Stretch and Squash Tutorial in After Effects

Introduction

Stretch and squash stands as one of the twelve fundamental principles of animation, first codified by Disney animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in the 1930s. This principle governs how objects deform when subjected to forces—compressing upon impact, extending during acceleration, and returning to their natural state.

For modern motion graphics artists working across digital platforms, mastering stretch and squash separates amateur work from professional animation. Whether you're animating UI elements, character movements, or brand logos, understanding how mass and momentum affect shape creates the illusion of weight and believable physics. This principle transforms flat graphics into dynamic elements that feel grounded in reality, enhancing viewer engagement and perceived production value.

Project Overview

In this hands-on tutorial, we'll construct a complete bounce animation system using two fruit objects to demonstrate varying applications of stretch and squash principles. Our workflow begins with the orange's straightforward bounce sequence, where we'll synchronize vertical compression with impact timing. We'll then apply Easy Ease keyframe interpolation to eliminate mechanical motion and create natural acceleration curves.

The apple animation presents a more complex challenge, incorporating multiple bounce phases with varying compression ratios and extended hang time. After completing both animation layers, we'll activate Motion Blur to add the final polish that professional motion graphics demand.

Orange Animation Sequence

1. Position the Playhead at the timeline origin: 0;00;00;00.
2. Select the ORANGE layer in your composition.
3. Press P to reveal Position properties.
4. Hold Shift and press S to add Scale properties to your selection.
5. Click the diamond keyframe icon next to Position to establish your initial keyframe.
6. Set the Position values to -75, 556.
7. Click the chain link icon next to Scale to unlink the X and Y values, enabling independent scaling.
8. Click the stopwatch icon to activate keyframe recording for Scale values.
9. Advance the Playhead to 0;00;00;09.
10. Click the diamond keyframe icon next to Scale to set another keyframe.
11. Move the Playhead to 0;00;00;11.
12. Adjust the Y-axis Scale value to 64 to create compression at impact.
13. Update Position values to 105, 770.
14. Advance the Playhead to 0;00;00;13.
15. Set keyframes for both Position and Scale by clicking their respective diamond icons.
16. Move the Playhead to 0;00;00;15.
17. Reset Scale to 100, 100 to restore natural proportions.
18. Position the Playhead at 0;00;01;01.
19. Set final Position to 255, 456.
20. Create a final Scale keyframe by clicking the diamond icon.
21. Command-click (Mac) or Ctrl-click (PC) to select the first keyframes of both Position and Scale.
22. Right-click any selected keyframe to access the context menu.
23. Navigate to Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease In.
24. Select the final keyframes of both Position and Scale using Command-click (Mac) or Ctrl-click (PC).
25. Right-click and choose Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease Out.
26. Select all middle keyframes using marquee selection or Shift-clicking.
27. Right-click any selected keyframe.
28. Apply Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease to smooth the middle transitions.

Your orange now exhibits natural bounce physics with proper compression timing and smooth motion curves.

Apple Animation Sequence

1. Return the Playhead to 0;00;00;00.
2. Select the APPLE layer.
3. Press P for Position properties.
4. Add Scale properties with Shift-S.
5. Set an initial Position keyframe by clicking the diamond icon.
6. Configure Position to 1168, 663.
7. Unlink Scale values by clicking the chain icon.
8. Activate Scale keyframing with the stopwatch icon.
9. Shift-click to select both initial keyframes.
10. Right-click and apply Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease In.
11. Move the Playhead to 0;00;00;03.
12. Set another Position keyframe.
13. Adjust Scale to 100, 60 for impact compression.
14. Advance to 0;00;00;05.
15. Set Scale to 100, 110 for the rebound stretch.
16. Shift-click to select these three recent keyframes.
17. Apply Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease.
18. Move to 0;00;00;17.
19. Update Position to 1018, 435.
20. Set Scale to 100, 115.
21. Advance to 0;00;00;26.
22. Configure Position as 760, 650.
23. Apply Scale values of 100, 71.
24. Move forward one frame to 0;00;00;27.
25. Set a Position keyframe.
26. Compress Scale to 100, 60.
27. Advance to 0;00;01;12.
28. Restore Scale to 100, 100.
29. Move to 0;00;01;13.
30. Set final Position to 492, 423.
31. Right-click the new Scale keyframe and apply Easy Ease.
32. Right-click the final Position keyframe and select Easy Ease Out.
33. If switches aren't visible, click Toggle Switches/Modes in the timeline's lower-left corner.
34. Shift-click to select both ORANGE and APPLE layers.
35. Enable Motion Blur by clicking the empty boxes in the Motion Blur column (indicated by three overlapping circles).

