10 Steps to Create Paper Cut Out Animation

What is Cut Out Animation?

Cut Out Animation is one of the oldest and simplest animation techniques and has many forms and variations.

Cut Out Animation is a form of stop motion animation using flat characters, props and backgrounds cut from materials such as a card, paper, stiff fabric or photographs.

Cut Outs can be a white paper, colored paper with drawings on it, even photographs and can be completely flat or sometimes be 3D objects, though this ventures away from cutout animation and into stop motion animation.

Many often use Cut Out Animation to make photographs of animals and people to make it look as if they are moving or walking, often resulting in a 2D marionette effect.

Click on below Video: Cut Out Animation in After Effects

10 Steps to Create Paper Cut Out Animation

Step 1: Select the character you want to create.

Step 2: After Selecting a character use a colored pencil or marker to outline separate parts of the figure.

Example: How you want a parts to move.

- Arm can have two parts and bend at the elbow and the shoulder

- Arm can have one part and only bend at the shoulder

Join the parts to each other with small pieces of the pipe cleaner.

Step 3: Draw the figure on a piece of 10 cm x 10 cm cardstock paper.

Make sure the shapes are big to punch a small hole in each end for the fasteners.

Step 4: Use color markers to color figure and then cut it out.

Step 5: Arrange the shapes so they will go when joined together.

The holes are placed far inside the shape so they will not tear.

Step 6: At each marked spot make a small hole.

- Use an extra small hole pinch

- Place the paper on a piece of heavy sponge and press the point of a compass through the spot

Now join all the parts together using small pieces of pipe cleaner.

Step 7: Place two parts to join face to face and line up the holes.

Take small thread pieces of pipe cleaner through the holes.

Step 8: Open the paper shapes so that the pipe cleaner and the shapes are flat.

Step 9: Place the joined shapes face downside on the table.

Fold each edge of the pipe cleaner into the centre.

Check the joint to see if it will turn or bend easily.

Step 10: Use the same process to make a profile or front view figures.

Click on below Video: Paper Cut-Out Animation