Animation Study Guides

Practical, frame-by-frame guides to studying animation reference — combat, reactions, locomotion and acting — with clips from the library embedded in every article.

Run Cycle & Locomotion Animation Reference from Real Games

Run Cycle & Locomotion Animation Reference from Real Games

Contact, down, passing, up: a practical guide to studying run and walk cycles from shipped games, and what to look for in each key pose when you scrub frame by frame.

Read the guide →
Hit Reaction Animation Reference: Making Impacts Feel Heavy

Hit Reaction Animation Reference: Making Impacts Feel Heavy

Impacts sell the fight. Learn to study hit reactions frame by frame: the snap, the stagger, the recovery — and why the first two frames matter more than everything after.

Read the guide →
Sword Animation Reference: How to Study Blade Combat Frame by Frame

Sword Animation Reference: How to Study Blade Combat Frame by Frame

What separates a floaty sword swing from one that feels lethal? A practical guide to studying sword animation reference: anticipation, smears, contact frames and follow-through.

Read the guide →