Animation Principles - Secondary Action

A supportive action which accompanies the primary action are called secondary animation. Adding a secondary action enhances the believability of the action. These action could be a pose, gesture or subtle action which follows the main action. 

Secondary action adds to the character and emphasize the main idea for better clarity. In the above example we can see the kid who is walking but by adding a bounce action to his normal walk we it looks like he is happy. On the other hand if we want to make him sad we emphasize how he is bent and wiping his tears while walking.

Walking here is the primary action and secondary action are how he bobbing his head and making his arm move showing he is in a happy mood.

Walking here is the primary action and secondary action are how he bobbing his head and making his arm move showing he is in a happy mood.

Walking here is the primary action and secondary action are how he bobbing his head and making his arm move showing he is in a happy mood.

Secondary actions always originates from the primary action. So whenever a primary action occurs, secondary must follow it . Like in the above example, a person walking in the cold winter winds which is a primary action and his scarf flowing in that wind is a secondary action

Secondary action is to be used where ever one needs to emphasize the emotion of the character and improve the acting. In the above example, the primary action of the character is typing but by adding secondary action such as touching his head wiping sweat emphasize how important and difficult the task is.

To add subtle details to the primary action and make the primary action more interesting. For example a person it's just started to eat but rub his hand first put the cloth in his caller and start to eat

To give a similar action a different meaning which in turns changes the whole scene. For example, a person opening the door with the different emotions.

We can see from the above comparison that by just adding a secondary action of hands and mouth how the scene Improves and looks a lot more convincing and interesting.

A happy character walking

A paranoid character who is getting late looks at his watch

A girl who doesnt like her food Write these lines above the visuals