Smooth Running Animations: Pixar-Style Character Motion

How I create smooth running character animations with a Pixar/DreamWorks aesthetic. The pipeline: Nano Banana Pro for initial image, Kling 2.6 for video, ElevenLabs for music, Topaz for upscaling.

The Prompt Evolution#

Started with a post-apocalyptic FPV flying prompt and transformed it step by step into a colorful character run.

Original: Fast-paced FPV flying through post-apocalyptic ruins, collapsed megastructures, overgrown skyscrapers, dramatic lighting...

Final: Third-person tracking shot following a stylized animated character sprinting through a vibrant fantastical world.

The Key Changes#

• FPV flying → character running/parkour
• Ultra realistic → stylized Pixar/DreamWorks rendering
• Post-apocalyptic → candy-colored fantasy world
• Tension → joyful adventure energy

Girl Running Through Fantasy World#

Prompt: Extremely fast paced cinematic sequence following behind a stylized animated character as they sprint through a vibrant fantastical world bursting with color, rear tracking shot staying close behind the character showcasing their flowing hair and clothing movement, arms pumping, legs in full stride, showcasing towering candy-colored buildings, whimsical floating islands, giant mushroom forests, twisting rainbow bridges, bouncy oversized flowers, playful mechanical contraptions, bustling marketplace stalls, and magical glowing crystals rushing past on either side, dynamic over the shoulder perspective, the character leaping across rooftops, bouncing off awnings, sliding down curved slides, swinging from vines, and parkour movements through fantastical architecture seen from directly behind, expressive squash and stretch animation, exaggerated motion blur on limbs, Pixar style subsurface skin scattering, DreamWorks stylized proportions, soft ambient occlusion, warm cheerful sunlight with magical sparkles in the air, lush saturated vegetation in teals pinks oranges and purples, cotton candy clouds, cinematic depth of field with the character sharp and background softly blurred, rich vibrant candy colored palette, detailed fabric and hair simulation reacting to wind and momentum, confetti and flower petals swirling past the camera, smooth follow cam staying locked behind the runner, joyful adventurous tone, feature film quality rendering, and that signature animated blockbuster magic

Snow Skiing#

Same character, winter variation. The back-tracking camera stays locked on the character as they carve through powder.

Toy Ballerina#

Miniature scale, spinning through a toy world. The prompt shifts to emphasize delicate movements and smaller proportions.

Ice Skating#

Graceful gliding motion. The key is describing the ice surface interaction and the fluid arm movements.

Santa's Run#

Holiday variation with warm red costume, snowy environment, and that jolly energy.

What Makes It Work#

Back tracking shot: Camera position is everything. "Rear tracking shot staying close behind" creates immersion.

Hair and clothing: "Flowing hair and clothing movement" sells the speed and direction.

Environment rushing past: Objects on either side create the sense of forward motion.

No water splashes: Removed puddle effects—they distracted from the clean aesthetic.

The Stack#

• Nano Banana Pro - Initial character frame
• Kling 2.6 - Video generation (handles cloth and hair beautifully)
• ElevenLabs Music - Upbeat soundtrack
• Topaz - Final upscaling

Kling 2.6 is particularly good at smooth character motion. The cloth simulation and hair physics are remarkably stable.