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How to make your first animation
A ball drops, squashes on the floor and bounces back up. It is a handful of tiny drawings, and the first time it moves, it feels like magic. Every animator starts with that ball. Your phone or tablet is enough to make it bounce tonight.
Two ways to start, a first exercise, then animation apps. Begin short. A few seconds that move well teach you more than a long scene you never finish.
Draw it or shoot it
Frame-by-frame apps let you draw each frame on screen. Stop motion apps take a photo of clay, toys or paper cut-outs, one small move at a time. Compare both in animation apps.
The bouncing ball
Draw the ball high, then lower with each frame and closer together near the top, wider apart as it falls. At the floor, squash it flat, then stretch it as it rises. That one exercise teaches timing.
Keep the camera still
For stop motion, fix the phone on a stand and light the scene with a lamp, not a window, so the light does not flicker between frames. For drawing, a stylus helps; see how to start drawing on a tablet.
Finish and share
Add a sound effect or a short piece of music, export and share. Want your own track? See how to make a song on your phone, or edit clips together in video editing apps.
| Step | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pick a style | drawing or stop motion | start with what you have |
| 2. Bouncing ball | a drop, a squash, a bounce | timing and weight |
| 3. Onion skin | see the last frame faintly | smooth steps |
| 4. Play it back | after every few frames | catch jumps early |
| 5. Add sound | a bounce, a thud | it comes alive |
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest animation for beginners?
A bouncing ball. It teaches timing, spacing and squash and stretch in a few frames.
What is onion skinning?
A faint view of the previous and next frames, so you can draw each step in the right place.
Can I make stop motion with my phone?
Yes. Fix the phone on a stand, use steady light and move your object a little between photos.