Paper Animator: turn any photo into a paper cut-out animation in seconds

## What Paper Animator is

Paper Animator is a browser-based tool that transforms any image or text into animated paper cut-outs, folds, tears, and “ransom note” style graphics, with no install or plugins required. It targets short-form video creators, marketers, and designers who want a distinctive paper/stop-motion look without learning motion graphics software.[1]

## Why build this

- Most “paper” or stop-motion looks today require After Effects, templates, or manual masking, which is overkill for TikTok/Reels/Shorts creators who just want a quick effect.[1] - Existing mobile/video apps rarely combine AI background removal, realistic paper textures, and export-ready formats (green screen, transparent PNG sequences) in one place. - The goal is a “Canva for paper animation”: upload → tweak → export in under a minute.

## How it works

- Upload a photo (JPG/PNG/WebP up to 10MB); the AI removes the background and extracts the subject as a clean paper cut-out. - Customize edge roughness, shadows, paper texture, and animation intensity, with live preview in the browser. - Pick styles like cut-out, fold, tear, origami, ransom-note text, stop-motion wiggle, or text match-cuts. - Export as 720p/1080p MP4 or transparent PNG sequences, with optional green screen background for compositing in any editor.

## Who it’s for

- *Creators*: TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts looking for scroll-stopping transitions or lyric/quote animations. - *Marketers & brands*: product launches, UGC-style ads, and “handmade” promo visuals that stand out from template-heavy motion graphics. - *Educators & artists*: explainer videos, course content, album/cover animations, and experimental collage-style work.

## Pricing and link

- Free tier: create and download animations with a small watermark, for personal use. - Paid plans: higher resolution, more styles, and commercial usage rights (no watermark). - Live demo (no signup required): *https://paper-animator.net**

Feedback on UX, performance, and export pipeline from HN (especially motion designers and VFX folks) would be very welcome.

Show HN: Transform any photo into paper animations in seconds