What common mistakes in walk cycles cause characters to look like they’re sliding instead of carrying weight?

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What common mistakes in walk cycles cause characters to look like they’re sliding instead of carrying weight?

Asked on Oct 26, 2025

Answer

In walk cycles, characters often appear to slide when the timing and spacing of foot contacts and weight shifts are not handled correctly. Ensuring that the character's feet have proper contact with the ground and that the weight is convincingly transferred from one leg to the other is crucial for a believable walk cycle.

Example Concept: A common mistake in walk cycles is the lack of proper foot contact and weight distribution. When a character's foot does not convincingly connect with the ground, or if the timing of the footfalls is inconsistent, it can create a sliding effect. To avoid this, ensure that each foot remains in contact with the ground long enough to convey weight transfer, and adjust the spacing to match the character's stride and speed.

Additional Comment:

Ensure foot contact points are consistent and match the ground plane.
Adjust timing so each step has a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Use arcs for foot movements to maintain natural motion.
Check that the hips and shoulders counterbalance each other to reflect weight shifts.

✅ Answered with Animation best practices.

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