# Create Your Animations Part of the Animation Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/animation/guide/index.md) *3. Animation Projects* > **3.** With your counselor's approval, choose two animation techniques and do the following for each: > > 1. Plan your animation using thumbnail sketches and/or layout drawings either on paper or using an animation software program. > 2. Create the animation. > 3. Share your animations with your counselor. Explain how you created each one, and discuss any improvements that could be made. ## Choosing Your Two Techniques This requirement asks you to create **two separate animations**, each using a **different technique**. The idea is to experience more than one way to animate. Here are some techniques to consider: ### Flipbook Animation A flipbook is the simplest form of animation — and one of the most satisfying. Draw a slightly different picture on each page of a small pad of paper, then flip through the pages rapidly. The drawings come alive in your hands. - **What you need:** A pad of sticky notes or a small sketchbook, a pencil - **Best for:** Simple, short animations — a bouncing ball, a waving hand, a character walking - **Time to create:** 1–3 hours for a basic flipbook > **Tip** > > Start by drawing the first and last frames of your animation. Then draw the middle frame. Keep subdividing — this is the "pose to pose" principle in action. It gives you much more control than drawing frame after frame in order. ### Stop-Motion Animation Set up a camera (your phone works perfectly), arrange objects in a scene, take a photo, move the objects slightly, and take another photo. String the photos together into a video. Clay, LEGO bricks, action figures, paper cutouts, and even food all work as subjects. - **What you need:** A phone or camera, a tripod or stable surface, objects to animate, video editing app - **Best for:** 3D scenes, character stories, creative experimentation - **Time to create:** 2–5 hours for a short clip > **Safety First!** > > If you use a craft knife, scissors, or a hot glue gun while building your stop-motion set, work in a well-lit area with adult supervision. Keep sharp tools pointed away from yourself and others. ### 2D Digital Animation Use free software to draw frames on a computer or tablet. Programs like **Pencil2D**, **Krita**, or the online tool **FlipAnim** let you draw each frame, add color, and play back your animation instantly. - **What you need:** A computer or tablet, free animation software - **Best for:** Colorful character animations, experimenting with the 12 principles - **Time to create:** 2–4 hours for a short animation ### Whiteboard Animation Draw on a whiteboard or chalkboard, photograph each stage, and erase/add elements between shots. This technique is popular for explainer videos and educational content. - **What you need:** A whiteboard or chalkboard, markers or chalk, a phone camera, a stable shooting position - **Best for:** Explaining a concept, telling a simple story - **Time to create:** 1–3 hours ### Paper Cutout Animation Cut out shapes from paper — characters, backgrounds, props — and move them around on a flat surface while photographing each position. This is a form of stop-motion, but it is flat (2D) and often faster to produce. - **What you need:** Paper, scissors, a flat surface, a phone camera mounted above - **Best for:** Simple stories, colorful scenes, younger Scouts who prefer crafts to drawing - **Time to create:** 2–4 hours ![A workspace showing the tools for different animation techniques: a flipbook with a pencil, a smartphone on a tripod aimed at LEGO figures, a tablet displaying Pencil2D software, and paper cutout shapes arranged on a table](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/animation/guide/animation-techniques-tools?v=5c26e810) ## Step 1: Plan Your Animation Before you draw or shoot a single frame, **plan**. Professional animators spend a large portion of their time on planning because it prevents costly mistakes later. ### Thumbnail Sketches Thumbnail sketches are small, rough drawings that map out the key moments of your animation. They do not need to be pretty — they are a thinking tool. **Thumbnail Planning** — For each of your two animations - [ ] Decide on a subject: What will your animation show? (A ball bouncing, a character waving, a flower growing, a logo appearing) - [ ] Sketch the key poses: Draw the starting position, the major actions, and the ending position. - [ ] Number your thumbnails: Put them in order so you have a clear sequence. - [ ] Add notes: Write timing ideas ("hold this pose for 5 frames") or action notes ("arms swing up here"). - [ ] Show your plan to your counselor: Get approval before you start creating. ### Layout Drawings If your animation has a background or a scene with multiple elements, a layout drawing shows where everything goes. Think of it as a map of your animated world — where the character stands, where the camera focuses, and what the background looks like. > **Tip** > > Keep your first animations simple. A 3-second animation of a ball bouncing is a much better learning experience than an ambitious 30-second film that you cannot finish. Master the basics, then go bigger. ## Step 2: Create Your Animation With your plan approved, it is time to bring your drawings to life. Here are some universal tips that apply to any technique: - **Work clean:** Keep your camera steady (use a tripod or prop), maintain consistent lighting, and make small, deliberate movements between frames. - **Be consistent:** Each frame should change only slightly from the one before it. Big jumps between frames create jerky, confusing movement. - **Apply the principles:** Try to use at least one or two of the [12 principles](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/animation/guide/req2/) you learned about. Even just adding squash and stretch to a bouncing ball makes a big difference. - **Save often:** If you are working digitally, save your project frequently. Losing hours of work to a crash is painful. > **Be Prepared! Your Animation Looks Jerky or Too Fast** > > This is the most common problem for beginning animators. Here is how to fix it: > > - **Add more frames.** If your animation looks choppy, you probably need more in-between frames. Go back and add drawings between your key poses. > - **Slow down.** Most beginners create animations that play too fast. Try holding key poses for a few extra frames to give the viewer time to absorb the action. > - **Check your spacing.** If your object moves the same distance every frame, the movement will look mechanical. Use slow in and slow out to make starts and stops feel natural. ## Step 3: Share and Discuss When you present your animations to your counselor, be ready to explain: - **What technique you used** and why you chose it - **How you planned it** — show your thumbnail sketches or layout drawings - **What principles you applied** — point out specific moments where you used squash and stretch, anticipation, timing, or other principles - **What you would improve** — every animator sees things they would change. Being able to identify improvements shows growth > **Did You Know?** > > At professional studios like Pixar, animators present their work to the entire team in daily review sessions called "dailies." Giving and receiving feedback is a core part of the animation process — it is how good work becomes great. ## Free Tools to Get Started Video: [Pencil2D — Free 2D Animation Software](https://youtu.be/QPqap-onmv8?si=R7BiYvl5Ku2fcf6I) [FlipAnim — Make Flipbook Animations Online](https://flipanim.com/): A free browser-based tool for creating simple flipbook-style animations. No download required. Video: [How to Make a Flipbook](https://youtu.be/Un-BdBSOGKY?si=VYoP1vpGjMei_OY-) --- With two animations under your belt, you have experienced the creative process firsthand. Next, you will look at how professionals do it every day. --- - Previous: [The 12 Principles](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/animation/guide/req2/index.md) - Next: [Studio Tour](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/animation/guide/req4a/index.md)