Skip to main content

Animation basics: Homemade special effects - TED-Ed

171,053 Views

9,479 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Animation is used everywhere to communicate big ideas--in movies, television, and media. Do you ever stop and wonder about the magic of it all? And have you ever wanted to create your own special effects? TED-Ed animators show just how easy (and fun) homemade special effects can be.

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Narrator Jordan Reeves
  • Director Lisa LaBracio, Aaron Hughes
  • Animator Celeste Lai
Avatar for Jordan Reeves
Lesson in progress

What other do-it-yourself special effects can you think of?

Comments are closed on this discussion.

Avatar for Jayden Bowman
Lesson completed

You could overlay props and other objects like paper crafts or figures on top of the video to add another layer to the illusion of whatever you're making.


Avatar for Anna Mcqueen
Lesson completed

Using multiple pieces of papers and drawing a small character and drawing them over and over to mimic their movements.


Avatar for Bree Bashaw
Lesson in progress

Moving backgrounds maybe hand drawn


Avatar for Savannah Jarrett
Lesson in progress

go in a kitchen cabinet and come out a different cabinet


Avatar for 지욱 장
Lesson completed

Jump and appear at celling.


Avatar for raahim memon
Lesson completed

I know that for photography you need to use slow shutter speed but I wonder how they combined this with video, the result was that in the video the characher was light painting. Was the video made from multiple photos?


Avatar for gabe w
Lesson completed

To make an explosion you could use red construction paper and cotten balls


Avatar for Carla Cheshire
Lesson completed

you could do a front flip


Avatar for Carla Cheshire
Lesson completed

You can use Action Movie FX which is a cool app.


Avatar for Teodora Mladin
Lesson completed

Using coloured filters (i.e. coloured translucent foil) and change the colours of the entire scene.

Loading...

More from Animation Basics