Run Cycle in Animation

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Run Cycle in Animation
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Run Cycle

• A Run cycle in animation is quite similar to a
  walk cycle in animation.
• The key poses and general locomotion is all
  roughly the same just pushed.
• Pushing timing, pushed spacing, pushed posing.

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• A layered/pose to pose workflow means well be
  first roughing in our animation with one key pose
  at a time while in the spline.
• Then once our keys are in place, we will work on
  one body part at a time until its all polished.
• Below are the 7 steps of the run cycle in
  animation

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Run Cycle in Animation

• 1. Contact Pose
• 2. Passing Pose
• 3. Down Pose
• 4. Up Pose
• 5. Offset Rotations
• 6. Cleanup Arms and Legs
• 7. Refine and Polish

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1. Contact Poses

• The figure will place forward and twist far more
  with a greater stride length.
• Go onward and posture the entire character with
  this in mind
• 1. Both feet in the air
• 2. Front Leg is straight for a stretch
• 3. Hips rotate toward the front leg

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• 4. Chest opposes the bones
• 5. Arms resist the leads
• 6. Head fights the chest

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2. Passing Poses

• In a usual run the passing pose defines
• 1. The extreme shift in weight side to side over
  1 foot
• 2. A straight in the planted foot
• 3. The halfway point for the limbs
• 4. Zero's Rotate Y on Torso and Hips
• 5. Rotate Z apex in the Torso and Hips

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3. Down Poses

• This pose specifically defines
• 1. The extreme bend forward
• 2. A flat leading foot that bends to take the
  weight
• 3. A back foots the last point of contact with
  the toes and again it's the lowest vertical
  point.

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4. Up Poses

• The up pose in a regular run establishes our
  airborne hang time.
• Naturally, then the Up Pose defines
• 1. The extreme bend back in the body (Rotate X)
• 2. Two feet both staying airborne for the first
  time and the most significant vertical point
  of the run.

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5. Offsets

• With all the key poses set, you're ready to start
  offsetting the rotations on your controls.
• Which means your rotate x, y, and z wont be all
  keyed on the same timing.
• Ex. The entire hip rotates x curve is slid two
  frames later- while y is slid one frame earlier.

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6. Clean Up Arms and Legs

• The arms and legs are roughly setups from your
  key poses, but you have to set some in between
  keys to make the locomotion better.
• Here where you Add/Tweak secondary rotates/
  translates like

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• 1. A Translate X arc to the feet
• 2. Rotate Y and Z on the feet
• 3. Rotate Y and Z into the arms
• 4. Adjust offsets for these limbs
• 5. Push spacing for the legs as they are
• 6. Make sure straights and bends are retained
• 7. Drop heel rolls in 1 frame for a smooth pick up

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7. Refine and Polish

• At this final stage these are the last few
  touches
• 1. Arc cleanup
• 2. Knee Pops
• 3. Any other pops
• 4. Toe Overlap
• 5. Hand Overlap
• 6. Tone Down / Exaggerate
• 7. Toning down or exaggerating any part of your
  animation should probably come first.

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Thank You