# Low-End Mac Application for Creating Stick-Fgure, Annimated Shorts **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-end-mac-application-for-creating-stick-fgure-annimated-shorts/508224 "2009-08-30T03:10:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![King\_Might](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e8cbc/32.png) [@King\_Might](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Might)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-end-mac-application-for-creating-stick-fgure-annimated-shorts/508224/1 "2009-08-30T03:10:10Z")
I have a silly joke that I’d like to turn into a simple, lo-fi, stick-figure annimation. I’m thinking of the animation equivalent of iMovie as opposed to Final Cut Pro. Would anyone be able to recommend an application for this task? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-end-mac-application-for-creating-stick-fgure-annimated-shorts/508224/2 "2009-08-30T04:33:50Z")
Maybe [Pencil](http://www.pencil-animation.org/)? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-end-mac-application-for-creating-stick-fgure-annimated-shorts/508224/3 "2009-08-30T05:07:03Z")
King Might, did you mean to start a new thread about the animation software? I don’t really have a free suggestion, but maybe check some shareware sites, and search with keywords like ‘2D animation’ or ‘onion skinning’. The more commercial packages are apps like Adobe Flash, or Toon Boom Studio. Or, you can always do it the long way, and draw each frame in something like PhotoShop, then save all the layers as an animated gif. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-end-mac-application-for-creating-stick-fgure-annimated-shorts/508224/4 "2009-08-30T12:53:54Z")
I dunno if \*\*Pivot Sitckfigure Animator \*\*works for MAc ---
**Author:** ![King\_Might](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e8cbc/32.png) [@King\_Might](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Might)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-end-mac-application-for-creating-stick-fgure-annimated-shorts/508224/5 "2009-08-30T12:58:05Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > I dunno if \*\*Pivot Sitckfigure Animator \*\* works for MAc Unfortunately, it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-end-mac-application-for-creating-stick-fgure-annimated-shorts/508224/6 "2009-08-30T19:20:03Z")
Graphic Converter could do this, though it takes some poking around to figure out all of the steps needed. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Might](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e8cbc/32.png) [@King\_Might](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Might)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-end-mac-application-for-creating-stick-fgure-annimated-shorts/508224/7 "2009-08-30T20:28:32Z")
Im willing to pay for the software if I have to. I know I said I was looking for something down and dirty, but I think I’m going to need slightly more advanced tools, for example the ability to create a library of characters with with pre-defined movements and joints. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-end-mac-application-for-creating-stick-fgure-annimated-shorts/508224/8 "2009-08-30T20:35:29Z")
Have you seen this: [Stykz](http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/30298)? ---
**Author:** ![King\_Might](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e8cbc/32.png) [@King\_Might](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Might)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-end-mac-application-for-creating-stick-fgure-annimated-shorts/508224/9 "2009-08-30T22:08:50Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Have you seen this: [Stykz](http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/30298)? I’m playing with it now. It’s 98% of the way there. It doesn’t seem to be able to save a series of frames and repeat them in a different location. For example, having a stick figure walk across the screen. Thanks.