacing as the dance steps in between. Together, they shape the rhythm and clarity of your animation.

Alt text: A diagram showing two examples of animation spacing for a bouncing ball. On the left, the ball is shown with 1–3 frames apart, illustrating tight spacing. On the right, the ball is shown with 6–8 frames apart, illustrating wide spacing. The left side is labeled "1–3 FRAMES APART" and the right side is labeled "TIGHT – WIDE SPACING" and "6–8 FRAMES APART." The illustration demonstrates how the distance between frames affects the perception of motion in animation.

Why They Matter (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)

You don’t need expensive gear or years of training to start thinking like an animator. When you start practicing animation—even simple ball bounces or blinking eyes—your timing and spacing choices will determine whether your work feels stiff or full of life.

  • Want a character to feel heavy? Slow timing, close spacing, then fast, wide spacing for impact.
  • Want something to float or feel light? Use slow, even timing with soft spacing between frames.

With these tools, you’re not just drawing motion—you’re creating emotion.

A Quick Animation Exercise to Try

One of the best beginner projects is animating a bouncing ball. Here’s how to apply timing and spacing:

  1. Draw a ball at the top of a bounce.
  2. Use more space between drawings as the ball falls—gravity is speeding it up.
  3. Draw tighter spacing when it hits the ground—it slows down, then reverses.
  4. Add fewer frames on the way back up to show it losing energy.

You’ve just animated *timing* and *spacing* in action.

Alt text: A diagram showing the squash and stretch animation principle using a basketball and a sneaker. Section A shows a basketball being squashed under a sneaker as it hits the ground, with a splash effect. Section B shows a basketball in its normal, round shape. Section C shows the basketball being stretched vertically as it moves quickly, and squashed horizontally as it hits the ground. Section D shows two basketballs: one in its normal shape and one squashed under a sneaker, emphasizing the deformation during impact. Arrows and lines highlight the changes in shape and motion.

Want to Learn More?

If this clicked for you, you’re already starting to think like an animator. For a deeper dive, check out Bloop Animation’s beginner-friendly guide to the 12 Principles of Animation, which explains how to bring characters to life using timing, squash & stretch, anticipation, and more.

Bloop Animation walks through these foundational concepts in an approachable way—perfect for anyone just starting out.

Or, explore hands-on training with Artist School’s animation curriculum (affiliate), where timing and spacing are taught in context with full projects.

Final Thoughts

Understanding timing and spacing is like learning grammar before writing a story. Once you start noticing it, you’ll see it *everywhere*—and you’ll have the tools to start shaping motion, emotion, and everything in between.

You’ve got this.

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