Animation · How-to

# How to Make an Animated Movie on Your Computer: A Step-by-Step Guide

Wisconsin Tech Shop · October 31, 2026 · 3 min read

You don’t need a studio to make an animated film anymore. You need a story, a computer and a plan. These are the steps professional studios follow, scaled down for one person.

## First, choose 2D or 3D

| | 2D cut-out or drawn | 3D |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Looks like | TV cartoons, storybooks, hand-drawn films | Animated features, toys, games |
| Fastest way to make it | Rigged puppets with automatic lip-sync | Ready characters and sets you direct |
| Hardest part | Drawing a consistent cast | Lighting and rendering |
| Computer needed | Almost any | A dedicated graphics card helps |
| Good first project | A one-minute dialogue scene | A 30-second scene in one set |

## The steps

- **Story.** Write the idea in one sentence, then a short outline: beginning, middle, end. Keep a first film under three minutes.
- **Script.** Write the dialogue and action in screenplay format. Every line you write is a line someone has to animate.
- **Design.** Settle the look: characters, sets and colors. Decide once and reuse everything.
- **Storyboard and animatic.** Sketch every shot, then cut the sketches to time with temporary voices. Fix the story here, where changes are cheap.
- **Record the voices.** Record final dialogue early, because animation is timed to it.
- **Layout.** Place characters and cameras in each shot: framing, lenses and movement.
- **Animate.** Block the key poses, then refine timing and add lip-sync and expressions.
- **Effects, lighting and rendering.** Add effects, light the scenes and render the frames.
- **Sound and music.** Add sound effects, ambience and a score that follows the cuts.
- **Edit, color and mix.** Cut the final film, match colors, and balance dialogue, music and effects.
- **Deliver.** Export for YouTube or social media, or a master for festivals.

## Software for each step

| Step | Free options | All in one |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Script | Any writing app (Fountain format) | Script tab |
| 2D animation | Krita, OpenToonz | 2D Animation |
| 3D animation | Blender | 3D & CGI Studio |
| Sound and music | Audacity, LMMS | Sound & Music |
| Editing and delivery | DaVinci Resolve, Shotcut | Video Editor and Delivery |

The free tools are excellent, but you move files between five or more apps. [Movie Maker Hollywood Pro](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/) keeps every step in one Windows app: [script to screen](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/script-to-screen/), [2D animation](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/2d-animation/), [3D](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/3d-cgi/), [sound and music](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/sound-music/), [editing](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/video-editor/) and [delivery](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/delivery/), for $20 once.

## Tips that save weeks

- Lock the story in the animatic before animating anything.
- Reuse characters, sets and walk cycles; studios do it constantly.
- Record real voices. Even a phone in a closet full of clothes beats a noisy room.
- Watch the film with someone else after every stage, and listen to where they get bored.

## Try it yourself

Ready-made software from our [software store](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/), installed on your PC or Mac.

[Movie Maker Hollywood ProA whole film studio on your PC: edit, animate, build 3D scenes and deliver.$20 · Windows (Mac soon) · Available now](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/)

## Questions

### How long does it take to make an animated short?

It depends on the style and length. A one-minute cut-out dialogue scene can take days; a few minutes of polished 3D can take weeks. Reusing characters and sets speeds everything up.

### Can I make an animated movie for free?

Yes. Krita or OpenToonz for 2D, Blender for 3D and DaVinci Resolve for editing are all free. They just take longer to learn and connect.

### Do I need to know how to draw?

Not for 3D or for rigged 2D puppets built from shapes. Drawing helps most for hand-drawn animation.

## Want it done for you?

- [Animated Explainer Videos](https://wisconsintechshop.com/creative-media/animated-explainer-videos/): Short animated videos that explain what you do in under two minutes: script, voice, illustration and animation, in your brand’s style. (From $750)
- [3D Animation, CGI & Product Renders](https://wisconsintechshop.com/creative-media/3d-cgi-animation/): Photoreal 3D product renders and CGI animation: show products from every angle, inside and out, before they exist, without a photo shoot. (From $1,000)
- [Motion Graphics & Logo Animation](https://wisconsintechshop.com/creative-media/motion-graphics-logo-animation/): Animated logos, intros, lower thirds and title packages that make every video look like it came from the same professional studio. (From $300)

## More from the blog

- [DaVinci Resolve vs Premiere Pro in 2026: Price, Features and Which to Pick](https://wisconsintechshop.com/blog/davinci-resolve-vs-premiere-pro/): DaVinci Resolve vs Premiere Pro in 2026: what each costs over three years, how editing, color, effects and audio compare, and which one fits your work. (October 31, 2026)
- [How Much Does Premiere Pro Cost in 2026? Plans, Yearly Totals and Cheaper Options](https://wisconsintechshop.com/blog/premiere-pro-cost/): Premiere Pro costs $22.99 a month on an annual plan or $34.49 month to month in 2026. Yearly totals, what you get, and editors you can buy once instead. (October 31, 2026)
- [Video Editing Software Without a Subscription: Editors You Can Own in 2026](https://wisconsintechshop.com/blog/video-editing-software-no-subscription/): Tired of monthly fees? The best video editors you can own outright in 2026, free and paid, with prices, platforms and what each one is best at. (October 31, 2026)

## Questions about your own setup?

Tell us what you’re working on. We reply within one business day with honest advice.

- Big projects and small ones are all welcome
- Fixed-price quotes, no surprise invoices
- You own your code, data and accounts
- A client portal to track progress, invoices and payments
- Rooted in Wisconsin, serving businesses nationwide

Rather talk it through? [Call us](https://wisconsintechshop.com/contact/#call)

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Source: https://wisconsintechshop.com/blog/how-to-make-an-animated-movie/
Contact: hello@wisconsintechshop.com · https://wisconsintechshop.com/contact/