I’ve been messing around with making GIFs for a while now, usually character stuff, and honestly? Felt kinda boring lately. So this weekend, I got this random idea while doing dishes: Why not make kitchen utensils look like anime characters? Like, make them pose, fight, dance? Sounded ridiculous, but hey, why not try.
Step 1: Finding the Victims… I Mean, Subjects
First thing, gotta pick my stars. Raided my own kitchen drawers. Grabbed:
- A grumpy-looking potato masher (potential big guy brawler)
- A really elegant pasta fork (obvious graceful character)
- A slightly dinged-up metal ladle (figured it could be a comedic sidekick)
- My trusty rolling pin (immediate tank vibes)
Took some photos against a plain white wall background. Like, really basic. Held them in positions I imagined they could move from – the fork kinda tilted like it was bowing, the masher held sideways like it was ready to smash.
Step 2: Turning My Fork Into Art (Sort Of)
Opened up my usual drawing app. Started sketching over the pasta fork photo. Goal: Anime-fy it. This is where it got messy. Adding big, sparkly eyes to a fork feels inherently stupid, but also weirdly fun? I sketched some long, flowing strands coming off the handle like hair. Gave it a slightly smug little smile. Coloured it like it had a metallic sheen but with brighter anime highlights. It looked… okay? Kinda cute? Or maybe uncanny valley. Wasn’t sure.
Did the same for the potato masher – huge angry brows, blocky body shape based on the masher head, tiny feet. The ladle got big, dopey eyes and a lopsided grin. The rolling pin ended up super serious, with stern eyes and broad shoulders. They were all pretty simple drawings, didn’t go crazy detailed.
Step 3: The Painful Animation Bit
Alright, time to make them move. This is the part I suck at. Started with the pasta fork. Wanted it to do a simple spin flourish.
- Frame 1: Holding normal position, eyes looking forward.
- Frame 2: Starting to turn, eyes closed maybe? (Did that look like blinking or just asleep?)
- Frame 3: Halfway turned, body leaning into it.
- Frame 4: Face obscured by the turning motion (Big mistake? Did it just lose impact?)
- Frame 5: Fully turned facing “camera,” sparkle eye effect added (which looked kinda cheap).
Checked the animation… it was so choppy! Looked like my fork was having a seizure, not gracefully spinning. Had to go back, add in-between frames. Took ages to get something that wasn’t entirely embarrassing. The potato masher’s “charging punch” animation was worse. Getting the smear effects right on that shape was a nightmare. Ended up making him just kinda vibrate angrily then throw a slow punch. Good enough.
Step 4: Making It Loop (Kinda)
My initial spins and punches definitely weren’t smooth loops. The fork spin needed to reset somehow. Added a final frame where its eyes refocused towards the viewer with a little smile. It loops, but the reset is obvious. The masher punch just ends abruptly. Figured, well, it shows the idea, right? Not claiming they’re masterpieces.
Final Thoughts (and Why My Ladle Looks Possessed)
So, end result? Got a few usable, very simple utensil anime GIFs. The pasta fork spin is actually kinda okay after 20 million edits. The potato masher punch is clunky but readable. The rolling pin just gives a stern nod – easiest one. But the ladle… oh man. I tried to make it do a shy little wiggle. The animation is awful – it looks less shy and more like it’s being electrocuted or possessed by a demon. Might keep that one as a “what not to do” example!
Was it worth it? Yeah, actually! Super silly, but inspired me to think differently about objects and animation. Learned heaps about the pain of in-between frames on weird shapes. Give it a try yourself! Grab a whisk, give it eyes, see what happens. Just maybe go easy on the demonic possessions.
