Run Baboon Run!

I've been looking around a lot at video's of baboons running to see what movements I'd need for 'Mr Tibbles'. I've discovered that there are two main poses in their typical run-cycle.





The major difference between a walk cycle and a run cycle in any character is that whilst running, there is a period of time where there are no limbs touching the floor. Essentially you hop from one spot to the other, shifting your weight from one foot to the other (or in the case of quadrupeds, jumping from the back legs to the front legs).

As with regular jumping, there is anticipation before the jump. This is the crouch, where the knees bend down in preparation for propelling the body forward. As the body shoots forward, the legs extend fully, pushing the rest of the body forwards and up. After this, there is a period of 'air time' where there are no limbs supporting the characters weight. The line of action is followed for a frame or two but then gravity takes hold, bringing the character back to the ground where there is a landing (arms first) in a pose that flows through to the crouch movement.

Generally when quadrupeds run, there is a slight offset between the movement of the limbs on the left and on the right. The faster they run, the lower the offset.

The faster the transition from crouch to leap and back again, the faster the animal will appear to run.

This baboon in an episode of Ren and Stimpy is so angry and is running so fast, that both poses merge together with virtually no in-betweens. While not a realistic approach, the humor and characterisation are benefited.