Brand says A seven-year-old asked me to make the dragon 'purple, but louder.' I've been thinking about it for a week. I think they're right.
How to make a cartoon with your kids (they direct, you type)
To make a cartoon with your kids, start with one silly idea, write three short scenes together, then let the kids direct: each child gets a turn to change one thing ("make the dragon purple!") while a grown-up types. Keep it short and hold a premiere at the end.
Your idea, ready to go“A silly 20-second cartoon my kids dreamed up: a pickle who wants to be a pirate, a very small boat, and a sandwich island.”
Make this filmSign up takes a minute. The idea is filled in, and you can change every word.
Most kids have never been asked what they think a film should look like. Ask them once, and you will discover a tiny director with very strong opinions about dragons. Making a cartoon with your kids is a great rainy afternoon because it mixes the fun parts of playing pretend with the thrill of being in charge. You bring the patience and the typing. They bring the purple.
This guide is about kids directing a film live: how to start, how to share turns without a riot, which notes work best, and what they quietly learn about stories along the way. It works with paper and a phone, and there is a quicker way near the end.
How do you make a cartoon with kids?
Start with one silly idea, write three short scenes together (a beginning, a problem, an ending), and make a first version. Then let the kids direct: they watch, they say what to change, and you make the change. Keep the film short, give everyone turns, and finish with a proper screening. That's the whole method.
The magic is the loop. Kids see their idea on screen, react, and change it. "Bigger!" "Slower!" "Can the cat wear a hat?" Every change makes a new version, so they see cause and effect right away. Grown-up film crews work the same way, just with more coffee.
Why do kids love directing a cartoon?
Because they are the boss, and they rarely get to be. In a live cartoon session, a child's words change what happens on screen. Saying "make the dragon purple!" and then seeing a purple dragon is powerful for a six-year-old. It turns watching into doing, and "no screens" arguments into "my turn!" arguments, which are more productive.
How do kids take turns directing without fighting?
Give each child one change per turn, in a clear order, and make the rules part of the game. A "director's hat" or a spoon as a microphone works wonders: only the person holding it gives a note. Everyone else watches, then it passes on. Nobody can undo someone else's note until the next round.
| Rule | Why it works |
|---|---|
| One change per turn | Keeps it fair and keeps each version easy to compare |
| The hat decides who talks | A physical object ends the "but I said it first" debate |
| No undoing on the same round | Stops the purple/green dragon war from looping forever |
| The writer gets the last word | Whoever had the original idea approves the final version |
| Everyone gets a credit | "Directed by Sam, Ada and Grandpa" at the end, read out loud |
What should kids say to change the cartoon?
Plain, simple notes work best: one change at a time, said clearly. Help younger kids by offering choices ("faster or slower?"), and help older kids say why ("slower, so we can see the dragon's face"). Here are notes kids love giving:
- Color notes "Make the dragon purple." "Make the sky pink like strawberry milk."
- Speed notes "Faster!" "Slow down at the scary part." Kids instantly feel the difference.
- Size notes "Make the cake way bigger." Size is funny, and big cakes are always funnier.
- Mood notes "Make it calmer." "Make it sillier." A great way to talk about how films make us feel.
- Sound notes "Happier music!" "Spookier music!" Most kids have excellent taste in dramatic music.
- Story notes "The cat should win." "Add a surprise at the end." For older kids ready to change the plot.
What do kids learn from making a cartoon?
They learn how stories are built: a beginning, a problem and an ending. They learn that every change has a result, that one clear note beats five mumbled ones, and that other people's ideas can make a film better. They also practice waiting their turn, which, frankly, is the hardest skill in any film crew.
"Can we make it again, but the cat is the villain?" is the sound of a kid discovering storytelling.
How do you run a rainy-afternoon cartoon session?
- Step 1
Pick one idea together. One sentence, voted on: "A dragon who is scared of birthday candles."
- Step 2
Write three scenes. Beginning, problem, ending. One sentence each, in the kids' words.
- Step 3
Make version one. Draw it and film it, or have it drawn for you.
- Step 4
Direct in rounds. Pass the hat. One change per kid per round, until everyone is happy (or it's snack time).
- Step 5
Premiere. Dim the lights, read the credits out loud, and bow.
Directing a cartoon live in Nine
This is where Nine is genuinely fun for kids: the drawn film, with a voice, music and sound effects, is made while you watch. Type your three scenes as A script, where each paragraph becomes a scene, or start from Just an idea. Then the kids direct. They shout "make the dragon purple!" or "faster!", you type exactly what they said in plain words, and a new version comes back. Older kids can use the chamber on a phone to move things, change colors and pace, or try another take of the music.
Be clear with the kids up front: films are short (up to 20 seconds on Film, $29 a month), and each change makes a new version, not a live puppet show. No photos of anyone are needed, and you keep the video file. See pricing or try it.
More to try: turn your child's story into a cartoon, make a cartoon starring your kid, fun family video project ideas, and how to give notes on a film (the grown-up version).
Questions people ask
What age can kids start making cartoons?
Kids as young as three can pick colors and shout "faster!" with great joy. From about five, they can help invent the story. From eight or so, many can write short scenes and give specific notes. Match the job to the age, and let the youngest ones have the easiest, most visible changes.
Can you make a cartoon with kids without drawing skills?
Yes. Kids' own drawings filmed on a phone make charming cartoons, and so do toys moved one step at a time. You can also have a drawn film made from your words, so the kids focus on ideas and directing instead of on drawing every frame.
How long does a kids' cartoon session take?
Plan for about an hour: ten minutes for the idea, ten for the scenes, and the rest for making, directing rounds and the premiere. Stop while everyone is still having fun. You can always continue the story next rainy day as episode two.
How do I stop siblings arguing over the cartoon?
Use clear turns and one object that decides who talks, like a hat or a spoon microphone. One change per turn, no undoing someone's change in the same round, and everyone gets a name in the credits. Fairness you can see prevents most fights.
Is a cartoon-making session screen time?
It involves a screen, but it is very different from watching cartoons. Kids are thinking, talking, deciding and taking turns, then watching the result of their own ideas. Many parents treat it like a craft project. As always, use common sense about how much screen time suits your family.
Your idea, ready to go“A silly 20-second cartoon my kids dreamed up: a pickle who wants to be a pirate, a very small boat, and a sandwich island.”
Make this filmSign up takes a minute. The idea is filled in, and you can change every word.
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