Demo Reel Needs a Quadruped Walk, Trot & Run

Horse gallop by Mark Lawson-Hall

Most student demo reels focus on human characters, but if you are looking to get hired onto animal and creature projects, you will need to show an understanding of quadruped locomotion - one of the core skills we teach at Animation Apprentice. 

A solid walk, trot, and run cycle for a four-legged character shows range, versatility, and an understanding of animal and creature mechanics.  Layer in some acting and personality, and you have a great demo reel. 

Quadruped Locomotion is Important
Animating four legs is more challenging than two. You need to manage timing offsets, weight distribution, gait cycles, spine movement (or the lack of it - this depends on anatomy), and the coordination of head and tail.  A clean quadruped motion cycle tells a recruiter that you understand how animals move.

Ready for Film, TV, and Games

Horse trot by Mark Lawson-Hall

Animals and creatures appear constantly in animated productions — from realistic wildlife documentaries and VFX films, to stylised TV shows, to games and creature-based action. 

I personally learned how to animate quadrupeds on The Lion King and also on Spirit - Stallion of the Cimarron - studying horses (especially cavalry horses) for two years. 

Studios need animators who can handle animal locomotion.  Showing your ability to animate a quadruped says: “I can work in creature animation too.”

Different Gaits Makes a Reel Stronger

Scar's slow, ominous walk from "The Lion King"

A walk, a trot, and a run are the three key distinct gaits, each with its own rhythm and spacing.  Mastery of all the three basic gaits proves you can analyse reference and translate it into performance. 

Best of all, learn to animate the transitions between the main three gaits, and show this on your reel.  Learning to animate a walk, a trot, and a run is like learning your scales on a piano. It won't make you a concert pianist, but it shows you have mastery of the basics. 

Observation and Reference Skills

Horse walk by Mark Lawson-Hall

Great quadruped animation starts with studying real animals.  Showing these shots on your reel proves you know how to research, use live action reference, and translate real-world motion into believable animation — a key pro skill.

A well-executed quadruped walk, trot, and run tells a potential employer that you’re not just an animator — you’re an animator with range.  And that’s the kind of reel that gets remembered.

To find out more about Animation Apprentice, click here for a link to Frequently Asked Questions. To sign up for our next classroom at Animation Apprentice, follow this link.