How to Make Animation Pictures

Animation is based on the idea that a series of drawings that are slightly different can give the effect of motion. Making animation pictures can be done by starting your drawing at a set point and tracing over the existing drawing to save the parts that are not in motion while redrawing the moving parts. In the example given, you will be learning how to animate a person running. Once you learn this basic step of animation, you can apply this to different characters and use the principles for other forms of animated motion.

Things You'll Need

• 9 sheets of 4-by-2-inch tracing paper (1 for each drawing) Pencil Kneaded eraser

Instructions

1. 

   Start with the character standing upright with the arms at the sides and feet together. In the next picture, bring the right foot of the character and leg up and to the left slightly. Bend the left arm so that it is in a reverse "L" shape. Do the same for the right arm.

2. 

   Bring the left arm back and up to the right a little further. Bring the right arm forward and to the left. Bring the left leg forward and bend it at the knee. Move the right leg back and put a small bend in the back of the leg.

3. Bring the left arm all the way back and up and point the elbow up diagonally to the right. Bring the right arm up so that the upper arm is almost horizontal and the forearm is vertical. Lift the left leg so that the upper leg is almost horizontal. Extend the right leg out straight so that it is pointing diagonally to the lower right corner.

4. 

   Draw the right leg so that it is coming back down and becoming vertical again. Bring the left leg to the same position. Move the left arm in the reverse "L" shape back down until the upper arm is horizontal instead of diagonal.

5. Move the left arm until the hand is below and slightly to the left of the chin. Draw the right arm so that the elbow is behind the character and the upper arm is horizontal and the forearm is vertical. Move the left leg back and bend the lower leg so that it is almost horizontal.

6. 

   Bring the left arm up again so that the hand is beside the nose. Straighten the forearm of the right arm so that it is almost horizontal. Bring the right leg forward and bend the knee. Bring the right foot and lower leg up so that it is diagonally pointing up and to the right.

7. Move the right arm up so that the hand is by the eyes. Bring the forearm on the right hand down so that it is vertical. Bring the right knee up so that the upper leg is horizontal. Extend the lower left leg so that the leg is straight.

8. 

   Bring the right hand forward so that the elbow is pointing straight out from the back. Lower the left hand so that it is parallel with the chin. Bring the left leg forward so that it is almost vertical again. Bring the right leg down but keep the knee bent. Place the book in chronological order, then you can flip through it to create the animation or you can scan it into your computer and animate it with photo-editing software like Abobe Photoshop or Photosuite. The pictures can also be put in sequential order and played like a movie in iMovie or Windows Movie Maker.

Resources

• How to draw a person standing
• How to draw cartoon expressions
• How to draw Anime poses
• How to draw animation people