Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 5: Brainstorming
• Part 2 of 5: Writing a script and storyboard
• Part 3 of 5: Making the animation
• Part 4 of 5: Sound effects
• Part 5 of 5: Distribution
• Necessities

Creating a cartoon can be a long and complicated process, but as long as the will is strong enough to see your stories come to life in animation, the end result can be well worth the effort. If you want to get started making your own animation movie, here's what you need to do.

To step

Part 1 of 5: Brainstorming

1. Outline your sources. Your budget may be limited, but chances are your imagination and talent aren't. When brainstorming for a new cartoon, try to think about how you can invest in the process and what your art skills can produce.
   • If you are a beginner it might be better not to make the scenes too complex, such as huge battlefields or complicated machines. Your animation skills may need to be honed and you may need to practice more before undertaking a project of that size.
   • Also keep in mind that you may need more equipment depending on how complex your cartoon is going to be. A clay animation with 24 figures and 4 sets will require more resources than a cell animation with only one scene. If you have a limited budget, keep it short and simple.
2. Think about the length. The correct length for your cartoon will depend on the market in which you want to distribute it. Knowing the length from the start will help you brainstorm a story that fits within that time frame.
   • If you want to make a cartoon that could eventually develop into a long-term broadcast, your cartoon should be either 11 minutes long, or 20-25 minutes.
   • An animation film usually lasts between 60 and 120 minutes.
   • If you just want to make a one-off cartoon for the internet, you can make a short from 1 to 5 minutes. If the video takes longer, there is a chance that people will stop watching.
3. Know your audience. Even though cartoons are mostly made for children, there are many cartoons for older youth and adults. The age group and other demographics of your viewers should influence the formation of ideas for your animation.
   • For example, a cartoon about something tragic, such as the death of a loved one, should be saved for a slightly older audience. If you are aiming for a younger audience, it is better to choose a subject that is a bit simpler and more concrete.
4. Use what you know. Another way of saying this is, "write what you understand." Many storytellers write stories based on events, feelings, or relationships that they have experienced themselves. List possible things you have experienced that could form the basis for a new cartoon.
   • If you're a cartoon with a serious undertone, think about life experiences that really shaped you: an unrequited love, the loss of a friend, working hard on a goal that seemed impossible to achieve, etc.
   • If you want to create something with a little more humor, take an everyday situation like being stuck in traffic or waiting for an email, exaggerating how difficult that has been, in a funny way.
   • You can also use something that is already funny to make a cartoon about.
5. Use your imagination. Of course there are countless storylines where not a shred of life experience is involved. Then use your interests and imagination to create a completely new idea, as long as you include enough details that people relate to so that they can identify with the characters in the story.
   • Recognizable situations are the underlying themes that attract universally. For example, most people can identify with a coming-of-age story, whether the story is set in everyday reality, in a futuristic, or in a sword-and-sorcery setting.
6. Come up with an attractive protagonist. List the character traits that the protagonist must have. Describe both the positive and negative traits to keep the character from becoming too perfect.
   • This is an important step, no matter how simple or complex your cartoon will be. While a character in a more serious cartoon will have to develop, a short, funny cartoon needs a main character with clear purpose and traits that allow him / her to respond to the conflict as you would expect.

Part 2 of 5: Writing a script and storyboard

1. Create a script if there is any dialogue in the cartoon. If one of the characters in you has a few lines of text, then you need a voice actor to record that text, and that actor needs a script to know what to say.
   • You will need to know what the script is before you can start the animation. The mouth moves in different ways depending on the phonemes, and you will need to credibly animate these different mouth movements so that the voiceovers you add later match them.
2. Outline the global events in the story. If there is no dialogue in the cartoon, you can skip creating a formal script if necessary. You will still have to make a plan of what approximately happens in the story, so that you can keep an eye on whether you continue to work in line with the story.
   • Write several drafts of the script before you start the production phase. Write your first draft, leave it for a while, and come back to it after a day or two to see how you can improve it and make the story smoother.
3. Divide the story into a number of parts. A short cartoon may consist of just a single scene, but if the animation takes a little longer than it may be necessary to divide it into multiple scenes so that it remains manageable.
4. Outline any major change in the action. When drawing a formal storyboard, each important action should be shown in one of the squares of the storyboard. Small events / changes can be described but do not need to be signed.
   • Use standard shapes, stick figures and simple backgrounds. A storyboard should remain fairly simple.
   • You can create the storyboard on index cards so that you can rearrange them or move parts of the story as needed.
   • You can also take notes about what happens in each frame to make it easier to remember for the next time.

