Bringing still images to life through sequential movement and imagination.
Animation is the meticulous craft of breathing life into static drawings, models, or digital creations. It’s a process where imagination meets technical execution, demanding patience, precision, and a keen eye for motion and timing. Whether you’re creating charming 2D characters, intricate 3D worlds, or dynamic stop-motion narratives, animation offers an unparalleled medium for storytelling and visual expression. It’s a blend of artistry and engineering, requiring an understanding of physics, character performance, and visual storytelling to evoke emotion and captivate an audience. This hobby can range from simple flip-books to complex digital pipelines, offering a path for every level of ambition and skill.
For the patient storyteller who thrives on visual detail and the magic of bringing ideas to life frame by frame.
Your journey starts here. Follow these steps to get started with Animation.
Begin your animation journey by creating a simple flip-book. Draw a sequence of slightly different images on notepad pages and flip through them to see your first animation. Alternatively, download free, beginner-friendly software like Krita (for 2D) or Blender (for 3D, which is free and industry-standard). For Krita, explore their animation tutorials to get a feel for frame-by-frame animation: https://krita.org/en/support/tutorials/
Study the 12 Basic Principles of Animation, first articulated by Disney animators. Understanding concepts like squash and stretch, anticipation, timing, and easing is fundamental to creating believable and engaging movement. Websites like the Animation Workshop or many YouTube channels offer excellent breakdowns of these principles.
Focus on animating common movements like a walk cycle, run cycle, or idle animation for a simple character. This helps build foundational skills in character movement and timing. Don't aim for perfection; focus on consistent motion and weight.
Before animating full sequences, learn to storyboard your ideas. Storyboards are sequential drawings that plan out shots. Creating an animatic (a timed version of your storyboard with sound) helps you plan pacing and narrative flow efficiently, saving significant animation time later.
Our top picks for core tools to get you started.
Recommended items to enhance your experience.
As an Amazon Associate, HobbyStack may earn from qualifying purchases. Prices are estimates.
Many beginners jump straight into complex software without understanding the core principles of animation. This leads to stiff, unnatural movement. Always prioritize learning and applying the 12 principles.
Trying to create a feature-length film or a highly detailed 3D scene as your first project is a recipe for burnout. Start small with simple animations and gradually increase complexity as your skills develop.
Poor timing and spacing are common issues. It’s not just about drawing the right poses, but how long each pose is held and how the in-between frames transition. This requires careful planning and iteration.
A hobby's core characteristics, based on community votes.
46% Solo
You prefer personal and solitary activities, perfect for quiet time and introspection.
10% Energetic
You appreciate a balance of calm focus and moments of light, engaging activity.
84% Indoors
You are a homebody at heart, finding the most comfort and inspiration within your own space.
84% Creative
Your mind is a canvas, and you thrive on hobbies that offer total creative freedom and boundless self-expression.
70% Mental
You're drawn to mentally stimulating activities that challenge your mind, strategy, and focus.
Based on 32 total trait votes.
If you like Animation, you might also enjoy these related hobbies.
Dive deeper with these community-recommended websites, guides, and forums.
The industry-standard, free, and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, even video editing and game creation.
A powerful, free, and open-source painting program that includes a robust animation toolset, perfect for 2D animation.
A comprehensive resource explaining the 12 basic principles of animation with clear examples.
A lecture by the creator of Blender covering fundamental concepts of animation, applicable to both 2D and 3D.
A pose or position set at a specific point in time, used to define the start or end of a movement.
The process of generating intermediate frames between two keyframes to create smooth motion.
The number of frames displayed per second (fps), commonly 24 fps for film and animation.
The process of creating a digital skeleton or control system for a 3D model to allow for animation.
A feature in animation software that displays semi-transparent previous and next frames around the current frame to aid in smooth motion creation.
This hobby's profile is shaped by the community. See what's most popular and cast your own vote to refine its identity.
The community strongly defines Animation by aspects of the Visual Arts & Design category.
Many users also associate Animation with Digital & Screen Entertainment.
A number of users see a connection between this hobby and Technology & Engineering.
A number of users see a connection between this hobby and Performing Arts.
A number of users see a connection between this hobby and Crafts & Making.
See how Animation stacks up against similar hobbies in the Visual Arts & Design category.
