Horse Gallop WIP

lotzoh

Hey everyone, I was wondering if I animate the horse on a motion path how could I make it look less robotic? I turned on infinity curves but I haven't tweaked everything yet, the animations I will show you all will be the horse gallop cycle and then a small progressive gallop.

I will post the horse on the motion path soon!

Also, I would appreciate feedback on the animation I have been working on. I saw some errors but I have constantly looked at it so it's kind of hard for me to tell. Thank you!

https://syncsketch.com/sketch/133669#195202 <- gallop cycle.
https://syncsketch.com/sketch/133669#195209 <- progressive gallop.

lotzoh

I spoke with my teacher and he suggested that I keep working on my cycle! 

So I scratched all the work that I did and continued to finish the cycle.

Here is the gallop cycle so far. I see where it pops and I'm trying to fix that now, what are your thoughts?

https://syncsketch.com/sketch/133669#199543 <- gallop cycle more movement.

https://syncsketch.com/sketch/133669#199545 <- silhouette of a gallop cycle

lotzoh

Here is all the work I was experimenting with as a back up plan, I will show how it looks with the motion path and with parenting to the locator, and also doing it manually. I learned SO much from all of this. 

https://syncsketch.com/sketch/133669#199580 <- progressive horse gallop, (horse didn't cover much ground and I still need to fine tune it, felt the most "natural")

https://syncsketch.com/sketch/133669#199582 <- gallop with locater (this one looks robot as well, but a lot cleaner than the motion path).

https://syncsketch.com/sketch/133669#199585 <- gallop with motion path. ( with the motion path I know I should have changed the time so it could slow down but it still looks robotic when it starts and stops)

What do you all think?

AnthonyAnimation

Hey there! Quadrupeds are very challenging. If you're animating a person you can act it out, but when you animate an animal you'll need to study lots of reference. Looking at and understanding anatomy helps as well. It's almost like two bipeds together.  Take a look at this video. I'm sure you've already looked at reference, but more doesn't hurt.

You have a lot of videos to look through. I would recommend nailing down the run cycle before worrying about the other stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlSJd2-MZD0

I think spacing is the biggest issue right now. Work on that and pay attention to the arcs and you'll be in a good spot.

KyleG

Right now your horse is doing more of a canter than a gallop (in terms of foot fall sequence) If you're going for a full on run I would do a rotary gallop instead. 
There also isn't really any body motion in your cycle - if you cover up the legs his/her body is very stiff/stationary. So I would get some motion in there as well

lotzoh

Wow thanks guys I'll be sure to study some more, I'm happy to have more eyes look at it! And now that I've seen Anthony's first video reference I agree that my horse is doing more of a canter. Thanks again I'm going to correct this.

lotzoh

http://syncsketch.com/sketch/133669#202321 so here is a faster gallop. 
http://syncsketch.com/sketch/133669#202322 (this is just the silhouette.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_WBYQgWir4&amp;list=PLx9-KDonOMAi0mxI9Ex8vPGoZH__2g2ot&amp;index=5

^The video is what I based my animation off of and I used the references you all linked as well as some other references I had stored on youtube.

I think the most confusing thing is spacing and timing, I have read that chapter over and over in my book and I have also looked at a ton of videos. I know what it is but I feel like it is hard for me to implement it. Usually I just go by what "feels" the best in an animation but I know I will not be able to do that all the time.