MOTIONLANGUAGEFORINTELLIGENCE.

A SYSTEM OF MOVEMENT PRINCIPLES TO VISUALIZE INFORMATION FLOW, TRANSFORMATION, AND EMERGENCE.

01GRID

t = 0.0Order

02TRANSFORM

t = 0.33Disperse

03POINT CLOUD

t = 0.66Organize

04RINGS

t = 1.0Stable loop

t = 0.0Order
t = 0.33Disperse
t = 0.66Organize
t = 1.0Stable loop

01EASING CURVES

1001

Linear $\mathtt{f(t) = t}$
Ease In $\mathtt{f(t) = t^{2}}$
Ease Out $\mathtt{f(t) = 1-(1-t)^{2}}$
Ease In Out $\mathtt{f(t) = 3t^{2}-2t^{3}}$

02TIMING CHART

PositionScaleOpacity012243648Frames (at 24fps)

03STAGGER RULES

$\Delta t = n \times s$

n = element index s = stagger amount ( frames or seconds )

Use stagger to create flow, avoid simultaneous motion.

04PHASE-OFFSET RULES

1-10

\pi

2\pi

$\phi = \dfrac{2\pi n}{N}$

n = element index N = total elements

Use phase offset for continuous, organic motion.

05LOOP POINTS

1.Seamless start and end state
2.Match position, velocity and easing at loop
3.Avoid abrupt direction changes

06HOLD, ANTICIPATION, SETTLE

HOLD

Brief stillness to establish state.

ANTICIPATION

Small movement in the opposite direction.

SETTLE

Ease past target and settle into final state.

07ARROW CONVENTIONS

Primary movement direction.
Secondary flow or influence.
Curved motion path.
Rotation or orbit.
Dashed for implied or hidden motion.

08ONION-SKIN / GHOSTING

Previous frames (10-30% opacity)
Current frame (100% opacity)
Next frames (10-30% opacity)

09MOTION TRAILS

Position trail ( fade out )

Shows path and velocity.

Particle trail ( additive )

For energy. flow, or data.

Ribbon trail ( continuous )

For elegant curves and arcs.

MotionLanguage

2D vs 2.5D Treatment

THE SAME MOTION PRINCIPLES APPLIED ACROSS 2D AND 2.5D. A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR ANIMATORS ON TIMING, SPATIAL TREATMENT, AND VISUAL CONSISTENCY.

A/2D TREATMENT—PURELY PLANAR

B/2.5D TREATMENT—LAYERED DEPTH

01GRIDFlat, graphic layout.
02DISPERSE2D positions only.
03ORGANIZEForm circles in 2D.
04RESULTClean, minimal, flat.
01GRIDLayered planes in Z.
02DISPERSEPoints move in 3D space.
03ORGANIZEForm 3D rings / layers.
04RESULTDepth, parallax, volume.