Animate It! App Review
Animate it! is an essential app for anyone who loves animation, especially those of you like me who, when stuck with time to kill, wish you could make a quick animation.
Available from the iTunes store for £1.99 and compatible with iPads iPhones and newer iPod Touch models, Aardman’s app couldn’t be simpler. One click to open the app and you are ready to begin your animation; the camera function loads automatically – all you need now is something or someone to animate!
In one touch of the screen and you can adjust the focus, exposure and white balance allowing for high quality images to be captured for your film. A very simple tool bar along the bottom of the screen allows you to control the rest: a pink camera symbol which allows you to grab frames, a refresh button to recap the last two frames of the animation to you, a play button to allow you to watch the animation so far, a copy button which copies and pastes the last frame again, undo to delete the previous frame and finally an export button in which you can chose from three export sizes including 720p HD quality.
Underneath this toolbar is a timeline of your grabbed frames which you can scroll through and select if you wish to delete or copy certain frames at a later stage. At the top of the screen is a settings menu which comprises of two options: project settings, which allows you to select aspect ratio, base frame rate and playback frame rate and timelapse in which you can essentially set up the iPad as a self timer. The playback frame rate is adjustable, it begins at 25 fps, ideal for those more than competent at animating but can be slowed right down to 4.17 fps, making it ideal for children. This feature is a particular highlight of Animate it! as it ensures the app is really accessible for all ages. It is particularly suitable for a younger audience, as the slower frame rate option allows them to let their imagination flow freely and not be troubled by duplicating frames and jerky movements, as I have found is so often the problem with other basic, low cost stop motion software.
However, the best thing about the app is the onion skin layering feature, which occurs automatically once you have taken a picture. This allows you to effectively control the movement more effectively, thus creating higher quality animations.
Overall, I was incredibly impressed by this app. I am not a particularly technologically minded person, having very little experience using apps, so you really can trust me when I say just how simple it was to use. Literally within a few minutes of purchasing the app I was able to set up an ordinary desk lamp and plasticine model and get animating. My only wish was that I had some kind of iPad stand or tripod, I am sure such things probably do exist as this would have spared the aching arms of my poor friend who was required to hold the device still while I animated.
Animate it! is a fantastic idea and a clever creation. It will not only inspire children of all ages and ability to get creative and make their own films but also provide them with a hands on experience of how their favourite programmes are created, such as Rastamouse and Shaun the Sheep. Although predominantly aimed at children, as I mentioned previously the app’s appeal ranges much further than this, as many of us animation fanatics will revel in its ability to create quick and simple animations on the go. Indeed, since purchasing the app I just can’t get enough of it and have already made several animations. Aardman have created something very special with Animate it!, a quality app which is easy to use and has endless appeal. Buy the app for yourself, gift it for a friend and get busy creating your own animations in minutes!