Part 3 of 5: Making the animation

1. Learn the different types of animation. In general, most forms of animation will fall under the categories of cell animation, stop motion animation, 2D computer animation and 3D computer animation.
2. Try to make a cell animation. Cell animation is the traditional method of creating a cartoon. You will have to draw each cell (sheet) by hand and take pictures of it with a special camera.
   • Cell animation uses a similar principle to the way a flipbook works. A series of drawings are made and each image is slightly different from the previous one. If these are then shown in quick succession, the total will give the illusion of movement.
   • each image is drawn and colored on a transparent sheet of paper, also known as a "cell."
   • Use your camera to photograph these drawings and glue them together with animation editing software.
3. Use stop motion techniques. Stop motion is another traditional form of animation, but it is less commonly used than cell animation. "Claymation" is the most common form of stop motion animation, but there are other puppets you can use and make for this type of cartoon.
   • You can use shadow puppets, sand art, paper dolls or anything that can be set in different positions.
   • Every movement must be small. Take a picture of every movement.
   • Stick the photos together so that you can show them in quick succession. When you look at them this way, your eyes will perceive it as movement.
4. Consider 2D computer animation. You need a special computer program for this type of animation and it looks smoother than cell animation.
   • Each program for creating 2D computer animations will work differently, so you will have to look for tutorials for the program you want to use.
   • An example of 2D animation are the animations that are made with Adobe Flash.
5. Create animations in 3D using computers. Just like with 2D animations you need special software to make 3D animations.
   • In a way, 3D animation is similar to stop-motion animation, except that the graphics can range from very blocky to lifelike images.
   • Just like with 2D computer animation, every program for making 3D animations works slightly differently. Examples are Blender, Maya and 3D Studio Max.

Part 4 of 5: Sound effects

1. Make sure you get the right stuff. You need a good microphone and a way to prevent an echo or unwanted background noise from entering the recording you want to use.
   • A good quality computer microphone will work fine for the first cartoons, but if you have plans to market your product, you will eventually have to invest in more professional equipment.
   • If you work with a small microphone, place it in the tube of a loudspeaker box, wrapped in foam to ensure that there is no echo or too much background noise can be heard.
2. Record your own sound effects. Get creative and look for simple, everyday ways to make sounds similar to what you need for your cartoon.
   • Make a list of the sound effects you need. Be creative and thorough, stating everything from the most obvious (explosions, alarm clocks) to the less obvious (footsteps, background noise).
   • Record different versions of each sound so you have multiple recordings to use.
   • A few examples of sounds you can make are:
     • Fire - Frutsel with a stiff piece of cellophane
     • Clap - Clap your hands once
     • Thunder - Shake a piece of plexiglass or thick piece of paper
     • Boiling water - Blow air through a straw into a glass of water
     • Baseball Bat Hitting a Ball - Break a match in half
3. Look for recordings of sound effects. If you don't have the equipment or you just can't make your own effects, there are CD-ROMS and websites where you can get royalty-free sound recordings that you can use at will, and this could be a more practical solution for you .
   • Always read the terms of use for the sound effects you want to use. Even if something is free to download, it doesn't have to be free to use, especially for commercial purposes. It is very important that you know what you can and cannot do with a certain sound before using it in a cartoon.
4. Record real voices, if necessary. If there are dialogues in your cartoon, you and others will have to be used as the voices that bring your characters to life. While making the recordings, use the script for proper intonation and expression, and make sure your mouth movements match those of the cartoon.
   • You can also edit the recordings of the voices with the appropriate software. If you have fewer voice actors than characters, you can change the voice of a particular character by changing the voice recording properties. You will need to invest in special audio software for this, but depending on the software you are using, you can change the pitch or add overtones, such as a metallic sound, to the recording.

Part 5 of 5: Distribution

1. Distribute the cartoon with your own means. If you have made a short, one-off cartoon, or if you want to make a name, you can add the new cartoon to your digital portfolio and upload a copy to your own blog, social media account or video website.
2. Approach a distribution company, animation agency or TV channel. If you've made a pilot for a cartoon at home, you can take any route to publicize your product. If it is accepted, you will have to make a production schedule for the following animations.
   • A distributor will review your pilot episode and determine how marketable it could be. If they decide to represent your cartoon, you will get a distribution plan and revenue estimate. When you get to this point, ask for formal confirmation and show the letter to potential investors letting them know that a distribution company wants to represent your cartoon.
   • If you go to an animation studio or TV channel with your pilot episode, they may be willing to accept and distribute the cartoon right away, especially if space has become available.

Necessities

• Pencil
• Paper
• Index cards
• Computer
• Empty animation cells
• Professional ink and tools for coloring
• A high quality camera
• Exposure
• Computer
• Animation and editing software
• Materials for creating sound effects
• Microphone
• Foam rubber
• Speaker box with a tube