Gather all JPG figures you intend to use for the animation. Check if these files require further polishing and if adding more images is necessary. Whether making a movie, music video, TV commercial, corporate video or any other type of production, animation work is a form of audio-visual storytelling. This means that the primary objective is to tell a story -- to convey a message. The images should be enough to make the project stand on its own technically, creatively and thematically. Use the project's script and story to determine all the images that are required for the animation.
Complete all image requirements for the animation. Organize both the standby JPG figures and the new ones you needed to draw, using file folders.
Open your preferred animation program and create a new project. A popular program for animating JPG files is Adobe Flash Professional. You can also use Anime Studio, DigiCel Flipbook, CrazyTalk, Toon Boom Animate and The Tab Manga.
Import the JPG images into your new project by clicking the "Import" button on the program's "File" menu.
Separate the various elements of each imported JPG file into different layers. Creating a new layer requires clicking "Insert," "Timeline," then "New Layer." Button names and their locations may slightly vary depending on the animation program used. Making a new layer allows you to control each layer individually, so that you can properly move each part of your image more accurately. For instance, if you want to animate a person, you can initially separate its body into major parts such as the head, arm, mid body, hand, thigh, knee and foot. These parts may also require further layer separations. For instance, separating each finger on the hand allows you to better control the movements required for the hand and the fingers as well.
Make symbols from your layers by selecting "Convert to Symbol." This is done for layers that you want to group so that you can animate specific parts of the image at once. Provide an easily recognizable name for each symbol so that you don't get confused when animating. When animating parts of the body, you can name some of your symbols hand, finger, head or foot.
Mount your JPG figures according to how you want them to be seen on screen. Always begin with a starting pose, then use the "key frame" function of your animation program so that you can also mark the end location and pose of your JPG figure. This makes the program produce the in-between frames for your figure's animated movement. To make a key frame, click "Insert," "Timeline," then "Keyframe."
Select the part of the footage in between the two key frames, then click "Motion" and "Tween" from your menu to make the said part of the animation move. Experiment with the various animation tools available in your software program until you achieve the look you desire for your animation project. Exploring your program's various functions allows you to develop the technical skills that can help you maximize the potential of your animation.