lottie-bodymovin

name	lottie-bodymovin
description	Use when implementing Disney's 12 animation principles with Lottie animations exported from After Effects

Lottie Animation Principles

Implement all 12 Disney animation principles using Lottie (Bodymovin) for vector animations.

1. Squash and Stretch

In After Effects before export:

• Animate Scale X and Y inversely
• Use expression: s = transform.scale[1]; [100 + (100-s), s]

// Control at runtime
lottie.setSpeed(1.5); // affect squash timing

2. Anticipation

Structure your AE composition:

1. Frames 0-10: Wind-up pose
2. Frames 10-40: Main action
3. Frames 40-50: Settle

// Play anticipation segment
anim.playSegments([0, 10], true);
setTimeout(() => anim.playSegments([10, 50], true), 200);

3. Staging

// Layer multiple Lotties
<div className="scene">
  <Lottie animationData={background} style={{ opacity: 0.6 }} />
  <Lottie animationData={hero} style={{ zIndex: 10 }} />
</div>

4. Straight Ahead / Pose to Pose

Pose to pose in AE:

• Set keyframes at key poses
• Let AE interpolate between
• Use Easy Ease for smoothing

// Jump to specific poses
anim.goToAndStop(25, true); // frame 25

5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action

In After Effects:

• Offset child layer keyframes by 2-4 frames
• Use parenting with delayed expressions
• thisComp.layer("Parent").transform.position.valueAtTime(time - 0.05)

6. Slow In and Slow Out

AE Keyframe settings:

• Select keyframes > Easy Ease (F9)
• Use Graph Editor to adjust curves
• Bezier handles control acceleration

// Adjust playback speed dynamically
anim.setSpeed(0.5); // slower
anim.setSpeed(2); // faster

7. Arc

In After Effects:

• Use motion paths (position property)
• Convert keyframes to Bezier
• Pull handles to create arcs
• Or use "Auto-Orient to Path"

8. Secondary Action

// Trigger secondary animation
mainAnim.addEventListener('complete', () => {
  secondaryAnim.play();
});

// Or sync with frame
mainAnim.addEventListener('enterFrame', (e) => {
  if (e.currentTime > 15) particleAnim.play();
});

9. Timing

anim.setSpeed(0.5);  // half speed - dramatic
anim.setSpeed(1);    // normal
anim.setSpeed(2);    // double speed - snappy

// Or control frame rate in AE export
// 24fps = cinematic, 30fps = smooth, 60fps = fluid

10. Exaggeration

In After Effects:

• Push scale beyond 100% (120-150%)
• Overshoot rotation
• Use Overshoot expression
• amp = 15; freq = 3; decay = 5; n = 0; time_start = key(1).time; if (time > time_start) { n = (time - time_start) / thisComp.frameDuration; amp * Math.sin(freq*n) / Math.exp(decay*n/100); } else { 0; }

11. Solid Drawing

In After Effects:

• Use 3D layers
• Apply perspective camera
• Animate Z position and rotation
• Use depth of field

12. Appeal

Design principles in AE:

• Smooth curves over sharp angles
• Consistent timing patterns
• Pleasing color palette
• Clean vector shapes

// React Lottie with hover
<Lottie
  animationData={data}
  onMouseEnter={() => anim.setDirection(1)}
  onMouseLeave={() => anim.setDirection(-1)}
/>

Lottie Implementation

import Lottie from 'lottie-react';
import animationData from './animation.json';

<Lottie
  animationData={animationData}
  loop={true}
  autoplay={true}
  style={{ width: 200, height: 200 }}
/>

Key Lottie Features

• playSegments([start, end]) - Play frame range
• setSpeed(n) - Control timing
• setDirection(1/-1) - Forward/reverse
• goToAndStop(frame) - Pose control
• addEventListener - Frame events
• Interactivity via lottie-interactivity