Your apple animation now demonstrates complex multi-bounce physics with professional motion blur integration.

Professional Applications and Advanced Techniques

Stretch and squash extends far beyond simple object animation—it's fundamental to creating engaging user interfaces, compelling brand animations, and dynamic data visualizations. In contemporary motion graphics, this principle enhances everything from loading animations to complex character work. The technique requires only Position and Scale properties, making it accessible without advanced effects or plugins.

Professional animators develop intuitive timing through careful observation of real-world physics and studying industry-leading motion work. Consider how different materials behave: rubber balls compress dramatically, while steel spheres maintain their shape. Water droplets stretch significantly during fall, then spread upon impact. These natural observations inform digital animation decisions and create more convincing results.

As motion graphics continue evolving with real-time engines and interactive media in 2026, understanding these fundamental principles becomes increasingly valuable for creating work that stands out in an oversaturated market.

Credits

Background vector created by cornecoba—www.freepik.com

Video Transcript

Hi Everyone. We're Going to Be Learning How to Do a Stretch and Squash Tutorial Today. the Project Files Are LinkedIn the Description. so Let's Get Started. the First Thing We're Going to Be Doing is Click on the Orange Layer. It's Called Orange and It is an Orange. and We're Going to Be in Position Isn't It? and It's Still.

And let's have this flare and make sure it's at its origin. Right at it's beginning. We're going to hit a keyframe next to position to set a keyframe. And we're going to change the position values if they're not already there around -75 and six. Perfect. And and if there's a paper clip here, make sure to click on this paper clip to link the X and Y values of scale.

Now, the thing about surgeon's flash it's very useful because it is one of the principles of animation and it learning how chips react to physics in motion will give your designs a sense of believability. And what we're doing here. That's why scales important. And let's hit this stopwatch to start key framing these scale values. I'm going to move our playhead to about nine, and I'm going to hit the diamond next to scale to set another keyframe And then we're going to move our playhead to go back to Lebanon.

And we're going to change these scale value to 64 X value. I mean, the Y value on time, scale or position is going to be one to five. 7570 And I'm going to move down to in the diamond keyframe next to position and do the same scale, because we're going to hold this close for a little bit and we're going to move to point 15, and we're going to change the scale to 100 and a hundred that will automatically set a keyframe And we're going to be moving our playhead to 11 OK, so back in position will be 225456 perfect.

And we're going to hit that diamond keyframe next to scale Now we're going to be selecting the first keyframes of position and we're going to right click go to right click on either Keep Them Keyframe Assistant Easy and then we're going to click the last ones last right click keyframe assistant. Easy, ease out And all of these ones in the middle, right click on any keyframe.

Just easy And this is our orange animation. You go back to the beginning move. We played it all the way back beginning. Click on the Red Apple layer and teeth for position shift. As for scale, the diamond next to position. If they are linked forever to unlink skill X y value.

And if the apple is not already there, we want our roles to be 1168 and 663 for position on the apple. And let's just hit the stopwatch next to scale to set a keyframe and now let's actually select both of these keyframes. And we're going to we're going to be doing our uses as we go along here this instant is using Google play head to a point in the diamond next position to sit in other keyframe and we're going to be changing the scale to 160.

The position stays the same but it's getting squished but and then we're going to move ahead two frames to five and then we'll change scale. It'll row a lot to 110 and let's let all this cute parents we just animated. We're going to go to keyframe assistant this is let's hit that down to that point 17 in and we're going be changing the position to turn a teen or a three by and still be 115 now let's move ahead 2.26 and no position is going to be seven 6657 6650 still values here should be 170 71 we'll see let's move the playhead over by one frame just point 27 and position is going to be just keyframe. All that at scale is going to compress just a bit down to 160. Let's move the plant over to 112 scale. We'll now even out to be a hundred and just a bit over two, 113 is going to be on position or nine to or 23. And we're going to right click on this latest Skill Keyframe. We're going to go to Keeper Assistant, we're going to go to where it's not already there.

We're going to do is, is but as you can see, it's really been considered and these is we're going to click on a on the position and this is just going to be easy is out. Lastly, if the switches aren't visible meaning you don't see like these guys then toggle switch this mode and next orange we're going to click this fox one of the three overlapping circles and we're going to be doing the same for Apple.

Now this is motion work and that's just going to get a bit of movement blur and our notice so on. Now you can see this is our final animation and you can see that the frame compresses and react to physics as it moves along. Certain Swatch takes a bit of intuition, observe your surroundings, observe animation, and you begin to think of it in a time this has been so far from the desktop.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and happy animated.