Anticipation is also used to direct the attention of the audience to the fight part of the screen at the fight moment. This is essential for preventing the audience from missing some vital action. In the very beginning of Luxo Jr., Dad is on screen alone looking offstage. He then reacts, anticipating something happening there. When Jr. does hop in, the audience is prepared for the action.
The amount of anticipation used considerably affects the speed of the action which follows it. If the audience expects something to happen, then it can be much faster without losing them. If they are not properly prepared for a very fast action, they may miss it completely; the anticipation must be made larger or the action slower. [30] In a slow action the anticipation is often minimized and the meaning carried in the action proper. [121 In one shot inThe Adventures of Andre and Wally B. , Wally B. zips off to the right. The actual action of the zip off is only 3 or 4 frames long, but he anticipates the zip long enough for the audience to know exactly what is coming next. (figure 5)