I tend to prefer less thick blocks of color, and use what I consider "cleaner" looking lines



Particularly the diagonal line separating the body of the fox from the flames, I think it makes it look like two segments stuck together, rather than having it seam a bit more naturally

When making run animations I use a reference from google images. If you search for "run cycle" or "walk cycle" you'll find a bunch of resources.

What this does is it let's you choose a style of running you like, and then you can copy the poses frame by frame. I usually use an 8 frame run cycle, but 6 frame is just fine.

Really study the keyframes, if you're like me you'll be surprised how much there is to learn about they way people learn to run.

I've been working on this character for a few days now, I started with this Idle animation that I'm pretty happy with:



I've spent quite awhile on this running animation and I think I've managed to make it look okay- but not great.



I couldn't find a reference that matched exactly what I was trying to do, and though I definitely tried I can't really run like this in real life- at least within the safety of my own home- so I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out exactly how everything should move.
It might also be cool to have some exaggeration in the movement, I don't think the animation has a lot of weight to it.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Hm, well my biggest problem was the kink in his tail. It bends really sharply. A snake would slither with it's tail flat on the ground, I tried to make it look like an S-shape still



I also played with reducing the colors a bit, and I tried to make the arms the same shape. I'm not thrilled with those changes though so take it as you will.