Animated Pixel Art Instructable Birthday

For this instructable, I will be using a program called Asperite. This is a well-known pixel art and animation program. It does cost $19.99 USD; however, there are many free alternatives available if you are interested (As seen below). Even if you want to make a non-pixel art animation, flip-book, etc, this guide could still work for you.

For this project, you will need:

• A computer or Tablet (Has to run an animation software)

• Animation software (https://www.aseprite.org/)

•An electronic drawing pad if you use a Computer (Optional)

After you have all of these things, you can move on to step 1.

I recommend at least skimming through all of the steps before you start.

(Not all of these steps are the same for all programs)

-First, Open Aseprite. After you open the program, click "File" then "New"

-Create a canvas size of your choice, I suggest 150x100.

-Click "OK"

This is where you figure out what you are actually planning to design. In my case, I am going to make the Instructables robot with some cake and presents. Your design can be slightly different from mine or even completely different. The only limit is your imagination.

Blocking out a design with basic shapes is a good way to get the proportions and different objects where you want before doing more detailed work. Don't feel pressured to make things look perfect; this is just essentially a rough sketch.

Tip: Hovering over the different tools on the left sidebar lets you see their corresponding shortcut.

This is where you change the basic shapes into a picture with the help of a few details. At the end of this step, you should be able to tell what your design is supposed to be.

Color is important in art; it can decide the whole vibe of your work. Think about how you want your progect to look before selecting the right colors.

Add a little extra detail to spice up your canvas!

Shading is important if you want your art to have depth. To do this we will be using darker and lighter shades of color to unflatten the art.

Next up is the animation, which is when you get to decide what parts of your art will move!

Tips: If you use the "Frame" and "Layer" tools on the top bar, you can create new frames and layers.

Saving: important when you don't want to lose progress and when your project is complete

Exporting: A way of downloading your project so you can post it to places like this website or social media.

Now you can marvel at your masterpiece! I hope this guide was fun and easy to follow. If you have any suggestions, comments, or want me to check out your animation, leave a comment! I'm eager to see all your amazing creations. Aseprite's website has plenty of resources if you get stuck somewhere or don't know how to do something. If you need a suggestion for a pixel art website that works with your specific needs, you can always leave a comment. Other animators, artists, or I could always lend a hand! Happy 20th Birthday, Instructables!