THIS SIMPLIFIED SKELETON DIVIDES THE ANIMALS BODY INTO THREE SECTIONS:
THE FOREQUARTERS, THE BELLY, AND THE REAR QUARTERS. NOTICE THAT THE JOINTS OF THE SHOULDER BLADES AND THE HIP FORMS NEED TO BE DEFINED OR AT LEAST SUGGESTED IN YOUR DRAWINGS. AFTER LOCATING THESE PIVOT POINTS, PROCEED WITH YOUR DRAWING. MAKE THE LEGS IRREGULAR - NOT TOO PARALLEL.

AFTER ESTABLISHING THE BODY SHAPE AND SWEEP, SET A CENTERLINE OR BACKBONE, THEN MARK OFF THE THREE POINTS AS SHOWN ON THE HORSE BELOW ON THIS PAGE. FIT OR WEAVE THE PARTS TOGETHER WITH THE BODY RHYTHMS.

THE LEGS FOLD UP OF, STRETCH OUT WITH THE BODY BASED ON THE ACTION OF THE PIVOT POINTS IN THEIR PATHS OF ACTION. CHARACTERS WITH THESE ANATOMICAL ELEMENTS SEEM MORE REALISTIC.

DOGS AND DEER RUN WITH A ROTARY GALLOP IN WHICH THE OPPOSITE FRONT AND BACK LEGS LEAD; CATS, HORSES, AND MOST OTHER ANIMALS RUN WITH A TRANSVERSE GALLOP IN WHICH THE SAME FRONT AND BACK LEGS LEAD. IN ANY RUN EITHER THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT FRONT LEG CAN LEAD, SO THERE ARE TWO VERSIONS OF EVERY ANIMAL RUN IN THIS BOOK - SIMPLY REVERSE THE LEAD LEG.

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Cartoon Animation (The Collector's Series)

by Preston Blair

" I've been in or near the cartoon business for 50 years and Preston Blair's "Cartoon Animation" played a big role in my education. "