Make a walk cycle in 8 steps.

​

1. Do your research.

Look for pre-existing examples of walk cycles to get a feel for the sort of style you’d like to recreate. Watching other animators and artists can help to inspire your own walks. Plus, you’ll get an idea of how the finished product should look.

​

2. Map out the route.

Mark out your contact points. These are where your character’s feet will hit the ground as they move forward.

 

3. Illustrate the forward point.

Remind yourself of the forward point position above. This is where your character begins their journey. The front leg should be bent and raised out in front, with the back foot firmly planted on the ground.

​

4. Draw the passing position.

Add your passing position next. This movement should appear as a seamless continuation of your forward point. The front leg should be heading backward and the back leg lifted, heading forward. This is the stage in which your legs will crossover.

​

5. Animate the body.

Now, you’ll want to ensure that you animate the rest of the body. Arms swing when we walk, heads bob and torsos bounce. Getting all these little movements in will make your walk seem more natural and believable.

​

6. Add bend and weight.

Your character’s weight will affect how they move. Make sure you’ve accommodated this in your illustrations. Consider how your figure’s knees will bend, how their hips will rotate and how their feet will absorb the impact as they meet the ground. You’ll want to sketch all these elements in to ensure a more natural look.

​

7. Return to the back contact point.

This is where your legs have completed their crossover. The original front leg should be at the rear of the body, slightly lifted. The original back leg is firmly planted in front.

​

8. Crossover again.

Repeat the crossover process but in reverse. Don’t forget to repeat any adjustments you made to the heads, arms, and other areas of the body for this second movement. Once you’re done, your figure should end its cycle in the same position as it started.

Fascinated by the world of animation?

Keep learning by reading our beginner's guide to animation.

​

Walk cycle tips.

• Keep your contact points the same. These are the parts of the frame where your character's feet hit the floor.

• Consider how weight affects gait. The perceived ‘weight’ of your characters would affect how they walk, in real life. Make sure your illustrations convey similar notions.

• Plan ahead. Know where your character is heading. Mapping the direction of travel first will give you more control.

• Revise and redraw. If things don’t look right the first, second, or even tenth time, don’t be afraid to revise your drawings and remodel your characters.

• Walk cycles can be broken up into four keyframes: the forward contact point, the first passing pose, the back contact point, and the second passing pose.

​

Project 1

• You are the cartoon character

• Create a dog

• Create a cover ground

• 12 frames per step, 3 steps per second)

• The first and the last step hook up into the same pose so that it can be looped again and again.

• Save as Gif

• Post on the Walk Dog Page

• Due: 2 Weeks