This time, I'll show you how to create an animation of a character walking from a single image.

Since the animation is created using keyframes, there's no need to draw multiple images, making it easy to create animations.

There is also a video version, so please take a look.

Points

If you are a beginner at animation, you will be less likely to give up if you do not skip any of the steps described.

Animation creation is different from illustration creation, in that if you skip one step, nothing will move, so it is easier to succeed if you work carefully.

The following course is one I created previously.

The content of this course is such that even beginners can create anime, but the course below has more basic content.

Please take a look at both if you're interested.

Creating a new canvas

First, create a new canvas by going to File > New.

 

Click the Animation button under Purpose of work, and create a file with the following settings:

 

Original size 1200x1080 72dpi

 

Timeline

 

Frame rate 10

 

Playback time 50

 

 

A new canvas for animation has been created.

Next, delete Layer 1 from the Layer window so that only the Animation folder is left.

Next, create a folder.

Duplicate the animation folder so that it has a layer structure like this.

Change the animation folder names to "People" and "Background" as shown below.

Open the Timeline window: Press Window > Timeline.

The timeline was displayed

This time we will create a walking motion using an illustration like this.

If you don't want to bother drawing, you can practice animation using the image of a girl below.

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Displaying an image on a canvas

Background:1 > Place your desired background image in folder 1.

At this time, make sure that folder 1 contains the desired image.

If there is no image in the folder, it may not be displayed on the canvas.

Select the background folder in the Timeline window.

With the background folder selected, click the button shown in the image below.

Pay close attention to the pop-up window, select "1" and press OK.

The image is displayed on the canvas

Repeat the steps above to make the person appear.

Put a single image of a person in the People:1 > 1 folder.

Make sure the layers are configured as shown below.

As we did earlier in the process of displaying the background, you can display the person by pressing the part shown in the image below.

If you are having trouble with the process of displaying an image on the canvas, please take a look at this tutorial.

The steps are explained in a bit more detail.

Set a keyframe

From here we will start working on moving the character with keyframes.

Before that, let's briefly explain what keyframes are.

What are keyframes?

For example, when creating a scene where a character waves their hand, you set the initial and final positions of the hand as keyframes.

The software will then automatically create the movement in between, creating a smooth animation.

Keyframes are a convenient function that allows you to do things like the above.

 

Now let's get back to the main topic.

First, select the Object tool in the Tools window.

Enable keyframes

Look closely at the Timeline window.

Select the People folder.

Click the part shown in the image below.

This button will enable keyframes for the layer.

You've now enabled keyframes for the layer.

 

 

When you enable keyframes, a crosshair will appear as shown in the image.

If you don't see the crosshair, make sure you have the Object tool selected in the Tools window.

Now you are ready to easily create a walking motion.

Creating walking motion using keyframes

Click around the area shown in the image below.

In other words, make sure to select the first frame.

Basically, if you haven't touched the timeline even once up to this point, it will be in this state by default.

However, please note that if you touch the timeline even a little, it will collapse from this state.

 

Look closely at the second image below and make sure there are no differences with your own work screen.

For beginners, even a bar in a slightly different position may cause the animation to not run properly.

Return to the canvas screen and move the cross part.

The cross part can be moved with the object tool.

Make sure to align it with the center of the character.

The image moves from the cross mark, so aligning the cross mark is an important process.

Key Points

Make sure to align the crosshairs with the character at this point. Trying to align the crosshairs with the character later will result in failure.

Caution!

If you enable keyframes, you will be unable to draw.

If you want to draw again, please disable keyframes.

When you move the cross with the Object tool, a mark like the one below will appear in the Timeline window.

Next, click on the part below to move the red bar.

In terms of frame number, this is frame 31.

 

 

Next, make sure that the Object tool is currently selected.

While in this state, look at the Tool Properties window.

You should see an option for Magnification.

Set the magnification to 105 horizontal and 105 vertical.

As shown in the image below, move the red bar back to the beginning of the timeline (first frame) and press the triangular play button to check the movement.

You should be able to see that the person gets larger as time passes.

Creating an up and down movement

Next, we will create the up and down swaying movement that occurs when walking.

Create a new folder and place the People folder inside it.

Be careful not to place the Background folder inside it.

Make sure to create a layer structure like this.

Leave the newly created folder selected in the Layer window.

Now keep your eyes on the Timeline window.

Click on the part marked ② in the image below. This will return the red bar to the first frame.

Next, click on the part marked ③ to activate the keyframe.

The above steps allow you to apply double keyframes to the "People Folder" and the "Folder".

This is a convenient method, so it's good to remember it for future reference.

 

 

Following the previous step, the D-pad should now appear on the canvas again.

Move the cross to the centre of the character.

If you look at the "Folder" item in the Timeline window, you should be able to confirm that a keyframe has been set.

All that's left to do is use the tool options to make the character shake up and down at the right time to complete the walking animation.

We will add keyframes to the timeline.

As shown in the image below, move the red stick to the desired frame.

Press the button where it says "click" in the image below to add a keyframe.

 

While moving the red stick, press the keyframe button and add 13 keyframes one by one as shown in the image below.

If you can add keyframes as shown in the image below, you have succeeded.

To make it easier to see, I've coloured the keyframes we will be operating on in yellow.

By adjusting the properties of the keyframes coloured yellow in the image below, we will create the action of moving the image up and down.

Click on one of the keyframes shown in yellow. Leave the Object Property tool selected.

Please pay close attention to the Tool Property window.

We are going to change the Position y value in the Tool Property window.

Add 17px to the current y value.

In other words, if the current y value is 540, change it to 557.

Set this for all of the keyframes shown in yellow in the image below. (Change Position y to 557px)

You don't need to touch the blue keyframes.

This allows us to create a motion that sways up and down when walking.

Timeline seconds adjustment

Next, adjust the number of seconds on the timeline.

While keeping your eye on the Timeline window, press the ellipses and open Timeline > Change Settings.

Set the End Frame to 30.

Click the play button to play the video

If it moves as shown below, then the walking motion has been successfully created.

Caution!

 

Keyframes can be very heavy when played on a tablet and may freeze.

 

In that case, select File > Export Animation and save the movie file.

 

Check the video by looking at the exported movie file.

The key point in this tutorial is that separate keyframes are set for the gradual expansion of the character as they walk towards you, and for the character swaying up and down as they walk.

By overlapping the keyframes twice, we have made it easier to make fine adjustments later.

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Advanced

By adding a difference image, you can make the walking motion look even more realistic.

Instructions on how to add images are explained in this tutorial.