Cartoon physics allows for the bending of the laws of physics in animation, creating scenes that couldn’t happen in real life. Consistent laws of cartoon physics have emerged, including characters defying gravity and surviving explosions. Adhering to these laws can be fun for viewers and animators.
The term “cartoon physics” is used to describe the bending of the basic laws of physics that occurs in most cartoons. Animation gives creators a lot of leeway to play with the laws of physics and to generate scenes that couldn’t happen in real life. Cartoons also have a number of laws of their own that remain fairly consistent across multiple studies, however, suggesting that there actually are specific laws of cartoon physics that are almost universally adhered to by animators.
In perhaps the most classic example of cartoon physics, a cartoon character runs or drives up a cliff and keeps going in a straight line in mid-air until it looks down. When he realizes he is suspended in empty space, the rules of gravity immediately take over and he falls to the ground. This particular phenomenon is used to great comic effect in numerous cartoon series. Likewise, all objects fall faster than anvils by the laws of cartoon physics, and priceless objects will always hit the ground before their rescuers, regardless of density or size.
Cartoon physics govern things like how fast characters move, the ability to be in multiple places at once, and the tendency for characters to leave body-shaped holes when passing through solid matter. Cartoon physics also make it difficult for cartoon characters to die, and in fact several series are built around the concept of having one character repeatedly attempt to kill another, with no success. Horrific explosions create only brief puffs of smoke and momentarily blackened characters, and dynamite always seems to be in abundance.
Many individual characters are able to bend or move in ways that aren’t physically possible, and of course many cartoon animals defy the laws of physiology and talk. Those who don’t speak can pull signs out of thin air or command planes to write messages in the sky. Cartoon characters routinely defy gravity in other ways as well; for example, many are able to leap into the air when shot in the rump.
Suspension of disbelief and the normal rules of nature have been a part of cartoons almost since their inception. What is more intriguing to observe is the fact that a whole set of cartoon physics laws seem to have arisen spontaneously, with many animators adhering to these unspoken laws when working on projects. Apparently, defying the laws of physics in specific and predictable ways can be quite fun for viewers and animators alike.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
