HELP WITH ANIMATING!?

[Coyote Ugly]

hey, so i have always wanted to learn to animate, like my animal characters... like cartoonish form, so, i wanna know a beginners drawing tablet that hooks up to the computer that isnt very expensive, and an aniation program that isnt too expensive like photoshop or whatever like where you can see the layers all pro like 'n stuff... like how much is photoshop program? im really tired of trying to animate with my stinkin mouse and guestimate where the layer is cause i use paint! its a pain in the butt!! please im not looking for a super expensive tablet thing, and it has to be only sensred to the pen, because i will lean on it and i dont want it to like electronically smudge my computer drawing haha idk if that is even possible! it just worries me though lol thank you!! ♥♥

[Coyote Ugly]

buump

[Coyote Ugly]

bump

[aftonbuilt]

I would suggest a wacom tablet, but I would have to check the pricing on them first.. I would try searching on amazon for one.
also, i recommend using firealpaca or paint tool sai for a drawing program, rather than paint. you can make things transparent with sai and FA.
i mostly use photoshop for my animations, but i received it from someone so I don't know how much it costs.. i would suggest checking if GIMP can animate files/create gifs, and if it can, then I suggest downloading that, since it's free. \o/

[santinel]

It's great you want to learn animating!
For a tablet, I've only ever used Wacom's, so I don't really have any other suggestions for you there. Wacom is great though! Probably the most known tablet producers out there, definitely one of the most reliable. They're not too expensive, either, and they'll last a while.
Photoshop on the other hand, is super-expensive. As the person over me suggests, drawing in FireAlpaca or paint tool sai and then animating in a different program is definitely a good idea.

[aftonbuilt]

I wanted to add: MSPaint only has one layer, which is why I suggest SAI or FireAlpaca, since those can have an infinite (probably) number of layers and better tool options. SAI is my preferred program for drawing the frames that I load into photoshop before posting them.

I just wanna say this: Animation takes a really, really long time. I used to animate little cat icons and draw them frame by frame, and that could take me well over two hours depending on the design. So if you're willing to sacrifice a chunk of your time, I say go for it, and I wish you luck!

[meowool]

I would suggest a wacom tablet, but I would have to check the pricing on them first.. I would try searching on amazon for one.
also, i recommend using firealpaca or paint tool sai for a drawing program, rather than paint. you can make things transparent with sai and FA.
i mostly use photoshop for my animations, but i received it from someone so I don't know how much it costs.. i would suggest checking if GIMP can animate files/create gifs, and if it can, then I suggest downloading that, since it's free. \o/

GIMP can I think...but I never figured it out, so I draw each frame in GIMP, and export it in ascending order so it's in order to animate. Then chuck it into WMM or VideoPad.

I have a Bamboo Pen. (Now Intuos Pen.) and it was about £70 new with Artrage.

[charmens]

There are a few free online sites that you can upload images to create an animation.
I animated the dragon in photoshop... it took over 26 frames, all slightly different T.T

How ever if you wanted to create a blink or breath, it would be maybe 4-8 frames.

[Coyote Ugly]

wow thank you everyone sooo much!! from my conclusion to all your answers, i will try to buy myself a wacom tablet! wow! they ar only 88 dollars on amazon!! and i can try to find firealpaca or sai for my computer! And yes i do plan on taking days to work on stuff hahaha i just have so much extra time, that i have no idea what to do with! ♥♥ thanks sooo much everyone, and ill most likely download java 'n stuff so then i can do drawings on cs to make editables! i like drawing wolves ALOT and dogs, mainly because thats the best thing i can draw haha but i realllly do thank everyone who reply'd it does mean so much!! so be ready for some cool drawings on here in my gallery but i have to save up about 90 or 100 but i only have 20 right now and i hardely EVER get money haha i am offering jobs for people around the neighborhood to work for bales of hay. O.o haha i loove hay so much

[charmens]

wow thank you everyone sooo much!! from my conclusion to all your answers, i will try to buy myself a wacom tablet! wow! they ar only 88 dollars on amazon!! and i can try to find firealpaca or sai for my computer! And yes i do plan on taking days to work on stuff hahaha i just have so much extra time, that i have no idea what to do with! ♥♥ thanks sooo much everyone, and ill most likely download java 'n stuff so then i can do drawings on cs to make editables! i like drawing wolves ALOT and dogs, mainly because thats the best thing i can draw haha but i realllly do thank everyone who reply'd it does mean so much!! so be ready for some cool drawings on here in my gallery but i have to save up about 90 or 100 but i only have 20 right now and i hardely EVER get money haha i am offering jobs for people around the neighborhood to work for bales of hay. O.o haha i loove hay so much

psssssssssssssttttt
if you want to use your pen on here you would also have to download j-pen driver XD free and makes pens work in java