Character animation is a unique performing art in which the character’s personality, thoughts and thinking process are conveyed mainly through the character’s movements. It is an art that takes time and experience to master. It’s also an art that involves the application of timing, spacing and creativity.

Animation mainly consists of two key elements－timing and spacing. While timing can reflect the weight and size of an object as well as a character’s emotion, the spacing can directly influence the speed of an action. Therefore, how to apply and control timing and spacing becomes the key to the effect of the character’s performance. Not only the research describes the meaning and relation of timing and spacing mentioned in the animation principles, but it also analyzes how the principles of traditional animation are applied to 3D computer animation.

Besides, the author, with his past experience in making character animation, tries to outline the working procedures of designing a character’s actions. Through the production of animation, this research will demonstrate how the principles of traditional animation are applied to 3D computer animation and analyze the relation of timing and spacing in order to help animators fully control a character’s actions in the computer-aided system. Meanwhile, it also demonstrates that the meaning and application of the animation principles remain the same even when the medium changes.