How to Make Your First Animation as a Beginner

FRAMEBURST ACADEMY 16

🎮 Summary (TL;DR)

 

  • You do not need experience.
  • You do not require expertise.
  • You do not need expensive tools.

You just need one simple idea
and the bravery to start imperfectly.

By the end of this, you can make your first animation today.

🎬 Let’s Remove the Fear First:

I won’t lie to you.

I did not start YouTube animation for quite a while…
Not because I had lack of skills.

But because I kept thinking:

  • “What if it looks bad?”
  • “It has to look perfect.”
  • “What if people hate it?”
  • “I will start when I am much better at it.”

I wanted to be a content creator since the age of 18.

Though, that thinking held me back for decade.

Here’s the honorable truth:

Your first animation is supposed to be rough and simple.

Like learning to ride a bicycle…
You do not start smooth.

You wobble. You tumble. You try again.

Same here for story-time animation.

🛠️ What You Need?

(Nothing Expensive)

You may begin with:

  • Paper + Pencil
    OR
  • A free application like FlipaClip, Krita or OpenToonz

That is it.

No fancy arrangements. No expense.

🎯 Your First Animation: A Bouncing Ball

We’re keeping this straightforward.

A ball (2D or 3D) going up… and coming down.

That’s your first animation.

🧱 Step-by-Step

(You Can Do This Now)

✏️ Step 1: Draw the Starting Point

Draw a circle or sphere at the top-center.

That’s your first drawing.

🧠 Think of it like holding a ball in your palm before letting it go.

📍 Step 2: Draw the Ending Point

Now draw that circle or sphere at the bottom.

That is your concluding drawing.

🧠 Like when the ball hits the ground.

⚖️ Step 3: Add a Middle Point

Now draw the circle or sphere in the center.

Halfway between upper and lower end.

🧠 Like the ball falling through the air.

🔄 Step 4: Add Simple Middle Steps

Add additional drawings between top -> center -> bottom.

Do not dwell on it too much.

Just position the circle or sphere in between.

🧠 Like taking small steps while climbing down the ladder.

🔗 Step 5: Connect Them All

Now add a few more drawings between each step.

This makes the movement smoother.

🧠 Like adding more steps to your stairs to make walking easier.

▶️ The Final Step: Test Your Animation

Flip your pages or click play.

Watch it move.

🧠 Like pressing play on a video you just made.

⚠️ Common Mistakes:

(And Easy Fixes)

 

 

❌ Trying to Be Perfect:

Fix: Let it be messy. First animation = practice, not performance.

Adding Too Much Detail:

Fix: Keep it simple. It is just a ball.

Not Testing Early:

Fix: Review your animation after a few drawings. Do not wait till the conclusion.

Doing Everything Step by Step Without Planning:

Fix: Always draw the beginning drawing and concluding drawing first. Then fill in the middle.

Getting Frustrated Quickly:

Fix: Take a short break. Come back fresh. Keep a cheerful mood.

❌ Making Too Few Drawings:

Fix: Add more drawings to make it smoother.

Movement Feels Wrong:

Fix: Slightly adjust positions. Small changes make big difference.

🔁 Improve It:

(Simple Upgrades)

 

  • Adjust spacing = better speed control
  • Add more drawings = smoother movement
  • Repeat the same animation again = faster improvement

That is how progress happens.

🏁 A Real Win:

completing your first animation…

Is a big achievement.

Most people never even take their first step.

You did.

Do not chase perfection.

Chase completion.

 

 

💬 Final Thought

You do not need to be prepared.

You just need to start.

Simple. Coarse. Real.

That’s how every animator begins.

And now…

So did you.

⏭️What’s Your Next Step (Coming Thursday):

Next blog: Understanding frames, inbetweens and breakdowns: The Secret Behind Every Animation.

Click here -> https://takzicution.com/animation-basics-explained

You just made motion…

Now let’s understand what’s happening behind the scene.

This is where animation starts to make sense.

See you until the next summon. 🎬

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