How to Create Animated Cartoon Videos with AI: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to create animated cartoon videos using AI tools step-by-step. From scripting and voiceovers to character animation and editing—no experience needed!

Are you ready to bring your imagination to life and make animated cartoon videos that are funny, educational, and perfect for kids? In this guide, you’ll learn how to create captivating cartoon videos using AI—no animation or voiceover skills required.

Many content creators are using these videos to gain millions of views on YouTube—and with the tools we’ll share here, you can do the same. From writing scripts to generating character animations, every step is simplified with the help of AI tools. Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Create Your Story with AI

If you already have a script, you can skip this step. If not, use an AI tool like GravityWrite. It’s designed specifically for creating children’s video scripts. Just input the topic of your video, select a theme, choose the age group of your audience, and define how many characters you want in your story.

GravityWrite will generate a complete, detailed, and engaging script for your animated video. Once done, paste it into Google Docs so you’re ready for the next step.

Step 2: Generate Voiceovers for Your Characters

With your script ready, it’s time to give your characters a voice using ElevenLabs—an AI-powered voice generation tool. Here’s how:

1. Sign up on the ElevenLabs website.

2. Choose a voice that matches your character (for example, a soft voice for a rabbit or a playful tone for a goat).

3. Copy each line of dialogue from your script and paste it into the tool.

4. Generate the voiceover and download it.

5. Repeat for each line and each character, keeping audio files organized by name.

Now, you have realistic voiceovers for your animated characters.

Step 3: Create Cartoon Characters with AI

No animation skills? No problem. AI tools like Adobe Express make it easy.

1. Choose a character model (for example, a rabbit for Bunny or a goat for Goaty).

2. Change the background to green to make editing easier later.

3. Upload the character’s voice file that you generated in Step 2.

4. Adobe Express will animate the character’s mouth and expressions based on the audio.

Do this for each character and every line of dialogue. You’ll soon have short clips of talking animated characters ready to go.

Step 4: Design Animated Backgrounds with Canva

To create immersive environments for your story, use Canva.

1. Open Canva and create a new video project.

2. Choose a background based on your script—for example, a garden or a playground.

3. Add animated elements like trees, clouds, birds, or even custom animations.

4. You can use Canva’s animation features to bring still graphics to life with motion effects.

Download each background separately to make editing easier in the final step.

Step 5: Put It All Together Using CapCut or Clipchamp

Now it’s time to combine everything—characters, voiceovers, and backgrounds—into a complete animated video.

1. Upload all your character videos and background scenes to CapCut or Clipchamp.

2. Place the first background on the timeline.

3. Drag and drop the character video on top. Use the green screen remover to eliminate the background around your character.

4. Align the character with the scene, and add the other character’s reaction beside them.

5. Repeat this for each dialogue segment.

Tip: If a character isn’t speaking in a scene but should be reacting or listening, upload a silent audio file to animate subtle movements like blinking. This adds realism and polish to your video.

Bonus Tip: Add Sound Effects and Transitions

To make your video feel complete:

• Add sound effects like birds chirping, background music, or laughter.

• Use smooth transitions between scenes.

• Sync everything to the flow of your story.

These final touches make a big difference and help hold the viewer’s attention.

Final Thoughts

Creating animated cartoon videos has never been easier, thanks to AI. You don’t need to be an animator or a voice actor—just follow these steps:

• Use GravityWrite to script your story.

• Generate voiceovers with ElevenLabs.

• Animate characters with Adobe Express.

• Design dynamic backgrounds with Canva.

• Edit and assemble everything in CapCut or Clipchamp.

Once finished, your animated video will be ready to share with the world. Whether you’re starting a YouTube channel or just experimenting with storytelling, this method can save you hours of work while producing professional-quality results.