An animation run cycle begins with the the stroke of a pencil.
Animation is a sequence of images that are slightly different from one another shown in rapid succession. Persistence of vision makes the images appear as if they are in constant motion. Animation uses cycles, or a short sequence of images looped repeatedly, to save animators from having to do much extra work. Run (and walk) cycles replace hours of drawing individual frames. These cycles are used in both 2D and 3D animation. All techniques transfer from one medium to the other.
Instructions
1. Draw an image of a character running. Begin with an image of your character running with limbs fully extended and both feet off of the ground.
2. Place a new sheet of paper directly on top of your previous drawing. Draw another image of your character with all the limbs moved forward in time as if the character is running. Move your character's limbs one-sixth of the way through the complete cycle.
3. Complete six images total of your character running with the limbs moved forward in time in each drawing. Draw your character's limbs in your sixth image so that they appear halfway between your character's limbs in your first image and your fifth image.
4. Stack all of your images. Hold the top corner, and with your other hand, flip the pages down one by one.
5. Make changes to your drawings to smooth out the animation.
