Action pose reference
Action pose reference: run, jump, fall, climb
Real movement happens between the poses we remember. These action references include hand-built key poses and frames captured from real people mid-motion, so you can choose the exact moment that reads best.
Front
3/4 front
Side
BackAction poses
36 poses. Click a pose to see it from every angle, then open it in the 3D Studio to adjust and export it.
RunningRunning 
SprintRunning · Balance 
Ninja runRunning 
Jump, arms upJumping 
Split leapDancing · Jumping 
Victory jumpJumping 
LandingJumping · Crouching 
Falling backwardFalling 
ClimbingClimbing 
Throwing wind-upBalance · Fighting 
PushingBalance · Standing 
Pulling a ropeBalance · Carrying 
AirborneMotion capture 
Jump and spin kickMotion capture 
Spin/twirlMotion capture 
Run Dive Over Roll RunMotion capture 
Jump with kick and spinMotion capture 
RunMotion capture 
Run Dive Over Roll RunMotion capture 
Stretches and jumpsMotion capture 
Run Dive Over Roll RunMotion capture 
Run Dive Over Roll RunMotion capture 
Jump up to grabMotion capture 
RunMotion capture 
Jump up and downMotion capture 
Run Dive Over Roll RunMotion capture 
Jump StopMotion capture 
Run Dive Over Roll RunMotion capture 
Run Roll UnderneathMotion capture 
Stretches and jumpsMotion capture 
Run Duck UnderneathMotion capture 
Run Roll UnderneathMotion capture 
Run Dive Over Roll RunMotion capture 
Run Dive Over Roll RunMotion capture 
Run Dive Over Roll RunMotion capture 
Singing in the rain jumpMotion capture
Includes poses derived from the CMU Graphics Lab Motion Capture Database (mocap.cs.cmu.edu), created with funding from NSF EIA-0196217.
Anticipation, action, follow-through
Every action has three phases. Anticipation loads the body: a crouch before a jump, an arm pulled back before a throw. Action is the release. Follow-through is the body catching up: the trailing leg, the arm swinging past. Drawing the anticipation or follow-through often reads more dynamically than the action itself.
Running and jumping
- The faster the run, the further the torso leans forward and the higher the knee drives.
- Arms swing opposite to legs: right arm forward with left leg.
- In the flight phase of a run both feet are off the ground; it’s the frame that reads as fastest (see running).
- Landings absorb force: knees bend deeply, arms reach forward for balance.
Frames from motion capture
The motion-capture poses in this gallery are single frames from recordings of real people running, jumping, climbing and falling. They include the slightly awkward, in-between moments that make action art look observed rather than invented.
Frequently asked questions
Which frame of an action should I draw?
Usually the extreme: the moment of greatest stretch or compression (the sprinter’s full stride, the crouch before a jump). In-between frames read as slower. The Studio timeline lets you scrub through a movement and pick the clearest frame.
What is the difference between action and dynamic poses?
Action poses are about the movement itself (running, jumping, falling). Dynamic poses are about how strongly a drawing communicates energy, through line of action, imbalance and camera. Our dynamic pose guide covers those principles.
Can I animate between action poses?
Yes. Set key poses on the timeline (T), and the Studio fills in the frames between them. Export as a GIF, an MP4 or a contact sheet for animation reference.
Keep practising
Make the exact pose you need
Start from any of these poses, then adjust joints, hands, body type and camera in the Studio. Export a PNG, a GIF or AI guide images.