Interested in animation? Here are three activities you can try at home or at school to help you explore the math, science and technology that makes animation possible!
Make a Flipbook
What you need:
- Small pieces of paper (~7 x 9 cm each, use pre-used paper if you can)
- Stapler
What to do:
- Think of something fun to draw. You can start with a pattern of circles or a stick person in action. You can even make a life cycle flipbook to represent the life cycle of a plant or animal, such as a butterfly!
- Draw one image on each piece of paper. This may takes a bit of planning depending on the theme of your flipbook.
- Line up each piece of paper you drew on in the order you want your flipbook to be viewed.
- Order the paper, from the first image to the last image, into a neat pile. Staple the pile of paper together.
- Finally, flip your book to make the static images come to life!
- Flip slowly and then speed up the motion. What do you notice?
Use Scratch to Make a Fun Animation
Scratch is a free, web-based programming platform that you can use to create your own animations. After a quick tutorial in basic coding, anyone can create their own animations! It all starts with coding your character to move. Afterwards, you can add sound and even make your character dance.
Take a look at these Scratch projects for some inspiration. Then, use the Starter Guide and these Video tutorials to help you get Scratchin’! If you’re interested in a guided workshop and an introduction to coding, check out Science World’s Robotics Club.
Set-up Your Own Foley Studio
In the animation process, foley artists create sound effects or use pre-recorded sounds to add to the illustrations. Together, the animated images and sounds create a sensory experience and bring a story to life.
In this activity, you have a firsthand opportunity to be a foley artist. All you need to start is a recording device (most laptops come equipped with a microphone and recording software). Take a clip from your favourite animated show and start creating your own sound layers!
How can you create different sounds?
- Try using everyday objects such as spoons, pots, pans and shoes.
- Investigate some craft projects you can do to help you produce some cool and unique sounds. For instance, you can make a set of musical bottles to create different sound notes.
- You can even get crafty and make your kazoo, rainstick (see the video below), hummer or bullfrog caller!
Can you match your sound effects with the visuals?
Want to learn more?
Check out this workshop from our friends at WildBrain Studios. In this introduction to the animation tool Unreal Engine, you'll learn how to build environments and animate simple characters!