Making a cartoon. (Yes, has something to do with a game)
by Madd Gamerzz · in General Discussion · 01/09/2008 (2:27 pm) · 15 replies
Hello, I was wondering if there were any free Cartoon movie maker programs out there. I can draw up the characters and scenes, but was need a device that basically duplicates them to make them into a cartoon movie. It takes about 30 pictures to get a couple of seconds of animation I heard. I also have a Mac I just bought. Do they have any applications I can somehow use to combine the images or even help duplicate them to make a cartoon movie. I need to do this for some cut scenes. If you know anything that can do what I have described, please tell me or help me. I need the application to be for commercial use so if I publish it, I won't get sued or something because the application says its for "Indie" use only. Well, basically it must let me beable to publish them without them stealing my work or sueing me because , "Oh, I clicked accept and it must have said 'IF YOU CLICK ACCEPT, WE CAN TAKE YOUR WORK WHENEVER WE
WANT AND YOU ARE NOT ALOUD TO PUBLISH IT FOR COMMERCIAL USE'". I DO NOT want a application like that.
Thanks, Madd
WANT AND YOU ARE NOT ALOUD TO PUBLISH IT FOR COMMERCIAL USE'". I DO NOT want a application like that.
Thanks, Madd
About the author
#2
01/09/2008 (6:55 pm)
Well I am 13 and do not got $3,000 or $300 to spend on that kind of stuff.WAY to expensive for me. 
#3
01/09/2008 (8:45 pm)
There's a kids' version for $39.99, and it doesn't look half bad, except you may want to see what resolution animations it can support.
#4
01/10/2008 (2:15 pm)
Yes, I saw that but its mainly for short animations. 
#5
01/10/2008 (2:56 pm)
Don't you think you should start off small?
#6
01/10/2008 (4:19 pm)
@Madd Gamerzz: Well, look at it this way: What is a movie made up of? Scenes. Each scene is a short animation. Animate and export by scene, then assemble them in a freeware video editor. That's how the pro's do it anyway- everything is by scene, and then you can drop, add, extend, or rearrange with less hassle.
#7
Ted, um, I can't pay for anything.
Is there any freeware ones out there? I have googled and gone to tucows.com and have not found anything yet.
01/11/2008 (1:51 pm)
Phillip, Yes I should start off small. But with what? Ted, um, I can't pay for anything.
Is there any freeware ones out there? I have googled and gone to tucows.com and have not found anything yet.
#8
And Blender has a mac version.
http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/
01/11/2008 (2:30 pm)
Couldn't you use Blender to do this? The way southpark does theirs (except they use a different 3d program).And Blender has a mac version.
http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/
#9
Frame Thief
Pencil
Also, you don't want to create 30 pictures to make one second of animation - try shooting on what is called "twos", one picture lasting two frames = 15 drawings per second. Anime will even animate on "fours" - One drawing lasting four frames.
Traditionally, animation is shot on 24 frames a second for the reason that you can break the "beats" or timing down in various steps - half, quarters, etc. I would suggest finding a good site (or even try the library) to learn the principles of animation as it might save you some time and effort :)
Anyway, no time for a lecture... you have me getting nostolgic about my Super 8mm camera and a box of plasticine in 8 colours... sigh.
01/11/2008 (2:40 pm)
For the Mac, there are a few options but not sure if they are all free. Here are a couple that I've found (and most likely played with at some point):Frame Thief
Pencil
Also, you don't want to create 30 pictures to make one second of animation - try shooting on what is called "twos", one picture lasting two frames = 15 drawings per second. Anime will even animate on "fours" - One drawing lasting four frames.
Traditionally, animation is shot on 24 frames a second for the reason that you can break the "beats" or timing down in various steps - half, quarters, etc. I would suggest finding a good site (or even try the library) to learn the principles of animation as it might save you some time and effort :)
Anyway, no time for a lecture... you have me getting nostolgic about my Super 8mm camera and a box of plasticine in 8 colours... sigh.
#10
01/11/2008 (5:02 pm)
Tweenmaker is one that I'm aware of. It has a free student version. www.elecorn.com/tweenmaker/
#11
01/12/2008 (5:27 am)
Tweenmaker sounds great even though it is kinda of hard to use. I'm going to check out the others real quick.
#12
01/12/2008 (5:34 am)
Hmm, Pencil and Tweenmaker seem cool. I knew Blender has a video creation thing like the movie Elephants Dream. But are there any tutorials out there that can teach me the basics of creating videos? But if I make cartoons with Blender, won't they be more 3Dish?
#13
Have you considered photoshop or something that uses vector graphics, you can set things up frame by frame in photoshop for example when you make an animated gif. (not sure-> I think photshop can export .avi quicktime)
or
even draw your animation on paper run them through a scanner and import the into photoshop and set them up on a time line. which each frame, the time is adjustable.
Just an idea
vector graphics allow an object or shape to be shrunk or expanded without out damaging the resolution.
I think that was how I read or heard it, using adobe flash.
if you had windows you could accomplish the same thing using windows movie maker
01/12/2008 (10:06 am)
I'm not a mac person, nor do I know about the software mac uses.Have you considered photoshop or something that uses vector graphics, you can set things up frame by frame in photoshop for example when you make an animated gif. (not sure-> I think photshop can export .avi quicktime)
or
even draw your animation on paper run them through a scanner and import the into photoshop and set them up on a time line. which each frame, the time is adjustable.
Just an idea
vector graphics allow an object or shape to be shrunk or expanded without out damaging the resolution.
I think that was how I read or heard it, using adobe flash.
if you had windows you could accomplish the same thing using windows movie maker
#14
Click Here
I haven't messed with blender, so I don't know how it is.
there is a chapter on Video Sequence Editor.
01/12/2008 (10:16 am)
Here is link for a book on blender from another thread. Click Here
I haven't messed with blender, so I don't know how it is.
there is a chapter on Video Sequence Editor.
#15
(Actually, looking at the site, I've just noticed that the Mac free version is not available for download at the moment. Still, it might be worthwhile bookmarking, and returning to later once the Mac edition is available again.)
01/13/2008 (5:47 am)
Another option is "Animation Stand":www.animationstand.com/. "Animation Stand" has a free personal edition. It's available for both Windows and Macs. (Actually, looking at the site, I've just noticed that the Mac free version is not available for download at the moment. Still, it might be worthwhile bookmarking, and returning to later once the Mac edition is available again.)
Torque Owner Thak
toonboom.com/main/
Its not free, its professional and it does have a pricetag, but its the best there is ;)