GoAnimate (http://goanimate.com/)

common sense media says

Fun, do-it-yourself cartoons for budding teen animators.


parents & educators say
  • 40% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this site enables people to create simple animated films, which are available to view on the site much like a cartoon version of YouTube. Some cartoon violence and crude language make this site inappropriate for young kids.

Educational value: Creating a cartoon on the site requires patience, technical savvy, and imagination.
Positive messages: People receive points for creating popular videos, and are encouraged to convince others to visit the site.
Violence: Some of the cartoon characters can fight, but the action is very rudimentary. There is no explicit violence or gore.
Sex: Explicit sex, nudity, and pornography are prohibited, but users have a variety of less racy options when creating cartoons, such as making the characters kiss and flirt.
Language: The terms of service bar profanity, but some cartoons include printed swear words with a few of the letters replaced with symbols and dashes, for example "d*ck."
Consumerism: Users can create their own cartoons using a variety of well-known characters from TV shows, video games, and movies. People are encouraged to purchase GoBucks, which they can use to gain access to premium features on the site.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Some of the animation options that are available to users include making the characters drink beer or other cocktails.

More on GoAnimate

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about digital creativity. Do you think it is more fun to make cartoons using your own graphics, or to use the ones provided by the site? Which is easier? Which ones are the most popular on the site? Will other people be entertained by cartoons that include your custom graphics? Will your friends enjoy your cartoons if they feature people they know?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The tools are simple, but they are not very sophisticated and the end results will never pass for actual cartoons. Once created, the animated shorts can be watched on the site, and the extensive collection of user-created features is a bit like a low-end, animated YouTube. The site seems to be aiming at a specific age group. Young children may not have the patience to fully utilize the software, and older teens and adults might be too mature to enjoy the process or the finished products. But it could be plenty of fun for teens, who are probably technologically adept enough, and imaginative enough, to produce reasonably entertaining films and share them with their friends.


This review was written by Will Wade
 
 

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What parents & educators say

8
Based on 5 parent & educator reviews:
  • 40% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

MegaAdam
teen, 15 years old
 
Don't Go!Animate
As an aspiring animator, I can tell you that animation needs to be a time-consuming process that requires concentration and the best effort you can possibly give. This website is actually insulting. I mean, can't we just DRAW characters? I thought the point of animation was meant to be your own drawing coming to life, not some badly-made little sprite that moves for you. Go!Animate claims that they're "teaching" kids how to make animations themselves, but they could at least, AT THE VERY LEAST, let us draw and use actual dialogue, not some awful Microsoft-Sam-style speech recognition thing. I could go on and on and on about the many flaws this site has, but it's easier to simply advise you to stay away from the site, don't bother using it, and if you DO decide to give it a go, DO NOT actually give money. There is a Premium option, but all it seems to offer is extra options for making your characters.

Peenut2k7
kid, 10 years old
 
Don't...just don't...
Dont try touching this site. DON'T. Everything is broken and unplayable. There are words like f--k,s--t,c--t, and worst of all,motherf--ker.

woofcat23
kid, 11 years old
 
awesome!
i really like going to this site, but i just dont like that you have to buy stuff with gobucks... very little sexual content and not that much violence and NO bad language. i do recommend this site to everyone 10+

pie or pie
kid, 12 years old
 
money makes it less fun
ok for one im on this and i have to say there is so many things you have to pay for and this really stops the fun sure you make animations that are cool but you cant improve your animation and i have to do 10 more reviews to get to 100 reviews yay on ages 8 plus

amy341234
parent of 7 year old
 
I think it is a really fun site for my kids to play on. They are learning how to use a computer and this site helps them have fun while learning how to use the mouse, and the keyboard. I highly recommend this site for kids around the age of 6 and up.

