An animation project. A civic celebration.
Animation. History. Democracy.
Walk Cycle to the Polls transforms the act of voting into a joyful, creative public event. Participants learn to animate their own 8-frame walk cycle characters, then race those characters to a virtual polling booth — before casting their real-world ballots.
Create Your Character
Learn the fundamentals of walk cycle animation from the tradition of Richard Williams and other masters. Draw 8 frames and bring your character to life.
Enter the Tournament
Submit your character to the Walk Cycle to the Polls video game and race against other community members at early voting sites and public events.
Cast Your Ballot
After racing your avatar to the virtual polls, head to an early voting location and make your voice heard. Art and civic action, together.
Bigger. Louder. More Accessible.
For the 2026 midterm elections, the project expands from a single classroom into a university-wide and community-facing initiative — with public workshops, a visit from legendary animator James Baxter, and tournaments at early voting sites across Ann Arbor.
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Walk Cycles
Understand the 8 key positions of a walk cycle and the principles behind character animation.
History of Walking
From suffragette marches to Selma — the long history of walking as a civic and political act.
Make a Walk Cycle
Use our online tool to draw your own 8-frame walk cycle and submit it to the game.
Register to Vote
Find out how to register to vote, check your registration, and find your polling place.