How to Create AI Animated Cartoons (Beginner Guide)
Creators · · 4 min read · By The Elsewhere Studios Team
You do not need to know how to draw, animate or edit to make your own cartoon anymore. Creators are building full animated series with AI, with the same characters, the same houses and the same running jokes in every episode.
Here is the beginner-friendly process, from blank page to your first posted episode.
Step 1: Choose your cartoon style
Your style sets the whole mood of the show. On Elsewhere Studios Toons you can pick from looks like a 2000s TV cartoon, classic golden era 2D, 90s anime, a 3D movie look and a Y2K doll style. Choose one and keep it for the whole series.
Step 2: Design your characters
Start with two or three main characters. Pick their hair, outfit and personality in the character builder, and save extra outfits to their wardrobe so they can change clothes between episodes without turning into someone else.
- Give every character a shape you can recognize from far away.
- Give each one a personality in a single line.
- Pair opposites. The calm one and the chaotic one always makes good scenes.
Step 3: Build your locations
Most cartoons live in a few places. A house, a school, a store, a street. Build each set once and reuse it so your world feels real. Sets come out furnished and lived in, ready for your characters to walk into.
Step 4: Write your first episode
Write each scene in one prompt: who is there, where they are, what happens and exactly what they say. The dialogue goes right into the prompt, and your characters speak it on screen.
- Start with a problem in the first five seconds.
- Keep each scene to one moment.
- End on a punchline or a cliffhanger.
Step 5: Generate, add captions and post
Generate each scene, combine them into one episode and turn on captions if you want them. Choose vertical 9:16 for TikTok, Reels and Shorts or wide 16:9 for YouTube, with extra formats like 4:3 for a classic TV feel.
Learn it step by step: the AI Animation Masterclass
Every paid Elsewhere Studios plan includes our Masterclass video courses at no extra cost. The AI Animation Masterclass shows the exact process we use to create viral AI cartoon series, in three lessons:
- Create Your Characters and Locations
- Build Your Show
- Make Your First Episode
Plans start at $19/month and include all three courses: the AI Campaign Masterclass, the AI Story Drama Masterclass and the AI Animation Masterclass. You can watch a short preview of every lesson before you choose a plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I create my own animated cartoon with AI?
Yes. You can design characters and locations, write scenes with dialogue and generate animated episodes, with no drawing or animation skills.
What cartoon styles can I make?
On Elsewhere Studios Toons you can create styles like 2000s TV cartoon, classic 2D, 90s anime, a 3D movie look and a Y2K doll style.
How do I keep my cartoon characters the same in every episode?
Design each character once and reuse them. Toons saves your characters, outfits and sets so they stay consistent across episodes.
Is there a course on making AI cartoons?
Yes. The AI Animation Masterclass covers creating characters and locations, building your show and making your first episode. It is included with every paid plan.
Where should I post AI cartoons?
TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts for vertical episodes, and YouTube for wide episodes.
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