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Walk Cycle

Night In The Woods

For this project, I set out to animate a short walk cycle, but I wanted to make it more personal. So, I took inspiration from my partner and reimagined her as a character straight out of Night in the Woods—or at least in a style that fits the game’s quirky, atmospheric world.

Client

Algonquin College

Date

2023

Role

Designer

Deliverables

Motion Video
A cute raccoon character design, showcasing its head, arms, torso, legs, and feet, labeled for reference.
Two simple, stylized houses with red roofs and wooden fences sit beside a power pole against a warm, pastel sky.
Two simple, stylized houses with red roofs and wooden fences sit beside a power pole against a warm, pastel sky.
A cartoon raccoon in a striped jacket and beanie walks casually along a sidewalk beside a house with a window.
A cartoon raccoon in a striped jacket and beanie walks casually along a sidewalk beside a house with a window.
Creative Process

Bringing Movement To Life:
A Night In The Woods

Night in the Woods, created by Alec Holowka, features a distinct and visually striking 2D art style that immediately caught my attention. I was drawn to its bold shapes, expressive characters, and atmospheric charm, which made it the perfect inspiration for my own walk cycle animation. That’s where my creative process began.

Step 01

Brainstorming & Storyboarding

The first step in any motion project is laying the foundation, planning the animation’s structure and how it will all come together. For me, it started with the character. I wanted to bring personality and energy to the movement, making it feel fun and expressive, hence why I decided to recreate my partner for this project. When it came to storyboarding, I focused on keeping it dynamic rather than something that felt repetitive or static, so I added elements in the front and back to add more depth.

Step 02

Building the Files

After figuring out the initial direction, I began setting up my Illustrator files with animation in mind. My goal was to make the transition into Adobe After Effects as smooth as possible, ensuring everything was flexible and easy to work with when it came time to add motion.

Step 03

Adding Movement And Life

Once I had all the files set up in a way I was happy with, I moved on to the animation process in Adobe After Effects. My main focus was to capture a natural, smooth walking motion—something that would bring the character to life and give them personality through the way their movement is perceived by the viewer. It was all about creating motion that felt intentional and expressive, helping the animation feel more grounded and engaging.

Step 04

The Final Result

I’m really proud of how the final result turned out. If you haven’t seen it yet, the full video is available at the top of this timeline, complete with sound effects and music to help build ambiance and add a sense of realism. I also wanted to pay homage to the original game, as I’ve always admired its powerful storytelling and distinct art style. It played a big role in inspiring the overall feel of this piece.

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