In this project, I used keyframe animation in Maya to simulate the motion of three types of balls, each representing a different physical behavior:
• A small yellow ball with a blue stripe acts as a bouncing ball.
• A medium purple ball with a gray stripe behaves like a heavy bowling ball.
• A large green ball with an orange stripe simulates a light, floaty beach ball.
Rather than solving the equations of motion, I animated each ball by manually setting keyframes and applying the Twelve Basic Principles of Animation. Techniques such as slow in and slow out, arc, and timing were used to make the movements feel natural and expressive.
The use of squash and stretch was especially effective for the bouncing ball, emphasizing its elasticity and enhancing the illusion of weight and impact. By combining physics-informed behavior with stylized exaggeration, the animation becomes both believable and visually engaging.
Animation-Based vs. Physics-Based Animation
| Aspect | Animation-Based | Physics-Based |
|---|---|---|
| Motion Creation | Keyframed manually | Solved via physics equations |
| Core Logic | Artistic timing and spacing | Newtonian mechanics / simulations |
| Style | Expressive and stylized (e.g. cartoon) | Realistic and physically accurate |
| Principles | Twelve Principles of Animation | Laws of motion and force |
| Applications | Character animation, storytelling | Simulations, visual effects, research |
| Flexibility | Highly controllable and customizable | Behavior emerges from input parameters |