Make your Own Anime

A few months ago, I was watching my favorite anime, and I was completely hooked.

I thought, “How cool would it be to make something like this?”

But I don’t draw or animate, and I had no idea where to start.

I figured it was impossible. Until I discovered a way to actually do it.

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Step 1: Start With the Big Idea

Every anime starts with a killer concept. What’s yours?

Keep it simple but powerful, like the concept for Deadlink: “A rogue task force discovers a dangerous method for finding and eliminating state enemies.”

Think about the kind of world you want to build. Is it sci-fi? A post-apocalyptic wasteland? A high school rom-com?

Define the genre, create a character who has to exist in that world, and outline what makes their journey worth telling.

Here’s a little trick: Imagine describing your anime to someone in 10 seconds. If their eyes light up, you’re onto something.

Step 2: Create Your Anime’s Look

This is where you take your idea and make it live. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a visual artist.

Start with inspiration. Sites like ShotDeck and ArtStation are treasure troves of ideas. Browse through them, select the images that speak to you, and build an entire mood board.

Want to push it further? Use tools like MidJourney, especially its “Niji” model, which was built specifically for anime-style visuals.

This tool lets you turn your ideas into polished, professional-looking concept art.

Step 3: Build the Scenes

Alright, you’ve got the visuals locked down. It’s time to create the scenes themselves.

This part is about generating the anime frames you’ll need, and AI is your secret weapon. In MidJourney, you can use prompts like:

MASTERPIECE, [Your Scene Description], 2020s, ANIME SCREENCAP, CINEMATIC, ULTIMATE DETAILS --AR 16:9 --STYLE EXPRESSIVE --STYLIZE 90 --IW 0.75 --NIJI 5

Replace “[Your Scene Description]” with whatever moment you’re imagining. A quiet forest? A chaotic battle? A tearful goodbye? Experiment until it feels just right.

(And don’t forget to try MidJourney’s mood board feature so you can organize your ideas.)

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Step 4: From Still Images to Moving Anime

Static images are good, but let’s take it further and make them move.

Using a platform like Runway, you can turn your generated frames into videos. It’s as simple as uploading an image and typing prompts like:

• Hair blowing in the wind.

• Eyes narrowing.

• A smirk forming.

Keep your prompts simple. The clearer your instructions, the better the animations will look.

Step 5: Give Your Characters a Voice

Your anime isn’t complete without dialogue, the moments when your characters come alive.

Here’s the secret sauce: tools like Eleven Labs. Write your script, record your lines, and then pick a voice that fits each character’s personality, deep, stoic, bright, and bubbly. The AI will even help you tweak tone and timing to make it ideal.

This step alone will give your anime professional polish.

Step 6: Add Sound and Music That Hits

Music makes everything. Without it, even a good anime feels flat.

For atmospheric sounds, explore libraries like FILM CRUX or Splice. Want tension in battle scenes? Add risers or booming effects. Need to make a moment emotional? Go for soft, subtle tones to pull the audience in.

And don’t forget Foley effects. Every footstep, rustling jacket, or clinking sword builds immersion.

Step 7: Put Everything Together

It’s time for the final step: assembly.

Combine your animations, dialogue, sound effects, and music using editing tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. T

his is where the elements come together, turning your idea into something you can actually share with the world.

Want to take it further? Add text overlays for titles, slow transitions, or effects like lens flares to give your trailer a cinematic feel.

The key here is pacing, and you must balance quiet moments with bursts of intensity to keep your audience hooked.

So, What’s Next?

You don’t need to dream about making your anime anymore. It’s something you can actually do.

With the right tools, you can turn your ideas into stunning visuals, real voices, and immersive worlds.

Whether it’s a short clip, a full trailer, or the first step toward a series, your anime is waiting to be made.

Start with that one thought, that one scene stuck in your head. The rest? It’s just following these steps.