Here is stickman dancing. I create one pose for frame A and a second pose for frame B.

x:
y:
Torso angle:
Right upper arm angle:
Left upper arm angle:
Right lower arm angle:
Left lower arm angle:
Right upper leg angle:
Left upper leg angle:
Right lower leg angle:
Left lower leg angle:

(Frame A)

x:
y:
Torso angle:
Right upper arm angle:
Left upper arm angle:
Right lower arm angle:
Left lower arm angle:
Right upper leg angle:
Left upper leg angle:
Right lower leg angle:
Left lower leg angle:

(Frame B)

Stickman’s right upper arm is at 80° in frame A and -40° in frame B. His right upper arm can rotate in two directions to go from 80° to -40°: clockwise or counterclockwise. If it rotates clockwise, his elbow will rotate up and across his face. That may be some funky new dance move, but it’s not exactly what I want. I want his right elbow to rotate counterclockwise, moving down and across his stomach. I tell my animateStickman subroutine to rotate his right upper arm counterclockwise going from frame A to frame B by leaving the clockwise checkbox unchecked.

Torso angle: clockwise
Right upper arm angle: clockwise
Left upper arm angle: clockwise
Right lower arm angle: clockwise
Left lower arm angle: clockwise
Right upper leg angle: clockwise
Left upper leg angle: clockwise
Right lower leg angle: clockwise
Left lower leg angle: clockwise

Then I set a few parameters and animate my stickman. I can have the animation play once or loop back and forth between frame A and frame B; I can adjust the number of frames between frame A and frame B; and I can change how quickly the frames are played.

Frame:
Loop:
Frame B:
Frame time: milliseconds

Play around with the values in the number fields to create your own animation. Want stickman to do jumping jacks or execute his own flying kick? He can do it as long as you teach him the proper form.

Stickman cartwheeling.

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