Flash Stick Animation Tutorial

Creating stick figure movies is a simple way to learn the basics of Flash.

Adobe Flash Player allows you to create animated cartoons. Beginners to Adobe Flash Player usually start developing their skills by creating stick figure movies. Stick figures are simple designs that you can replicate without much fuss. The long, thin shape of the stick figure allows you to discern the slightest bit of motion in the figure. Adobe Flash Player not only animates your cartoons, but you can also draw the stick figures using the program.

Instructions

1. Sketch the background onto your Flash Player template. You can use a variety of tools including a paintbrush, pencil or pen. Your background can be something intricate and detailed or something simple.

2. Add another layer by right clicking the "Layer 1" button on the "Timeline" and clicking Insert Layer. Reserve the first layer of the drawing for the background alone. If you start drawing the stick figures in the first layer, the first frame will be the only frame that has the background. By drawing your moving characters on the second layer, the background layer will remain as an unmoving presence throughout the flash movie.

3. Select the button that reads "Onion Skin" below the video frames on the "Timeline" tab. The button will not have a label, but a label should appear if you hover over the button. The point of the onion skin option is that it allows you to see the frame under the current one you are working on. This helps you keep the current frame close to the previous one, making your animation smoother.

4. Draw your first stick figure in whatever position you desire. Stick figures usually have long, spindly legs with a circular head. Use whatever coloring tool works best for you.

5. Hit the "F7" key at the top of your keyboard, to move to the next frame of the movie. Your first stick figure will be pale and washed out, but that is normal. Use the position of your first stick figure to draw your second stick figure in a way that indicates a little bit of motion, but not enough to make your movie choppy-looking.

6. Separate each stick figure by adding a new frame. If you forget to add a new frame between each stick figure, two or more stick figures will appear where you only intended to have one.

7. Select the "Control" menu at the top of the screen. Press the "Test Movie" button to preview the movie before you save it.

8. Save the movie before you exit the program. Save it as .avi so your stick figure movie can play outside of the flash program.