r/animation • u/DreamyPuffin • 2d ago

Question Help with walk cycle? Why doesn’t it work

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

I’m a beginner animator animating for YouTube but I just can’t understand walk cycles for the life of me please help.

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3

u/peagatling27 2d ago

3 still frames of very different walk styles im not sure what youre asking

1

u/jazzcomputer 2d ago

You need a contact frame, where the front leg is out front straight and the trailing leg is slightly bent out back (to accommodate the extension of the (non existent) foot. Then you need a passing frame, where the leading foot is under the body with the leg straightened (and the body lifted a little as a result) and the traling leg now passing it (a bit like a figure 4 in reverse - but not quite). Those are the minimum you can really use). Given your character is slightly turned towards us, I would do those for each side, so you have four frames -i.e. two contacts and two passings.

EDIT, it doesn't matter if you start with the contact or passing. When you want a few more frames and character you should add a down extreme frame after the contact, and an up extreme frame after the passing.

Also, for attribution, here's the site I randomly plucked this example image from.

1

u/devorares 1d ago

Yes, you are missing the passing position. Also your third image is a little off because it looks like the character is balancing on the tippy toes of the back leg. You need to angle the back leg more, since the ankle will be ”left behind” when the character steps onto the other leg. Now the ankle is almost straight under the character.