For George
Planning walk cycle
1. Topic of the Class
This week’s class focuses on creating a Vanilla Walk Cycle, with an emphasis on:
- Weight shift
- Clarity of poses
- Building a solid foundation through blocking
2. What Makes a Walk
Although a walk may seem simple, it reveals a great deal about realism and believability.
A strong walk cycle is built on three core pose types:
- Key Poses
These are primarily the contact poses, where the feet make contact with the ground. - Breakdowns
The passing positions that occur between key poses. - Extremes
The highest and lowest points of the walk, defining the vertical movement.
Together, these elements form the fundamental structure of a walk cycle.
3. Vanilla Walk: Concept and Timing
A vanilla walk is a basic, neutral walk with no character or personality.
It is used to understand the mechanics of walking rather than character expression.
- The timing suggested in The Animator’s Survival Kit is a starting reference only.
- One full walk cycle consists of two steps, moving from one contact pose back to the same contact pose.
- The walk should translate through space, not be animated in place, in order to clearly convey weight and forward momentum.
For Ting
Pose-to-Pose Animation Revision Plan
1. Pose Continuity
Recheck all key poses and add anticipation, follow-through, and necessary breakdowns to create smoother transitions.
2. Timing & Rhythm
Adjust pose holds to clarify rhythm, emphasize key moments with pauses, and avoid movements feeling rushed or dragged.
3. Arcs & Motion Paths
Review the motion paths of the hands, head, and center of gravity, correcting linear movement into natural arcs.
4. Weight & Balance
Clarify the center of gravity in each pose and adjust body lean and support to improve stability and a sense of weight.