Parents' Guide to

Animate It!

By Polly Conway, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Downloadable stop-motion movie creator has a one-time fee.

Website http://www.animate-it.com
Animate It! Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this website.

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

Al Bohl
Al Bohl Adult
June 3, 2013
age 10+

Animate-It is pure gold!

I teach stop-motion animation in public school. I've tried other animation softwares but Animate-It is by far the best for easy-of-use and dependability. My students range from grade one through high school. They run the program and action. It is a delight to hear even my first graders debate shooting on twos or threes. I highly recommend this program.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

Animate It! gives kids the tools to make their own stop-motion animation in the Aardman Studios style. Kids need a computer with a webcam to use Animate It!, but beyond that, the program gives kids the ability to edit and add effects to the animations they create. Kids download the application to their computer's hard drive. The Animate It! website offers kid-friendly and charming video tutorials to walk kids through various filming processes and techniques.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

For kids who are interested in making movies but don't know how or where to begin, Animate It! is perfect. It's detailed without being overwhelming, and kids will love the tutorial videos and finding their own inspiration. Like any large-scale art project, kids will get out of Animate It! what they put into it, but with a little time, they will be able to complete a full "film" that they'll be proud to share.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the patience and commitment it takes to make a movie from start to finish. How long do you think it takes to make a movie? Do you know that sometimes it can take weeks to film just one scene?

  • Families can also discuss the elements of a story: setting, character, and plot. What makes a good story? What kinds of characters make for an interesting tale?

  • Why is it helpful to write a script or storyboard for your movie? Did you ever try to complete a project without planning it out first? Were you happy with the results?

Website Details

  • Subjects: Language & Reading: following directions, storytelling, Arts: film, script writing, Science: motion
  • Skills: Tech Skills: digital creation, using and applying technology, Creativity: combining knowledge, imagination, making new creations, producing new content
  • Genre: Creating
  • Pricing structure: Free
  • Last updated: November 5, 2015

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended website lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate