Well I find that my music knowledge helps a lot in animation. I think of motions and how many beats it takes. A semi quick tempo song can be 120 beats a minute and that is what it takes for a brisk walk. A slow walk can be a slow as 60 beats a minute. so then think of motions is it one beat two beats. Think of things that happen on the offbeat  arm swing set in behind the beat. Other motions take a number of beats or quick ones are a half a beat.
    Each character has his own beat smaller characters are quicker larger are slower generally. So at 24 frames a second a brisk walk at 12 beats a minute will result in a 12 frame walk cycle a slow walk at 60 will be 24 a run at 180 will be 8 frames.

The wit of a misplaced ex-patriot.
I cheated on my metaphysics exam by looking into the soul of the person next to me.