MissICT
parent of 13 year old
 
GoAnimate is GREAT!!
I am a parent as well as an ICT Coordinator for a school district. I learned about GoAnimate from my daughter who's teacher had used it with their class. The kids used it to make animations based on books that they had read. I checked out the site and LOVED it!! I have since recommended it to other schools and the GoAnimate staff are so helpful with the students and teachers. They are even working on creating a site that is specifically for schools and I'm told it will be ready soon.

cammy48
kid, 11 years old
 
Great!
This is a great site. If you are a serious hardcore animator, you may want to skip this though. You can only use actions already on a menu. The voices you can use are kind of bad, but if you have the proper equipment, you can record yourself. Violence isn't much of an issue. Language is though. The site does not use cursing. It is the community. There is no moderation, so just like youtube, language does pop up sometimes. Also some props, settings, and actions are only available if you buy them or have a GoPlus account.

 
Suspicious Credit Card Requirement, Hidden Costs
Nice site, but they require you to give them your credit card number to register, than after that, accept PayPal for further purchases. Why do they want your credit card number on file? Why not allow you to pay for your membership with PayPal? This is suspicious. They also have many hidden cost such as goanimate character creator, which charges extra if you want to use all the features. After paying for a membership, most features come with an additional cost. Your child may run up extra costs or be frustrated in not being able to fully use the program. Its a great site, except that they seem to have a single goal of charging you every time you press a key on their program.

basbel
adult
 
it is o.k
It is sorta good. the people talk funky and it is just..... O.k but it is so fun. you can make people laugh. Just do not watch anyone else's because they can have bad words. or drinking.

davi56
teen, 14 years old
 
endless creativity
I love this little site, its got a simple engine that is easy to use, it is also free, so that makes it extra good, but it does have some iffy material

Ninja Dude
kid, 13 years old
 
Not that good
Goanimate is a website that claims that you can make your own animations, but all they do is give you a handful of characters and you can select what you want them to do. Lots of videos have cursing(characters can say whatever you want them to say) videos can also have violence in them with dead bodies and blood. You are almost forced to buy goplus, the only way to make your own characters and movies longer than two minutes. Overall, don't bother with this site. Fourms are also about some suggestive themes. It is also very easy to hack into peoples account.

yeahbuddydotcom
teen, 13 years old
 
NOT FOR KIDS!!!
This website is EXTREMLY INNAPROPRIATE. In one movie making option, you can make a bunny suggestively point at their NUDE butt. No one under 20 should be able to see this extremly naughty bunny. Also, some president characters have the option to dance with TWO MIDDLE FINGERS HIGH IN THE AIR!!! :( This website is not for kids! You can also use a beer prop, swear in their sentences, use knives and other weapons, and even KILL each other. You can use characters and props from everyday life and use stores as backgrounds,such as McDonalds. Saftey is an issue because you can like other peoples videos, and watch them, even if they contain adult humor.

TaraKB310
kid, 12 years old
 
GO GO ANIMATE :)
Go animate is a great tool for kids ages 8 and up. It's great for kids who like to write. The website is privacy settings for videos, and parents can easily check their kids profiles to make sure nothings inappropriate. But Go Animate is also super fun and addicting!!

eipecara
kid, 9 years old
 
Fun!!! Go on the site!!!
You can make the character's say whatever you feel like!!! You can also make them do actions. You can even make them have feelings!!

Blue-Bunny
teen, 18 years old
 
Good website...
GoAnimate is a tool that can be used to simplify animation. No download required and registering is completely free. However, to get all the cool features, you have to pay, which I think is pretty lame. Good website for starters. I do not recommend this for professionals, though, or, like MegaAdam explained, those who'd rather draw their own characters. Overall, good website, but can do without the "money-grubbing". However, I do prefer real animation.

gamerkid660
kid, 12 years old
 
My 2nd favorite website!
I LOVE IT! I actually managed to get 2 zombie nerdz episodes in without goPlus! Soul eater series coming soon! If you want to find me My username is gamerkid660. I also made an enrichment project for a school assingnment to make a tall tale! IT IS GREAT!!!

 
wow, thx for remonding me of this!

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age