The Essential Animation Principles, crafted by Disney legends Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, consist of 12 guidelines that make animations more vivid and engaging. These guidelines include Squash and Stretch, Anticipation, Staging, Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose, Follow Through and Overlapping Action, Slow In and Slow Out, Arcs, Secondary Action, Timing, Exaggeration, Solid Drawing, and Charisma.