Learn How to Animate a Tiger Walk Cycle by Jonathan Symmonds

Ready to tackle one of animation’s toughest challenges? This course breaks down how to animate a convincing tiger walk cycle, perfect for spicing up your demo reel. You’ll learn essential techniques from a seasoned pro, ensuring your quadruped animation stands out.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Animate a tiger walking at a standard pace
• Master techniques for working with similar curves
• Utilize a simple, effective workflow
• Deepen your understanding of anatomy and locomotion
• Get feedback on your work from peers
• Spice up your demo-reel with a professional animation

✅ Requirements

• Skills: None
• Tools: Autodesk Maya 2019+
• Hardware: A computer capable of running Autodesk Maya smoothly.

📝 Description

Animating quadruped characters like tigers is a real test for any animator, even experienced ones. The key is meticulous attention to reference, focusing on negative shapes and never straying from what you observe. This course, led by Jonathan Symmonds, a specialist in creature animation, dives deep into achieving photo-realistic animation in Maya. You’ll explore the essential locomotion principles and characteristics needed to create a walk cycle that’s ready for your demo reel. The course includes a tiger rig, lighting scene, and project files to get you started immediately.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Animators looking to improve their quadruped animation skills.
• Students aiming to create realistic creature locomotion for their demo reels.
• Anyone interested in learning advanced animation techniques from an industry veteran.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Jonathan Symmonds is a creature animation powerhouse with over 23 years of experience. He’s lent his talents to blockbuster titles like James Cameron’s “Avatar,” “Prince of Persia,” and “Game of Thrones,” where he served as Lead Animator. As a co-founder of Sophoria Academy, Jonathan brings a wealth of practical knowledge and insider tips. He’s been nominated for a VES Society Award three times and has even delivered a TED Talk.

🏁 Final Result

• A portfolio-ready, realistic tiger walk cycle animation, ready to be showcased on your demo reel.