Making a character run

[cesario1212]

Does anyone now of places where I can find tutorials with good visual references and timing charts on making a character run?

Art-man

[andy gee]

Dont know of any tutorials But Same method applies if your making a character walk

1) Position one leg forward and the other backward
2) Key frame them to move in position ie back leg forward and front leg backward.
3) adjust legs at knees etc. to create the appearance of motion

NOTE: Make the walk motion with the character placed where he/she is !! first !!!
4) Once happy with cycle of walk

Measure the distance between each foot ( Back leg tiptoe to front leg heel) and its a simple case of moving your rig that distance each time the characters Left/Right foot hits the floor

NOTE: add a up and down motion to simulate weight sift in the characters walk.

go to graph editor and loop the cycle for each foot to continue walking so you dont have to keep keyframing.

NOW for running the same applies ITS just a case of speeding up the walk and adjusting the posture and timing of the characters body and where and when the feet hit the floor !!!

NOTE: If you add a control null to your entire rig then you can control where your character runs or walks

Hope this helps !:cool: :D

[cesario1212]

But does that method prevent sliding? My character does a limited run and it would be hard to cut from a run cycle to the next shot since the run ends in a slide and punch.

Thanks for the tips!

Art-man

[colkai]

Can you get hold of DIGIT magazine.
If so, grab MotionBuilder PLE and use that.

I have *never* done a walk cycle before, took me 5 minutes in MB - you can then export it back to LW.

Getting a character to walk, break into a run, then back to a walk is real simple too!

Or you can wait until LW8 comes out ;)

I know these things *can* be done in LW, but MB is just so quick - and it's free for 1 year! :D