Running Cycle – Mikey
(Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
This piece is a mini running cycle exercise created over the course of two days. It features Mikey, one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, animated in a way that reflects his energetic and playful nature.
Instead of a typical run, Mikey performs a series of joyful hops as he runs, showcasing his excitement and personality. The focus was on conveying character through movement, using exaggerated poses, timing, and appealing arcs to create a dynamic and fun result.
Attention was also given to weight, squash and stretch, and rhythm to maintain a stylized, cartoony feel true to the TMNT universe.
Rigging by: Dubina Artem
Blocking & Workflow
The animation process began with a blocking stage focused on establishing strong, readable poses that captured Mikey’s energy and personality. I prioritized the key extremes of the motion — including contact, passing, and anticipation poses — to clearly define the rhythm of his joyful hopping run.
Due to time constraints, I chose to combine blocking plus and spline directly in the final pass, streamlining the process while maintaining clarity in the movement and preserving the energy and timing from the blocking stage.
Additionally, I incorporated subtle facial animation to enhance Mikey’s expression and reinforce his playful and excited mood throughout the cycle.