Brush Ninja Animated .gifs

I was looking for a free alternative to Photoshop timeline for creating animated .gifs and happened upon a great website called Brush Ninja Animation Maker. I always get a little nervous trying a new web-based program with several classes, but I have to say, I was impressed with what my Graphic Design and Digital art students were able to create.

The simple interface has a surprising number of helpful tools. Students can create basic and complex shapes, group pieces together (similar to Adobe Illustrator), and easily copy the previous frame. It also supports onion skinning!

I found this program to be a great way to introduce slightly more advanced animation with more fluid movements and/or backgrounds and scenes. I required students to create a minimum of 50 frames and save their work as a looping animated. gif. I gave them total freedom in subject matter-- as long as it was school appropriate. Students can save their work as a .brushninja file that they can even use on a Chromebook. When finished, students export their work as an .mp4 video or animated .gif. I hope it is always a free program because it worked so well!

​I also turned it into a contest and had each class vote for their favorites from another class. Students enjoyed seeing the other animations and creativity. Give Brush Ninja Animation Maker a try!