Animate 2d drawings. Activities for Kids.

Animate 2d drawings

Create a simple 2D animation by drawing sequential frames on paper, photographing or scanning them, and combining images into a short animated flipbook or video.

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Step-by-step guide to animate 2D drawings

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2d Animation Tutorial - Learn how to make 2d animations!

What you need

Binder clip or stapler, colouring materials, eraser, paper, pencil

Step 1

Gather your materials and find a well-lit table or window to work at.

Step 2

Pick one very simple action to animate like a bouncing ball a waving hand or a walking stick figure.

Step 3

Draw the first starting pose on the top sheet of paper.

Step 4

Place a new sheet over the first and draw the next frame with a small change in the pose.

Step 5

Repeat placing new sheets and making tiny changes until you have 12 to 20 frames.

Step 6

Lightly color your drawings so the look stays the same across frames.

Step 7

Number each page in the corner so you know the order to play them in.

Step 8

Photograph or scan each numbered page in order so you have a digital copy of every frame.

Step 9

Open a simple GIF maker or video editor and import your photos in the numbered order.

Step 10

Set the playback speed to about 10 to 15 frames per second and export your animation as a GIF or short video.

Step 11

To make a physical flipbook stack the pages in order and secure one edge with a binder clip or staple and flip the pages with your thumb to watch the motion.

Step 12

Share your finished creation on DIY.org so everyone can see your awesome animation.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

If I don't have a scanner or a GIF maker, what can I substitute so I can still complete steps 8–11?

Use a smartphone camera to photograph each numbered page on a well-lit table (step 8) and a free phone app like GIPHY or a simple video editor to import the photos in order and export a GIF or short video (steps 9–11).

Why does my animation look jumpy or out of order after I import the photos, and how can I fix it?

If frames are jumpy or misaligned when imported (step 9), keep every page in the same corner position while photographing by taping a corner guide to the table or clipping the stack with a binder clip, and double-check the page numbers before importing (step 6).

How can I adjust this activity for different ages so it's fun but not too hard or too easy?

For preschoolers, choose a very simple action like a big bouncing ball and make 6–8 bold, lightly colored frames with an adult helping to number pages, while older kids can create 12–20 finer frames, use light coloring for consistency (step 5), and set 10–15 fps in a video editor for smooth motion (step 10).

What are some easy ways to improve or personalize the animation once I have the basic frames?

Add a simple background that changes across frames for depth, decorate a custom flipbook cover before clipping or stapling (step 12), or import the numbered photos into a video editor to add music and titles and then share the final GIF or video on DIY.org (step 13).

Watch videos on how to animate 2D drawings

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How I Start a Traditional 2D Animation | Toon Boom Harmony Tutorial (Step 1)

4 Videos

Facts about 2D animation and flipbook techniques

✏️ Animators often draw 'on twos' (one drawing shown for two frames), so 12 drawings per second can look like smooth 24 fps motion.

🎨 Classic cartoons were made with cel animation: characters painted on transparent sheets layered over static backgrounds.

👀 Our eyes and brain blend separate pictures into continuous motion — that's the idea behind persistence of vision.

🎞️ The flip book was patented by John Barnes Linnett in 1868 — it's one of the earliest forms of animation!

📱 You can create animations using just a smartphone camera and free apps to stitch photos into GIFs or videos.

How do you make a simple 2D animation from paper drawings?

Start by planning a short action (3–12 frames). Sketch your first frame on small paper, index cards, or a flipbook pad. Draw each next frame with only small changes, using consistent registration (mark a corner) and onion-skinning by holding pages to light. Photograph or scan each frame, import images into a simple video or stop-motion app, set frame rate (8–12 fps for smooth simple motion), then export as a video or print and bind pages into a flipbook.

What materials do I need to create a paper flipbook animation?

You'll need small paper or index cards, pencils and erasers, a fine-tip pen for outlines, and colored pencils or markers. A lightbox or window helps registration; a binder clip keeps pages aligned. For digital capture use a smartphone or camera, a scanner, and a simple editor or stop-motion app (e.g., Stop Motion Studio, iMovie, Clipchamp). Optionally, get a flipbook pad, ruler, and table lamp. Most items are low-cost and household-friendly.

What ages is making paper flipbook animations suitable for?

Suitable for children aged about 5 and up with adult help; ages 5–7 enjoy simple flipbooks with large shapes and fewer frames, while 8–12 can manage more frames, registration, and digital capture. Younger children (3–4) can try single-frame drawings or very simple two-frame motion with close supervision. Tailor complexity, give clear examples, and supervise scissors, cameras, and screen time.

What are the benefits of making 2D flipbook animations for kids?

Making 2D flipbook animations builds sequencing, storytelling, and fine motor skills while boosting patience and attention to detail. Kids learn cause-and-effect, planning, and basic digital skills when photographing or editing frames. It encourages creativity and problem-solving, and collaborative projects strengthen communication. Keep sessions short, praise progress, and celebrate small animations to maintain motivation. Variations include using color, cut-paper silhouettes, or converting dra

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All Activities

Animate 2d drawings

Animate 2d drawings

2d Animation Tutorial - Learn how to make 2d animations!

How I Start a Traditional 2D Animation | Toon Boom Harmony Tutorial (Step 1)

4 Videos

How do you make a simple 2D animation from paper drawings?

What materials do I need to create a paper flipbook animation?

What ages is making paper flipbook animations suitable for?

What are the benefits of making 2D flipbook animations for kids?