Dog running refs

Maybridge photos of a dog running, I compiled the second one into a video

Sketches to get the feel of the dog running and it's variations from the photos.

Done in Flash to get a clearer idea of cleaner images of a dog running.

A few running reference on youtube 

slow motion dog running

dog playing ball in epic slow motion

slow motion dog

After watching one of the dog youtube videos I found another way for a dog to run. I wonder if running without touching the ground when stretched is a greyhound trait? 

This one always has at least one paw on the ground at any one time. Even in full gait.

I had to draw her ridiculous face. 

I think I could get it down to 9 images as 2 and 3 are very close in looks.

Flight cycle sketches

Here are the sketches I was using when I was animating the wings flapping from online reference.

This was comparing real bird wings to the rig I was using. 

key frame roughs

Unfortunately my PC has died. These aren't the best photos of the sketches, but it's all I have until it's fixed.

These are the main key frames for my animation to get an idea of how I want them to move.

Masterclass - Animating Animals

Some really excellent advice http://vimeo.com/33660586#

Showreels and animal animations

Research on how to make showreels and examples of showreels. I'll put here the best ones I've found.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvq1171As4M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7p-hIm7QGs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0fUVBQU3mI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGXlIlzCYDg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlgYPQq92w8


Some animation ideas

from 1.30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVLIvmMlZoQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gmzsjdkXss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpV9rf-hqsw

Workflow for quadrueped walk cycles

Samy Mandrake Fecih on the facebook group Bring your own Animation - London  posted up his workflow he uses and the video he uses to teach his students.
http://vimeo.com/79022941

I'm going to follow his video and try his way to make a walk cycle, as it will help my own and looks like it will be a lot quicker than the way I've been animating. If it's not, I will take some points that I like and use it with my own.

References from books and websites

Animating quadrupeds 

A very informative tutorial on Animating quadrupeds
 http://www.rocket5studios.com/tutorials/approaches-to-animating-quadrupeds-the-walk-cycles/

Digital Tutors - Animating a horse run cycle
Although it's an older version of maya and I'm not sure if that horse model will work properly on 2014 I think it still will be very useful to follow.
http://www.digitaltutors.com/lesson/940-Introduction-and-project-overview

Animating technical 

Animating on Layers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFfyCUV7nz8

Anime dailies is a facebook group that have members post animations tutorials, animations and show reels that can be very useful.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/animdailies/

Books

ImagineFX How to draw and paint Anatomy pp: 58-95 - Animal Anatomy

How to Cheat in Maya 2014

Eadweard Muybridge, horse walking images.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbwE7kQzil52CcXI17bTvEGyxt3HM_SkmGkh0atzdwDj3GAzmcafJKyMYVuMoR9yLuDcFRGE38_XEu8Iy6y_1_IFgEmLD6LQUJF9A9loNWCesOdWUq2kmnH7tf3dEZ1msJyZ8sIWA2U0/s1600/Eadweard+Muybridge+-+Horses+and+Other+Animals+in+Motion.jpg

How to draw Animals by Jack Hamm

Useful websites

Bring your own Animation is another facebook group that have experienced and new animators.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/417454175044/

Interesting article talking about how many animators are getting it wrong when it comes to animating quadrupeds.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090126121348.htm

http://www.pinterest.com/keyframeguy/animation/

Other animals ref (placeholder)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-EPxNDCaeY

Slow mo dog walk on a tredmill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrqOAwCPowg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAnRURDEyGY



I will add more as I look into them.

Horse rig test

I'm testing the limits of the rig to see what actions I could use it for. So far it looks good for basic walk and run cycles.

Video references of horses moving

Horse walk references

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siRx8YMBUTo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pHFu7Mefn8 – with rider

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbwE7kQzil52CcXI17bTvEGyxt3HM_SkmGkh0atzdwDj3GAzmcafJKyMYVuMoR9yLuDcFRGE38_XEu8Iy6y_1_IFgEmLD6LQUJF9A9loNWCesOdWUq2kmnH7tf3dEZ1msJyZ8sIWA2U0/s1600/Eadweard+Muybridge+-+Horses+and+Other+Animals+in+Motion.jpg

Horse behaviour

Fighting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBY5q2IRu3M

Various

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj8szvAW05I

Playful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FS5gygS-3k

Running

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQItOZvIC6A

The Silver Brumbry has a lot of scenes of free roaming horses

http://viooz.co/movies/14600-the-silver-brumby-1993.html

Animation reference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INQx-Lzs8mU