Bringing still images to life through sequential movement and imagination.
Animation is the meticulous craft of breathing life into static drawings, models, or digital creations. It’s a process where imagination meets technical execution, demanding patience, precision, and a keen eye for motion and timing. Whether you’re creating charming 2D characters, intricate 3D worlds, or dynamic stop-motion narratives, animation offers an unparalleled medium for storytelling and visual expression. It’s a blend of artistry and engineering, requiring an understanding of physics, character performance, and visual storytelling to evoke emotion and captivate an audience. This hobby can range from simple flip-books to complex digital pipelines, offering a path for every level of ambition and skill.
For the patient storyteller who thrives on visual detail and the magic of bringing ideas to life frame by frame.
Your journey starts here. Follow these steps to get started with Animation.
Begin your animation journey by creating a simple flip-book. Draw a sequence of slightly different images on notepad pages and flip through them to see your first animation. Alternatively, download free, beginner-friendly software like Krita (for 2D) or Blender (for 3D, which is free and industry-standard). For Krita, explore their animation tutorials to get a feel for frame-by-frame animation: https://krita.org/en/support/tutorials/
Study the 12 Basic Principles of Animation, first articulated by Disney animators. Understanding concepts like squash and stretch, anticipation, timing, and easing is fundamental to creating believable and engaging movement. Websites like the Animation Workshop or many YouTube channels offer excellent breakdowns of these principles.
Focus on animating common movements like a walk cycle, run cycle, or idle animation for a simple character. This helps build foundational skills in character movement and timing. Don't aim for perfection; focus on consistent motion and weight.
Before animating full sequences, learn to storyboard your ideas. Storyboards are sequential drawings that plan out shots. Creating an animatic (a timed version of your storyboard with sound) helps you plan pacing and narrative flow efficiently, saving significant animation time later.
Our top picks for core tools to get you started.
Recommended items to enhance your experience.
As an Amazon Associate, HobbyStack may earn from qualifying purchases. Prices are estimates.
Many beginners jump straight into complex software without understanding the core principles of animation. This leads to stiff, unnatural movement. Always prioritize learning and applying the 12 principles.
Trying to create a feature-length film or a highly detailed 3D scene as your first project is a recipe for burnout. Start small with simple animations and gradually increase complexity as your skills develop.
Poor timing and spacing are common issues. It’s not just about drawing the right poses, but how long each pose is held and how the in-between frames transition. This requires careful planning and iteration.
A hobby's core characteristics, based on community votes.
46% Solo
You prefer personal and solitary activities, perfect for quiet time and introspection.
10% Energetic
You appreciate a balance of calm focus and moments of light, engaging activity.
84% Indoors
You are a homebody at heart, finding the most comfort and inspiration within your own space.
84% Creative
Your mind is a canvas, and you thrive on hobbies that offer total creative freedom and boundless self-expression.
70% Mental
You're drawn to mentally stimulating activities that challenge your mind, strategy, and focus.
Based on 32 total trait votes.
If you like Animation, you might also enjoy these related hobbies.
Dive deeper with these community-recommended websites, guides, and forums.
The industry-standard, free, and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, even video editing and game creation.
A powerful, free, and open-source painting program that includes a robust animation toolset, perfect for 2D animation.
A comprehensive resource explaining the 12 basic principles of animation with clear examples.
A lecture by the creator of Blender covering fundamental concepts of animation, applicable to both 2D and 3D.
A pose or position set at a specific point in time, used to define the start or end of a movement.
The process of generating intermediate frames between two keyframes to create smooth motion.
The number of frames displayed per second (fps), commonly 24 fps for film and animation.
The process of creating a digital skeleton or control system for a 3D model to allow for animation.
A feature in animation software that displays semi-transparent previous and next frames around the current frame to aid in smooth motion creation.
This hobby's profile is shaped by the community. See what's most popular and cast your own vote to refine its identity.
The community strongly defines Animation by aspects of the Visual Arts & Design category.
Many users also associate Animation with Digital & Screen Entertainment.
A number of users see a connection between this hobby and Technology & Engineering.
A number of users see a connection between this hobby and Performing Arts.
A number of users see a connection between this hobby and Crafts & Making.
See how Animation stacks up against similar hobbies in the Visual Arts & Design category.
