How to write a script

What your kid makes

Your kid ends with a short script on paper: two characters, a feeling for every line, and lines short enough to say out loud. The script can go into Animation Studio's Sound room, where your kid picks who talks, how they feel, and what they say in the movie.

The 4 lessons

1. 

   Lesson 1. Who's talking?

   Pick two characters who want different things.

   1. Pick two characters
   2. Write what each one wants
   3. Make sure they can't both get it

   Where: Paper

   Watch it free above

2. Lesson 2. One feeling per line

   Every line shows one feeling, so the listener knows how the character feels.

   1. Write a feeling next to each name
   2. Write one line that shows that feeling
   3. Swap the feeling and see what changes

   Where: Paper

   In the app

3. Lesson 3. Short and sayable

   If you can't say it in one breath, cut it.

   1. Read each line out loud
   2. Cut any line that runs out of breath
   3. Swap long words for short ones

   Where: Paper

   In the app

4. Lesson 4. Write it like a script

   Name, then a colon, then the line, so anyone can read it and act it. Then bring it to the Sound room.

   1. Write the name, then a colon, then the line
   2. Put what they do in brackets, like (grabs a flashlight)
   3. Read it out loud with a friend

   Where: Paper

   In the app

Lesson 1 transcript: Who's talking?

1. 0:00

   Want your characters to talk? Then you need a script!

2. 0:04

   A script is the words your characters say, written down. Movies and cartoons all start with one.

3. 0:11

   First, pick two characters. Here's Sam. And here's the Shadow on the closet door.

4. 0:18

   What does each one want? Sam wants to sleep. The Shadow wants to be scary.

5. 0:25

   They can't both get it! So they talk, and they argue. That's the fun part!

6. 0:32

   Your turn. Pick two characters. Write what each one wants. Make sure they can't both get it. Then press Next.