Introduction
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Many people have come to me and asked me… “How? How do you animate like this?”
Well the answer isn't exactly clear to me either, and I think it is because animating is a skill that you have to personalize and make “your own”.

Please note that these instructions are only trying to help many that want to learn, you do not have to follow any of these instructions

Personalizing your animations
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Although it is optional, personalizing your animation will make your animation be unique and (in my opinion) a lot more fun.

Start with your “OC” (if you don't have one already) - Your unique character(s) that scratchers will see in many of your projects, if you choose to put them in there.

Here are some optional tips on your OC:

1. Your OC doesn't have to look at all like you (it could though), but good OCs (characters) - reflect who you are, and what you like
2. OCs are primarily in color theme - (mine (for now) is red) - you can choose any color, whichever is your favorite
3. You should consider having your PFP (profile picture) have your OC in it

Key things to keep in mind
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Animations should be fun to make, if you feel you do not want to animate, no one is forcing you!
Animations should follow the Scratch Community Guidelines
Advertising your animations should be responsible

So how do I actually ANIMATE?!
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You don't have to worry about code yet - That is next step
1. Once you have your animation OC (which you can get through the Scratch Backpack Feature )

2. Start the animation by having an idea of what you are going to animate (another very personal feature of your animation)

3. Please note for these instructions on animating, it is not required, but a lot easier to be in Scratch Vector Format - which you can learn about here

3.5. Create a costume of where you want your OC to start (this is really hard to change after you finish the animation - do make sure you like it!!) Make the costume name “1” or “a1” of you can

4. Duplicate the costume that you want to start the animation with by right clicking the costume, where it is placed on the sidebar
Have trouble with the instruction above Click here and see the “tips” section of the webpage

5. Important step: In the new duplicated costume, move the character the way you want it to move in the animation (but not fully, maybe a quarter of the way there (whether that is moving the arm up, or making the character take a step

6. Repeat steps four and 5 until you have completed the motion you wanted the character to do!
Feel free to ask in the comments below if you are having trouble with the steps

Coding
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Now that you have your costumes (sorry, no backgrounds or thumbnails yet) it is time to code!

Complex step:
First, you want to see (with math) - How many “next costume” blocks, do you need to make your animation
1. Go back to step 3.5 - did you do it? It makes it a lot easier!
2. If your LAST costume of this animation movement has a name like a4 or just 4 - then keep “that number” in your head (see next step)
3. Put this script of code where your animation should be

Lip-Sync (optional)
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This, is the hardest of all, and can be done in so many ways
Please comment the best way to describe lip-sync - I might add it here!

Extra ideas
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Stop Sign detector (for thumbnails)

Hope this helps! Thanks!

While it's great you want to help other scratch users, this forum is for people who are looking for help, and not for tips and suggestions. That would most likely go in show and tell or collaboration.

Cool

pepsi414 wrote:

Cool

Some people asked me to do it