Animation Studio · With Tek
How to make a movie
Make a movie is a course of six short films hosted by Tek. Your kid draws a star on paper, then moves room by room through Animation Studio until a finished short film is ready to watch with family. The films take about six minutes; the making takes about an hour.
How to make a movie is part of Kubrio Learn: short courses that inspire kids to make things. Learn more
Watch all 6 lessons in the appWhat your kid makes
Your kid ends with a finished short film: their own drawings, animated, with voices, music, a poster, and their name on it. It plays at a family premiere and stays in the kid's projects. The same star can come back for a longer movie with 8 scenes, or move into Game Studio or Comic Studio.
- Ages
- 6 to 13
- Time
- 6 films, about 6 minutes, then about an hour of making
- You need
- Paper, pencil, crayons or colored pencils (optional)
- Host
- Tek
The 6 lessons
Lesson 1. Your star
Think like a writer: a name, one wish, someone in the way.
- Draw your star on paper
- Give your star a name and one wish
- Draw who or what stands in the way
Where: Animation Studio · Characters
Lesson 2. The storyboard
Split the story, draw each part, pick your shot.
- Split your story into 3 scenes
- Draw each scene on paper
- Pick close up or far away for each one
Where: Animation Studio · Storyboard
In the app
Lesson 3. Sound
Who talks, what they feel, and short lines.
- Pick who talks in each scene
- Pick how they feel
- Write one short line for each
Where: Animation Studio · Sound
In the app
Lesson 4. On the set
Shoot, check each scene, keep it or shoot again.
- Shoot your first scene
- Watch it and check it
- Keep it or shoot it again
Where: Animation Studio · Set
In the app
Lesson 5. The poster
A short title, one big picture, and your name.
- Pick a short title
- Choose one big picture
- Add your name
Where: Animation Studio · Poster
In the app
Lesson 6. The premiere
Send it to family, dim the lights, press play.
- Send your movie to family
- Dim the lights
- Press play and watch together
Where: Animation Studio · Premiere
In the app
Lesson 1 transcript: Your star
Every great movie has someone you care about. That's your star.
Writers don't start with the story. They start with the character.
Step one. Draw your star. Follow a guide, or draw anything you like.
Step two. Give them a name. A good name tells you something. Boo is short, and a little bit spooky.
Step three. Give them one wish. What do they want most? Boo wants to scare someone, just once.
Step four. Add someone in the way. A sleepy cat who never, ever gets scared!
When your star wants something, and something's in the way, you have a story. So, who's your star?
Free guides to practise with
Questions parents ask
What age is this course for?
It's made for kids 6–13. Younger kids can draw and talk while a grown-up reads the screen; older kids usually run every room on their own.
How much screen time is it?
The six films take about six minutes in total. Most of the making happens on paper first, and the studio turns those drawings into the film.
What if my kid can't draw well?
Any drawing works, even a stick figure. The film uses your kid's drawing as it is, so the idea matters more than the lines.