We all grew up watching cartoons. Whether it was classic cartoons on Saturday mornings or humorous shorts on YouTube, animation opened our eyes to realms where anything was possible: dogs talked, cats danced, and people shared stories that made us laugh, cry, or rewind 50 times only to see that one perfect scene.
But here’s the twist: at some point, you thought: “Hey… Maybe I could make something like this.”
Then you Googled ‘how to animate,’ got hit with words like ‘frame rate’ and ‘timeline,’ and ran away screaming.
Let’s fix that:
Too Long; Drew Rabbits (TL;DR)?
Yes, TL;DR is a pun. And yes, here’s your summary:
- Animation = Drawings that move (aka trickery)
- You do not need to be a pro
- Story-time animation is simple, fun, and beginner friendly
- You’ve got stories to tell, and I’m going to show you how to bring your dreams (Stories) to reality (Life)
So, What Is Animation, Really?
Animation is just a fancy way of saying: a bunch of drawings, images or puppets shown one after the other, in a sequence, to make it look like they‘re moving. That’s it. It’s all a trickery you see.
Think of it like a digital flipbook. If you have ever drawn a stick person dancing in the corner of your textbook pages, congratulations, you have already animated without recognising.
In the world of YouTube story-time animation (The kind that creators like TheOdd1sOut, Jaiden Animation, Haminations, and Domics made famous), things are even more fun (and simpler than Pixar!) These creators use basic drawings, voiceovers, and some well-timed editing to tell hilarious, emotional, or relatable stories.
And guess what? You can do this as well.
But Isn’t Animation Super Hard?
SUMMARY: It can be. But it doesn’t have to be.
There are Hollywood–level animations that take armies of artists and render farms. And then there are YouTube story-time animations, where the focus is on the story-telling, your personality, and simple, fun, adorable art-style.
The best part? Many Creators started with zero animation experience. Some used free tools, drew with a mouse, and recorded audio in the closets of their bedroom. It is all about starting with what you have and leveling up as you go.
Who is This Blog For?
I wrote this guide with three types of people in mind:
1. The Newbies Who Forgot Everything:
Maybe you’ve dabbled in drawing before, maybe even touched animation once upon a time. But now you feel like you’ve forgotten it all. Don’t worry – we will rebuild from scratch, step by step.
2. The Curious Kids and Adults Who Want to Make Cartoons (But Have $0 for Classes):
You do not need to go to a fancy art school. You do not need to pay for online courses. If you can hold a pencil or open a free application, you can start making your own cartoons.
3. The YouTube Dreamers Who Want to Do Storytime Animations:
You’ve seen channels where people tell funny, awkward, or emotional life stories with simple animations. You thought, “I could do that!” And you can. No money? No problem. We’ll focus on free tools and creative hacks.
Why Animation Works So Well on YouTube?
Animation lets you express anything. You do not need a camera crew. You do not need a perfect face or a million-Dollar studio. I mean, I got one, but you don’t need it.
All you need:
- A Voice (Yours!)
- A simple drawing-style (Stick people are okay!)
- A story to tell (Trust me, you’ve got tons)
- And a little bit of guidance (Hi, that’s what this blog is for!)
Ready to See It in Action?
Before you dive into software and tools, let us get inspired.
Watch My First Flipbook Here (Sketching + Animation Reveal)
You will see how I went from sketching with a pencil to making a simple animated scene: no fancy tool, no art school, just curiosity and a bit of time.
[I’ll walk you through how I made it in the future post – step-by-step.]
What’s Coming Next?
This blog is your behind-the-scenes guide to becoming a YouTube story-time animator on YouTube from scratch: no art degree, no expensive equipment, no animation jargon.
So now you know what animation really is (Hint: it’s just a bunch of drawings moving really fast). You have even gotten an idea with my very first flipbook.
But here’s the deal:
Before you jump into drawing your own story-time cartoon, there is something important you need to know…
What kind of animation actually works best for YOU?
That is what we’re covering in the next lesson.
In the upcoming post, I’ll break down the main types of animation (2D, 3D, stop motion, graphics, and more) and show you:
- Which one is perfect for beginners
- Why story-time animation is the easiest place to start
- And how to choose the style that fits your voice and creativity
Your Turn: Have You Ever Tried to Animate
Tell me in the comments down below, what is the one thing that has stopped you from animating before? For me, it was ‘perfectionism‘.
And if you’re thinking “I wanna try, but I don‘t know where to begin“, you are in the right place.
Smash subscribe or bookmark this blog, because the next post is going to show you how to actually start animating your own story-time video – without overwhelming you.
Your Next Step?
Ready to find your animation style?
Click here to read: ‘What Type of Animation Should You Use for YouTube?‘
This is where your journey really starts, because once you know your style, you will know what tools to use, how to plan your videos, and how to bring your dreams to reality.
let’s figure out your path; from sketchbook to screen, one frame at a time.