Retro computer games… here’s how they make sprites come to life

If you make games using sprite sheets, these animation tricks come in handy for keeping things simple. It doesn’t take more than a few frames to give life to objects and characters.

Learn more from Ari Feldman’s book Designing Arcade Computer Game Graphics.

More info about animating sprites can be found here: Interactive Media and Game Development

Cylindrical

Rotational

Disintegration

Color Flash / sparkle

Scissors - simple closed to open movement

Growing / shrinking

Piston

Squeeze

Swing / pendulum

Slide

Open / close

Bounce

Stomp

Slink

Flight


Walk

Run

Jump

Crawl