


If your child…
This challenge gives them a clear, step-by-step win.

In 5 days, your child will have the opportunity to:
Develop a simple animation idea
Design a character or object
Animate it with real motion
Add simple polish
Export a finished 5-second animated scene
Small project. Big confidence.
*inside our full Academy, students build more complex 10–20 second comprehensive animated scenes over a 12 week process — but this is where it starts.
Check out some of our student-made creative work
student made character and walk cycle animation

Day 1: Idea + Planning – LIVE Kickoff Meeting (recording included).
Day 2: Character + Setup
Day 3: Key Poses
Day 4: Movement
Day 5: Finish + LIVE Showcase on Day 5 (recording included).
Short daily lessons (5–12 minutes).

student made character and walk cycle animation


Recommended (best experience):
• Any digital device (Mac or Windows computer, iPad or Android tablet, iPhone or Android smart phone, Chromebook, or Kindle Fire)
• RoughAnimator App ($7.99)
• If on Mac/Windows: any Wacom-style tablet with stylus works (XP-Pen, Huion, Gaomon, etc.)
• If on iPad: an Apple pencil or compatible drawing stylus, or can draw with finger
• If on mobile touchscreen device: compatible drawing stylus, or can draw with finger
*Important: Don’t buy anything yet if you’re unsure. Start with what you already have.
**For most ideal setup using what you already have: see "Recommended Setup" at the bottom of this page
student art by Angeline S.

🔓 RoughAnimator Quickstart (45 minutes)
• Make your first simple animation fast.
• Learn the core tools of RoughAnimator without overwhelm.
• Perfect for beginners.
Valued at $49!

student art by Angeline S.


We prioritize:
• A moderated environment
• Encouraging, constructive feedback
• Process over perfection
• Students learning side-by-side at different levels
• Parents are welcome to join with challenge with their child or teen




To participate in this program, the student and the parent/legal guardian are entering into the following contractual agreement.
MARCH 24-28, 2026
SCHEDULE INCLUDES:
MARCH 24 TUESDAY – Day 1: Idea + Planning
LIVE 1st Lesson Kickoff meeting on ZOOM with getting started Q&A
5:00-6:00PM Mountain Time
(4pm Pacific / 6pm Central / 7pm Eastern)
(recording included)
MARCH 25 WEDNESDAY – Day 2: Character + Setup
Short video lesson (5–12 minutes)
MARCH 26 THURSDAY – Day 3: Key Poses
Short video lesson (5–12 minutes)
MARCH 27 FRIDAY – Day 4: Movement
Short video lesson (5–12 minutes)
MARCH 28 SATURDAY – Day 5: LIVE Showcase on ZOOM + closing Q&A
5:00-6:00PM Mountain Time
(4pm Pacific / 6pm Central / 7pm Eastern)
(recording included)
To participate in this program, the student and the parent/legal guardian are entering into the following contractual agreement.
After signing up, you will receive a welcome email with all the details. If you don't see it, please check your spam/junk folder. We will also send the info by SMS/text to be sure you receive it.
You'll receive a link for the Student Info Registration Form to be filled out before first class.
Student's, get ready to animate!
*start with what you have – upgrade tools later if your child loves it.
BLANK PAPER, PENCILS, SHARPENER, and an ERASER.
A DIGITAL DEVICE TO DRAW, DESIGN, AND ANIMATE WITH – ONE of the following:
• Desktop or laptop computer (Windows or Mac) – with a drawing tablet*.
8MB RAM minimum is recommended for the apps to work well.
• iPad Pro – with an Apple Pencil (or compatible drawing stylus).
Apple Pencil ONLY works with the iPad Pro
• Touchscreen Chromebook – with a drawing stylus.
8MB RAM minimum is recommended for the apps to work well
• Touchscreen Mobile Device – with a drawing stylus.
Smart phone or tablet (older iPad, iPhone, Android, or Kindle Fire) with a drawing stylus: We recommend the Adonit Pro drawing stylus available on their website for $30 Also, right now the Adonit Droid is available on clearance for $15. Test the RoughAnimator App on your mobile device to make sure that your device can support it. If RoughAnimator will not work well, other animation apps probably will not work on that device either.
*IMPORTANT NOTE about drawing tablets for Windows or Mac computers, either of the following options will work:
• Wacom drawing tablet – for Windows or Mac computers.
You can find a good starter one on the Wacom website or on Amazon for approx $39. The Wacom Intuos S is a good starter tablet. Alternative options for drawing tablets include Cintiq, XP-Pen, Huion, and Gaomon.
• iPad Pro and Apple Pencil with Astro Pad Studio.
If you already own an iPad Pro and a Windows or Mac computer, this is an alternative option to provide a drawing tablet that will allow you to use Windows and Mac only apps like Toon Boom Harmony, that do not run on an iPad or mobile device. With this option, you will not need to buy a Wacom drawing tablet.
ANIMATION APP – RoughAnimator ($8).
We recommend every student have RoughAnimator installed on your device to follow along with class demonstrations. We work primarily with RoughAnimator in this challenge and will provide a bonus lesson to teach you how to use it.
OpenToonz is a free industry standard alternative for Mac or Windows computers. We have a list of easy-to-follow video tutorials to help students get started using OpenToonz for any enrolled student who requests it.
In additional to RoughAnimator, you are welcome to use other animation apps if you already know how to use them. We do not teach how to use the following apps but you are welcome to use them for this challenge –
Other recommendable Windows and Mac 2D animation apps include: TV Paint, Clip Studio Paint EX, Krita, FireAlpaca, Flipbook, Pencil2D, and Blender.
Other recommendable iPad animation apps include: Procreate Dreams, Toon Squid, Callipeg, FlipaClip, and Clip Studio Paint EX.
A DIGITAL DEVICE WITH INTERNET ACCESS AND THE ZOOM APP installed to connect to and participate in our live online meetings – it can be the same device used for #2 above, but it is often easier to follow along if these devices are separate.