Simplified Walk Cycles for the Stick Figure Artist

Here’s a formula I used to demonstrate basic animation walk cycles to elementary-age, first-time animators working on a dry-erase board-based projects. Unlike most cycles found in beginning animation texts, this one is just four drawings*, and is easy to reproduce for virtually anyone, regardless of animation experience or drawing skill-level.

*Yes, it doesn’t include arm movements, and it’s technically a half cycle — just one leg steps. Since we’re dealing with stick figures, the legs are collapsed into a single plane and perspective can be ignored. The focus here is immediacy and confidence-building, not technical perfection.

 

 

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