Quadruped Animation

junfanbl

Hello World!,

                I need some opinions on quadruped animation for a video game. I am animating a Red Fox for a game I am putting together. I am currently working on the walking cycle, and so far it is coming along pretty well. I had some thoughts on the tail though. I was going to include the tail deformation in the walking cycle, so that it sways side to side subtlety while walking. However I was thinking, for added realism, should I make separate tail animations and just blend it in with the walking cycle in Unreal Engine so I can make the tail movement more dynamic and less repetitive? As it is now, the tail just basically just sways side to side. Which doesn’t look bad, but I’m wondering if making the movement more dynamic would be better?

Hito

I'd keep its movement minimal except in emote animations. tail movement figures quite large into animal posture and communication and act as counter balance for large actions; for locomotion and idles the tail doesn't have large movements.

junfanbl

Yea I suppose you are right. It does not quite look right if you make the tail movement too fast or busy.