Learn How to Animate a Dog Run Cycle in Maya

Animating a dog at full sprint is a challenging yet rewarding task for any aspiring animator. Unlike a walk cycle, a run cycle demands precision in timing, balance, and overlapping motion to sell speed and power. By studying stride patterns and mechanics, you’ll gain the skills to animate convincing fast quadruped locomotion.

Guided by Jonathan Symmonds—Hollywood creature animator and co-founder of Sophoria Academy—you’ll learn how to build a realistic dog run cycle step by step inside Maya. You’ll discover how to analyse references, refine curves, and apply body mechanics to achieve believable animation at full sprint.

Create Portfolio-Ready Quadruped Animations

By completing this course, you’ll produce a studio-quality dog run cycle that demonstrates your ability to animate quadrupeds at speed. This project is ideal for adding to your demo reel, impressing potential recruiters, or expanding your animation skillset for careers in VFX, animation, or game development.

Master the Art of Animal Animation

From capturing the rhythm and stride of a sprinting dog to refining animation curves for smooth, powerful motion, you’ll gain the confidence to tackle complex quadruped projects. The included dog rig, light rig, and final scene setup ensure you have all the tools needed to practice and showcase your work at a professional level.

Course Information

• Course Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes
• This course can be taken at any time
• Category: Animation
• Course Cost: 49 USD
• Prerequisites: None
• Software required: Autodesk Maya 2019+
• Instructor: Jonathan Symmonds

• Animate a Dog Run Cycle in Maya: Build a realistic quadruped run at full sprint with speed and accuracy.
• Work With Animation Curves: Refine motion using clean splines for smooth, powerful locomotion.
• Efficient Workflow: Follow a step-by-step process from blocking to polish for reliable results.
• Dog Anatomy for Animators: Understand stride timing, hip drive, and secondary motion in running dogs.
• Accessible for All Levels: No prerequisites required—perfect for beginners and intermediates alike.
• Learn From Industry Experts: Taught by Jonathan Symmonds, lead animator on Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
• Enhance Your Demo Reel: Add a professional-quality dog run cycle to showcase your animation skills.
• Exclusive Rig & Assets: Includes the dog rig, cached animation, scene setup, and lighting.
• Flexible Learning: Study at your own pace with pre-recorded lessons you can revisit anytime.