Digitigrade Leg and Stilt Construction

If your character has animal-like legs, such as a fawn, a werewolf, or a gargoyle, a draenai, tauren, etc, you have probably run across the problem of leg construction. These character types require digitigrade legs to look authentic and the whole point is to look authentic, right?

For those who are confused about what digitigrade means, here is the definition (Wiki):
A digitigrade is an animal that stands or walks on its digits, or toes. Digitigrades include walking birds (what many assume to be bird knees are actually ankles), cats, dogs, and most other mammals, but not humans, bears, and a few others (cf. plantigrade, unguligrade). They are generally quicker and move more quietly than other mammals.

So let's take a peek at how we can achieve the look without breaking our shins, hanging from the rafters in a desperate effort to stretch our Achilles tendon (No, really... DO NOT DO THAT), or undergoing some sort of mutagenic gene therapy.

Some methods are more comfortable and user friendly, others more complex and "realistic". It really depends on how long you will be on your feet and what sort of activities you have scheduled in costume. I would not recommend the stilts for, say... a dance number or acrobatics. However, they are probably better suited for lumbering werewolves and gargoyle type characters. The extra height adds a HUGE wow factor.

This is the most simple construction method. It allows for all day wear-ability and minimal angle change for your natural (human) feet. It probably also allows you the most versatile pattern options as far as looks go.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRMIo-… (Digitigrade Leg Tutorial).

This is a much more labor intensive method which involves stilts. gryphus.googlepages.com/werewo… (The Blue Prints), www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JeJ1L… (The Stilts in Action).

Don't forget to www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEahtP… (SIZE YOUR STILTS!).

Making hooves and feet can be difficult. Here is a tutorial which should aid you in designing and creating your own footsies! Even if you are making claws or padded feet, this gives you the "bones" to work from.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdYCDH… (Hooves Tutorial). One thing which is not mentioned in this tutorial is the importance of a FACE MASK when sanding. ALWAYS wear a mask when dealing with fiberglass, bondo, and anything else which you could inhale while sanding.

And lastly here are a couple videos with various finished and WIP costumes which have digitigrade style legs. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnFbI6… (Superb White Fawn), www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygpwn-… (Dragon), www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNRBjM… (Werewolf), and lastly  www.youtube.com/watch?v=heSoUC… (Tauren).