How to create cartoons on a computer. How to create cartoons on Android
You are no longer a child or even a teenager, but quite an adult and Or not serious...? However, this is not so important - the main thing is that you still love cartoons, you are delighted with the beautiful and high-quality drawing, you laugh at the funny voice acting of the characters, and while watching, you fall out of reality for a while, plunging into a bright animated world. This has its own charm - to remain a little child all your life. Who knows, perhaps this hobby will develop into something more than just a love for cartoons. Surely you have at least once thought about how these colorful stories are created and what work was done before the finished video hit the screen of your monitor. Well, today the opportunity to become an artist-director has appeared not only for professionals in this field, but also for ordinary people. And now we will tell you on the computer, without any special education, but with a great desire. Forward!
About how it all began
Today, in order to make a cartoon, extensive computer technologies are used to create real masterpieces of animation. Everything was different before. The history of creating cartoons began long before the invention of cinema. Primitive animation appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. In order to set the images in motion, tapes with pictures and rotating disks, mirrors, etc. were used. In 1914, American animator and cartoonist McKay began to think about how to make a cartoon that would take animation to a whole new level. It was then that the background worker was divided. McCay created the first real cartoon character with distinctive features and qualities - it was Gertie the Dinosaur. An assistant artist was responsible for drawing the background for each frame.
With the invention of cinema, animation took a strong place in it. To create cartoons, special film cameras and animation machines were used. Before 1928, cartoons were silent and black and white. A breakthrough in this art form was made by Walt Disney, who made the first voice-over cartoon, “Steamboat Willie.” Today, technology has advanced so much that anyone can learn how to create cartoons on a computer.
Before proceeding directly to the technical part of the process, it is necessary to carry out considerable creative work. If we create cartoons ourselves from start to finish, we must make a plan for ourselves that will include the stages described below.
Coming up with a cartoon idea
Finding and choosing a cartoon idea is a seemingly easy part, but is actually a very important part. Already at this stage, it is advisable to decide what the duration of your cartoon will be - will it be a short animated sketch for display on the Internet or a full-fledged cartoon lasting an hour or more. Or perhaps it will be several episodes of one story? Knowing the length of the cartoon, it will be easier to decide on its plot.
In addition, decide what your target audience will be - kids, teenagers or adults. Think about what idea you want to convey to the viewer. Be based on your own experience and experienced events and emotions. This will help you better convey your topic and hook your audience.
Working with the script
Once you have decided on the topic and main idea, start writing the script. Carefully consider the image of the main character - his character, manner of communication and behavioral characteristics. He must be charming and evoke sympathy (or antipathy, depending on the plot and the goals pursued) among the viewer.
If dialogues are planned in the cartoon, then carefully write them down, marking the important points that should accompany each line. It is better to divide a long cartoon into meaningful parts to simplify the work.
Draw each frame on a new card so that they can be replaced or swapped if necessary. Draw the main changes in the characters' poses and movements. These basic elements are essential for storyboarding.
Choosing a cartoon drawing method
The technical stage of working with a plot, namely drawing it, can be implemented in various ways: some prefer to do it manually, while others use a variety of computer programs. You can choose the option that seems most convenient and interesting to you. However, you shouldn’t think about how to create a cartoon in Paint, for example. Today there are a huge number of more modern and functional programs. They allow you to make a cartoon for free, but at a much higher quality level.
If you are new to animation, then one of the Adobe tools will be the most suitable solution for you. This is the well-known Photoshop, as well as Flash or After Light. They allow you to implement various stages of the cartoon creation process - from drawing characters and background elements to setting them in motion (animation).
Creating a cartoon using Adobe tools
Adobe's workspace includes frame windows in which to create your story. There is also the ability to place each individual object on a new layer and a panel that allows you to change the characteristics of layers in temporary space - Time Line (included in the Windows / Animation menu). In order to understand all the main functions, you will not need much time - with a serious approach, about a week or two.
Simple steps in animation
Let's say you placed it at the beginning of the time axis (located horizontally). Now, next to the parameters of its position, set Key Frame. Further along the axis, place another key frame (for example, after one second), but change its coordinates (for example, slightly raise it up). Then take a third frame after another second and move it onto the first layer. Thus, by looping the playback, you will ensure that the hero begins to move - he will begin to jump and return to his place again. The more different options for changing the hero’s poses (along the time axis) you make, the smoother and more natural his movement will be. So, step by step, your cartoon will begin to come to life.
Thanks to digital implementation, you can make a visual storyboard by placing each frame on the TimeLine axis. It is important to remember that with a regular video image, each image is shown per second and is filled with movement. This allows you to create the effect of natural changes in poses, facial expressions and other moments over time.
About storyboarding manually and using a computer
With the classic method, that is, when each frame is drawn by hand, the storyboard takes up the entire wall in the cartoonist’s office. Each frame is depicted on a separate sheet or card. This allows you to plan the entire sequence of event scenes, as well as determine options for showing them at different scales (when it is a close-up, and when it is a wide shot, etc.). In this regard, manual storyboarding is inferior to digital implementation, since creating cartoons on a computer is much more convenient (and the entire storyboard made fits on your monitor screen).
Once the main frames are placed on the time axis, you continue to work on them, but in more subtle ways, paying attention to the details. These include barely noticeable gestures, facial expressions and the slightest changes in posture, folds in clothing, and other nuances that, nevertheless, cannot be neglected.
Let's move on to the background
Don't forget about the background image. Whether it will be static or with elements of animation, how colors and objects will change over time against the background of the main action - all this needs to be thought through, and then gradually implemented using multiple layers and TimeLine/Frame functions. Adobe programs have various tools to help you work on the background image - color balance, sharpness, transparency, etc.
And only when all the characters and objects on separate layers are placed on the timeline, you can proceed to adding the background.
Sounds in a cartoon: background noise and dubbing
The final stage of creating a cartoon is its voice acting and the application of appropriate noise. This is an equally important part of the work that needs to be given special attention. You can record the characters' voices using a microphone - while making sure that the characters' mouth movements coincide with their speech.
By the way, you can also implement and record noise yourself. For example, to create the sound of boiling water, fill a glass with liquid, lower a straw into it and blow into it. Or the sound of a fire - it can be recreated by an ordinary cellophane bag, which you just need to crush in your hands. These ideas will make you more interesting and creative.
Work on the cartoon ends with the superimposition of the sound image on the animation sequence. There are many free but good programs that allow you to do this. Now your creation is ready to be presented to the first viewers and critics.
Move from small to large and complex
Of course, there are other ways to create cartoons on a computer. In particular, various programs for 3D animation (for example, 3D Studio Max). However, for beginners it will be much more difficult to master them and it will take more time. It's best to start with 2D and programs like Adobe Flash and After Light, and then move on to more complex tools that give you more creative and technical options.
Making cartoons on Android
Today, tools have appeared that make it possible to create cartoons on the Android platform. Naturally, they turn out to be simpler both in terms of reproduction technology and drawing. But as a hobby they can be quite interesting. Many easy-to-learn programs have been developed for this purpose, such as Animating Touch or Stick Fighter. With their help, you can create fun and simple stories.