Learn the fundamental process of bringing your objects to life in Blender. This guide covers the basics of using keyframes and the timeline to create simple animations.
First, select the object you want to animate in the 3D Viewport. Then, ensure the playhead (the blue vertical line) in the Timeline at the bottom of the screen is at frame 1.
With your object selected, press I on your keyboard. A menu will appear. Choose a property to keyframe, such as Location, Rotation, or Scale. This sets the starting point of your animation.
Click and drag the playhead in the Timeline to a future frame, for example, frame 50. This is the point in time where the object's next state will be recorded.
Move, rotate, or scale your object to its new position. For example, press G to move it, R to rotate it, or S to scale it.
Once the object is in its new state, press I again and select the same property (e.g., Location). Blender will now automatically create the animation between the first and second keyframes.
Go back to frame 1 in the Timeline and press the Spacebar to play your animation and see the object move.
Tips for Better Blender Animation
Enable the Auto-Keying button (circle icon) in the Timeline. Blender will automatically insert keyframes whenever you transform an object on a new frame, saving you time.
For more control over the animation's speed and easing, switch your Timeline to the Graph Editor. You can manipulate the curves (F-Curves) to create more natural and dynamic movements.
The Dope Sheet provides a clear overview of all your keyframes, making it easy to move, scale, and delete them in bulk, especially when animating multiple objects.
In the Output Properties tab, you can set the 'End' frame value to control the total length of your animation playback and final render.
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