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Definition of Timing in Animation Uses of Timing in Animation Additional information about Timing in Animation3 min read
Definition of Timing in Animation
Timing refers to the time it takes for an action to complete from the starting point to the end. It is used to add movement (while obeying the laws of physics) and interest to your animations. This can be done with the help of weight, scaling properties, and the personality of the movements of the character. Timing has a huge role to play in how your animation will look like.
If your timing is really fast or slow, too linear or too long, chances are your animation will end up looking unrealistic. In the entertainment industry now, films are played at 24 frames per second (FPS). This means that for an object that is in motion from point A to another point B at 24 FPS, it will take one second to complete the journey. 
Uses of Timing in Animation
In animation, timing is used to show three things, these are weight, scaling properties, and the emotions of a character. The weight of different objects can be shown by altering their timings. On the other hand, the scaling properties of objects can be shown by how fast or slow they move. E.g., heavier objects will move slower on-screen, and lighter objects will move faster.
Lastly, emotion can be displayed by the speed at which a character’s movements take place. An excited character will move faster whereas a character that is lazy or sad will tend to move slower. The speed at which the characters move will also decide how well the audience interprets and understands the action. These actions are decided by timing directors, who are experts in deciding how long it will take for a certain action to take place on the screen.
Additional information about Timing in Animation
Timing is dependent on speed and you can interpret someone’s current state with it. Let’s look at an example to understand timing more thoroughly. For example, it probably takes you one second to pick up your phone because you are familiar with this task. Or for instance, if it takes someone too long to type a word on the computer, you can guess that they are not that familiar with the action. These small actions let you know about the person performing them and so you can see how important timing is for any action to take place. Therefore, getting it right is crucial to show the right emotion of the characters in any animation.
