Join the waiting list · New online course
Make Your Own Films with Cutout Animation!
Unlock your imagination and become a filmmaker with this century-old technique.
Have you ever wanted to see your drawings come to life onscreen? If you have pencils, paper, scissors and a phone, you’re ready to begin! In this course I will walk you through everything you need to know to create your own cinematic world completely by hand, no experience necessary.
Join the waiting list for first access and a special early-bird discount.
Now showing
Drawn by hand. Moved frame by frame.
Every element of my films is drawn or painted by hand, then moved one tiny step at a time under the camera. Here’s how it all comes together:
- Production
- Animal Math
- Director
- Robbie C. Ward
- Medium
- Paper cutout
- Premiere
- Fantastic Fest ’25
Animal Math is a handmade short film that premiered at Fantastic Fest 2025. Press play to watch the trailer.
Fig. 1 · Every scene starts as a drawing on the worktable.
The course
What You Will Learn
No studio, animation background or expensive software needed. You’ll learn how to design paper characters, cut and hinge them, build layered scenes and shoot your own short film, one frame at a time.
100 years of cutoutsThe oldest surviving animated feature film, Lotte Reiniger’s The Adventures of Prince Achmed, was made from cut paper in 1926. You’ll be using the same basic tools: paper, scissors, light and patience.
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Design Characters Made to Move
Plan your puppet in pieces: heads, jaws, limbs and wings that hinge, swap and come alive.
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Choose the Right Materials
Decide which papers, pencils and paints are right for you and your project.
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Cut and Hinge Your Puppets
Clean cuts with a craft knife, joints that move smoothly and replacement parts for new expressions.
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Build Layered Worlds
Backgrounds, foregrounds and depth, so every scene feels like a place you could step into.
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Shoot and Finish Your Film
Set up a camera and lights at home, animate in tiny steps, then edit your shots into a short film.
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Fix What Goes Wrong
Jittery motion, glare, wobbling sets and torn joints: how to spot them early and fix them fast.
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Learn at Your Own Pace
Lifetime access to all lessons, plus an early-bird discount for everyone on the waiting list.
From sketch to screen
How a cutout film gets made
These are the five stages we’ll go through together, straight from my worktable.
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Stage 1
Planning
Storyboard your film, design characters, and break it down into easy steps.
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Stage 2
Build your puppet
Draw and cut out separate components to create expressive characters.
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Stage 3
Assemble your scene
Layer the cutouts to create an immersive environment for your characters.
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Stage 4
Lights, Camera, Action!
Accurately photograph your artwork and bring your creations to life, frame by frame.
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Stage 5
Roll out the red carpet
Edit your shots into a finished film, and get ready to share your creativity with the world.
Your teacher
Hi, I’m Robbie!
I’m a self-taught illustrator, animator, and musician from Colorado. For several years I played keyboards and designed visuals for the electronic rock band DEDSA, before leaving to focus on creating my own handmade films.
My work draws on a wide array of influences, from classic children’s books to Japanese monster movies, medieval art, Tolkien, and beyond. I also teach animation workshops and speak to students about the importance of preserving traditional techniques in the age of AI.
This course is everything I’ve learned about turning drawings into films, from the first sketch to the final frame.
Doors open soon
Your first film starts with paper.
Begin your filmmaking journey today. Who knows where it will take you?
Join the Waiting List