Create your own A-Z brainstorming list for an animation
Make an A-Z brainstorming list for an animation by writing one idea per letter—characters, settings, actions, props, or sounds—to spark your story.
Step-by-step guide to create your own A-Z brainstorming list for an animation
Step 1
Gather your materials and find a flat surface to work on.
Step 2
Sit in a comfy spot where you can see your paper easily.
Step 3
Write the letters A to Z down the left side of the paper, one letter per line.
Step 4
Pick a few idea types you want to use like characters settings actions props or sounds.
Step 5
Set a timer for 15 minutes to keep your ideas fast and fun.
Step 6
Start at A and work through the alphabet writing one idea next to each letter.
Step 7
If you get stuck on a letter doodle next to it or switch to a different idea type to spark something new.
Step 8
Use your coloring materials to decorate the page and make each idea pop.
Step 9
Choose your three favorite ideas and circle them.
Step 10
Turn one circled idea into a one-sentence animation idea and write it at the bottom of the page.
Step 11
Share your finished A-Z brainstorming list and your one-sentence idea on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have plain paper, markers, or a kitchen timer?
Use any notebook or the back of a cereal box as your paper on a flat surface like a table, substitute crayons, colored pencils, or stickers for coloring materials, and use your phone's clock or a kitchen timer app for the 15-minute timer.
I'm stuck on several letters and the 15-minute timer is almost up — what should I do?
When you get stuck, follow the instructions to doodle next to the letter or switch to a different idea type to spark new ideas, and if needed skip tough letters and come back after the timer so you still finish an A–Z list.
How can I adapt this A–Z animation brainstorm for younger or older kids?
For younger children, limit the list to A–F, let them draw pictures next to the letters and use a longer timer, while older kids can keep A–Z, add specific idea types like props or sounds, and spend extra time turning a circled idea into a one-sentence animation at the bottom.
How can we extend or personalize the activity after circling our three favorite ideas?
After you circle three favorites, pick one to expand by sketching a quick storyboard with your coloring materials, adding sound or prop notes from your list, making simple character designs, and then share photos of the finished page and one-sentence idea on DIY.org.
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Facts about story development for kids
✏️ Storyboards act like comic-strip blueprints for films; big studios often create thousands of storyboard frames before animating a scene.
🎨 Character designers rely on bold silhouettes and one quirky detail (like a hat or voice) to make characters instantly memorable.
🧠 Doing an A–Z brainstorm is a great creativity trick — forcing a letter challenge helps you think of surprising, unusual ideas.
🔤 The English alphabet has 26 letters, so an A–Z list gives you 26 sparks for characters, settings, props, actions, or sounds!
🎬 The first full-length animated feature widely known is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) — a movie that changed animation forever!
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