Use scratch to animate a music video - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Use scratch to animate a music video

Use Scratch to create and animate a short music video, designing characters, choreographing movements, syncing visuals to music, and exporting your finished project.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to use Scratch to animate a music video

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How to Create Animated Videos in Scratch | Easy Animation Tutorial for Beginners

What you need

Music file mp3 or wav or use scratch sounds, scratch account or scratch app, pencil and paper, adult supervision required

Step 1

Open Scratch and click Create to start a new project.

Step 2

Add your song to the project by opening the Sounds tab and uploading your music file or picking one from the Scratch sound library.

Step 3

Plan your music video on paper by listing the characters scenes and the big beats where things should change.

Step 4

Create or upload a sprite for each character you want in the video.

Step 5

Add two or more costumes to each sprite so they can change poses or dance.

Step 6

Script a simple dance loop for each sprite using costume changes movement blocks and wait blocks.

Step 7

Add a script on the Stage to start the music when the green flag is clicked using a sound block.

Step 8

Add broadcast messages from the Stage at the right wait times to cue each sprite when to start its choreography.

Step 9

Click the green flag to test the whole project and watch how the music and movement line up.

Step 10

Tweak the wait times costume speeds and movement lengths in each sprite until the actions match the beats.

Step 11

Add backdrops titles and simple visual effects like color or size changes to polish the video.

Step 12

Export your finished video by recording your screen while playing it or by using TurboWarp Packager to create an MP4 file.

Step 13

Share your finished music video project on DIY.org.

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have a music file or TurboWarp Packager?

If you don't have a music file, use a track from the Scratch sound library or record directly with the Sounds tab microphone, and if you can't use TurboWarp Packager to make an MP4, record your screen while playing the project with a free recorder like OBS or your device's built-in screen recorder.

My sprites aren't starting their choreography on the beat — how do I fix that?

Make sure the Stage script uses 'when green flag clicked' to start the music and sends broadcast messages at the right wait times while each sprite uses 'when I receive' to begin its dance, then tweak the wait blocks and costume change timings until the actions line up with the song's beats.

How can I adapt this activity for different age groups?

For younger kids, simplify step 3–6 by planning on paper with just one sprite and two costumes and using preset motion blocks, while older kids can add clones, more precise wait timings, and export via TurboWarp for a polished MP4.

How can we extend or personalize the music video after the basic version is working?

Add personalized touches by creating custom backdrops and titles (step 11), using color/size effects or speech-bubble sprites for lyrics, and using clones or extra costumes to build crowd scenes and more complex choreography before exporting.

Watch videos on how to use Scratch to animate a music video

0:00/0:00

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

How to Make a Simple Animation in Scratch | Scratch Tutorial

4 Videos

Facts about coding and animation for kids

🎓 Scratch was developed by the MIT Media Lab to help kids create stories, games and animations using blocks of code.

🎵 Many pop songs use beats-per-minute (BPM); matching sprite movements to the song's BPM helps your animation stay perfectly in sync.

🧑‍🎤 In Scratch, characters are called 'sprites' and each sprite can have multiple costumes to animate dancing, expressions, or lip-sync.

📹 Scratch doesn't export video files directly — creators often screen-record their project or share it on the Scratch website as a playable project.

⏱️ Animating in Scratch usually switches costumes with short waits; trying 8–12 costume changes per second gives smooth, cartoon-like motion.

How do I use Scratch to animate a short music video?

Start by choosing a short song and sketching a simple storyboard with scenes and key movements. Open Scratch, create or import sprites and backdrops, and add costumes for animation. Use motion and looks blocks to choreograph movements, and Sound blocks to upload or record your music. Sync visuals by timing 'wait' blocks or broadcasting custom messages at beat points. Test and refine, then export by sharing on Scratch or recording your screen to make a video file.

What materials and tools do I need to create a music video in Scratch?

You'll need a computer or tablet with internet and a Scratch account, plus headphones or speakers to hear the music. Have the audio file ready (MP3 or WAV) or use Scratch's sound library, and optionally a microphone to record vocals. A mouse or stylus helps precision, and a simple image editor (even Paint) is handy for creating or editing sprites and backgrounds. For exporting, a screen recorder or TurboWarp Packager can save your project as a video.

What ages is creating a Scratch music video suitable for?

Scratch music videos suit a wide age range: children about 7–14 can work independently, learning animation, timing, and basic coding. Younger kids (5–6) enjoy the activity with adult help for importing audio and fine motor tasks. Teens and older kids can add advanced effects, custom code, and sound editing. Adjust complexity, provide templates for beginners, and supervise sharing online to keep the experience safe and fun.

What are the benefits of making a Scratch music video?

Making a Scratch music video builds creativity, sequencing skills, and computational thinking as children plan scenes, time actions, and debug scripts. It strengthens rhythm and music awareness, visual storytelling, and fine motor control while boosting confidence through sharing. Collaborative projects teach communication and project planning. Encourage reflection by asking what worked, which improves problem-solving and prepares kids for more advanced digital media projects.

Ready to create?

All Activities

Use scratch to animate a music video

Use Scratch to create and animate a short music video, designing characters, choreographing movements, syncing visuals to music, and exporting your finished project.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to use Scratch to animate a music video

0:00/0:00

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

How to Create Animated Videos in Scratch | Easy Animation Tutorial for Beginners

What you need

Music file mp3 or wav or use scratch sounds, scratch account or scratch app, pencil and paper, adult supervision required

Step 1

Open Scratch and click Create to start a new project.

Step 2

Add your song to the project by opening the Sounds tab and uploading your music file or picking one from the Scratch sound library.

Step 3

Plan your music video on paper by listing the characters scenes and the big beats where things should change.

Step 4

Create or upload a sprite for each character you want in the video.

Step 5

Add two or more costumes to each sprite so they can change poses or dance.

Step 6

Script a simple dance loop for each sprite using costume changes movement blocks and wait blocks.

Step 7

Add a script on the Stage to start the music when the green flag is clicked using a sound block.

Step 8

Add broadcast messages from the Stage at the right wait times to cue each sprite when to start its choreography.

Step 9

Click the green flag to test the whole project and watch how the music and movement line up.

Step 10

Tweak the wait times costume speeds and movement lengths in each sprite until the actions match the beats.

Step 11

Add backdrops titles and simple visual effects like color or size changes to polish the video.

Step 12

Export your finished video by recording your screen while playing it or by using TurboWarp Packager to create an MP4 file.

Step 13

Share your finished music video project on DIY.org.

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have a music file or TurboWarp Packager?

My sprites aren't starting their choreography on the beat — how do I fix that?

How can I adapt this activity for different age groups?

How can we extend or personalize the music video after the basic version is working?

Watch videos on how to use Scratch to animate a music video

0:00/0:00

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

How to Make a Simple Animation in Scratch | Scratch Tutorial

4 Videos

Facts about coding and animation for kids

🎓 Scratch was developed by the MIT Media Lab to help kids create stories, games and animations using blocks of code.

🎵 Many pop songs use beats-per-minute (BPM); matching sprite movements to the song's BPM helps your animation stay perfectly in sync.

🧑‍🎤 In Scratch, characters are called 'sprites' and each sprite can have multiple costumes to animate dancing, expressions, or lip-sync.

📹 Scratch doesn't export video files directly — creators often screen-record their project or share it on the Scratch website as a playable project.

⏱️ Animating in Scratch usually switches costumes with short waits; trying 8–12 costume changes per second gives smooth, cartoon-like motion.