Keep a diary of animation ideas that inspire you
Keep an animation idea diary: sketch characters and short storyboards, write movement notes, collect inspirations, and track progress over time.
About this activity
Keep an animation idea diary: sketch characters and short storyboards, write movement notes, collect inspirations, and track progress over time.
What you need
Step by step
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Step 1
Choose one sketchbook or notebook to be your animation idea diary.
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Step 2
Write your name on the first page.
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Step 3
Write today’s date on the first page.
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Step 4
Give your diary a fun title on the first page.
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Step 5
On the next page draw a simple character using your pencil.
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Step 6
Write one short sentence describing your character’s personality.
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Step 7
On a fresh page draw a four-panel storyboard that shows your character doing one small action.
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Step 8
Add motion lines or arrows in each panel to show how the character moves.
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Step 9
Write short movement notes under the storyboard describing timing or feelings.
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Step 10
Find one picture or image from a magazine or printed image that inspires you.
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Step 11
Glue or tape that inspiring image into your diary.
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Step 12
Stick a sticky note in the diary with one idea or improvement to try next time.
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Step 13
Share your finished diary page or favorite entry on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I help my child keep an animation idea diary?
Start with a small sketchbook and a regular habit—5–15 minutes daily or weekly. Date each entry and sketch characters, short storyboards, and key poses. Note movement, timing, sound ideas, and emotions beside sketches. Collect inspiration clippings, screenshots, or voice memos in pockets or a digital folder. Review entries monthly, highlight favorites, and try short mini-animations to test ideas. Keep it fun and low-pressure so creativity grows.
What materials do I need for an animation idea diary?
You'll need a durable sketchbook or notebook, pencils, erasers, colored pencils or markers, a ruler, sticky notes, and index tabs for organizing. A smartphone or camera captures reference photos and quick video of movement. Optional items: a simple scanner or scanning app, glue/tape for clippings, stickers, and a tablet with a drawing app for digital sketches. Keep a small pouch so materials are portable.
What ages is an animation idea diary suitable for?
This activity suits kids about 5–16 with adjustments. Ages 5–7 can use simple stick-figure sketches, stickers, and parent help to note actions. Ages 8–11 can draw clearer characters, basic storyboards, and write short movement notes. Ages 12+ can develop complex character designs, timing charts, and use digital tools. Tailor time, complexity, and supervision to the child's attention span and motor skills.
What are the benefits of keeping an animation idea diary?
Keeping an animation idea diary builds storytelling, observation, and planning skills. Children practice drawing, sequencing, and describing movement, strengthening fine motor control and visual thinking. It encourages regular creative habits, captures growth over time, and provides a personal portfolio for future projects. The diary also boosts confidence by showing progress and offers a low-pressure space for experimentation and idea recycling.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have a sketchbook, pencil, or a magazine for the inspiring image?
Use a stapled stack of printer paper folded in half as your diary, draw with a pen or colored pencil instead of the pencil when you create your character, and print an online image or cut photos from old calendars to glue or tape into the diary.
My four-panel storyboard looks messy and motion lines aren't clear—how can I fix that?
Redraw the panels slightly larger so your character fits, make motion lines and arrows darker or add multiple arrowheads, and write short timing or feeling notes under the storyboard to explain the movement clearly.
How can I change this activity to suit different ages?
For younger kids, give a pre-drawn character outline, use two simple panels and chunky crayons, and for older kids add more panels, detailed movement notes about timing or feelings, and scan pages to edit before sharing on DIY.org.
What are simple ways to extend or personalize the diary entry after finishing the page?
Turn the four-panel storyboard into a flipbook by drawing the character with slight changes across several pages, color the character after gluing the inspiring image, and attach a sticky note with a new idea before uploading a photo and notes to DIY.org.