How to Animate Stickmen
The process of animation consists of drawing a series of pictures with slight variations. When played back at an appropriate speed, these drawings create the appearance of motion. If you wish to practice your ability animating human figures, start by animating stick-figure men. Stick figures move with the same motions as a fleshed-out human but lack familiar detail like hands, chests and feet. If necessary, you can turn your stick figure into a human figure by tracing over the lines with the outline of a human body.
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Instructions
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Place your paper on a light box or open a digital animation program. Draw a stick man consisting of a circular head, a line for the torso and a line for each arm and leg.
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Place a new paper over this first paper or create a new frame in your digital program.
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Draw a stick man on the paper, moving his head and body slightly to the right to create a walk. Move his right leg up and forward. Keep the bottom of his left leg grounded in the same place. Draw the left leg so that it is bent more than in the previous drawing. Add a new paper or frame. Draw the stick man, moving the body forward. Lift the left leg of the ground, moving it forward and bending it further. Plant the right leg so that it ends in the same place as the previous drawing. Add another paper or frame. Move the stick man's body forward. Keep the right leg in place, making it completely straight. Draw the left leg so that it is in front of the right leg. The left should be in place. Add a new frame or paper and continue this pattern to extend the walk.
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Draw the stick man so that he is facing forward to animate a jump. Add another frame. Bend the knees of the stick man, so that the knees move outward and the legs shorten. The stick man's body should move down slightly. Add another frame, moving the stick man further down. Add another frame, moving the stick man further down. The stick man should have his legs fully bent. Add another frame, tracing this drawing. Add another frame. Draw the stick man's body fully extended with his legs slightly off the ground.
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Draw the stick man so that he is facing forward with his arms at his sides to create a dance animation. Add another frame. Move the man's chest slightly to the right. Move his hips slightly to the left. Draw his arms slightly to the left. Add another frame and draw the stick man, moving his chest further right, his hips further left and his arms fully extended towards the left. Add another frame, moving the stick man's chest to the left and hips to the right. Draw the arms so that they are slightly bent, moving towards the right. Add another frame, drawing the stick man so that his chest is further left, his hips are further right and his arms are extended all the way to the right. Continue this pattern.
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References
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