Virtual STEM for Kids: Animation

This guide supports virtual STEM programs for children ages 6-12.

ACTIVITY: Create a flip book or GIF with a minimum of 10 frames.

Recommended materials: 10+ blank index cards, writing utensils

What is Animation?

Animation is a visual technique that creates the illusion of motion using hand-drawn illustrations, photographs, or computer-generated images.

Have you ever made a thaumatrope? This toy from the 19th century illustrates how optical illusions work, which is an important feature in animation. If images are shown quickly enough, they can trick the eye into seeing something that's not real. For animation, 24 images (frames) per second are needed to trick our brain into thinking that an object is moving naturally.

Types of Animation

Traditional (2D) Animation

Images are hand-drawn (each with subtle differences to the one before it) and presented quickly in sequence to create an illusion that objects are moving. Early forms of animation, including the very first animated movies, use this technique.

kineograph illustration

Pictured: Kineograph/flip book (left), Zoetrope (right)

Stop motion animation

Many pictures are taken of real-life objects that are moved slightly from one photo (frame) to the next. Then the photos are played back in order to create an appearance of motion.

stop motion movie of a moving penny

Computer (3D) animation

Computer generated images are "rigged" using a skeletal 3D model that can be manipulated using computer software. The technique is similar to moving a puppet. Disney's Toy Story (1995) was the first full-length computer-animated movie.

screenshot of computer animated movie