You will need a good microphone and a way to prevent echo or background noise from bleeding into the sound you want to keep.  A high-quality computer microphone will work effectively enough for a beginning cartoon, but if you plan to seriously market and distribute your cartoon, you will eventually need to invest in more professional equipment. When working with a small microphone, encase it in a tube speaker box lined with foam to cut out echo and excess background noise. Get creative and look for simple, everyday ways to make noises passably similar to the noises you need for your cartoon.  Make a list of sound effects you will need. Be creative and thorough, including everything from the obvious (explosions, alarm clocks) to the less obvious (footsteps, background noise).  Record different versions of each sound so that you have more options to use. A few examples of sounds you can create include: Fire - Manipulate a piece of stiff cellophane Slap - Clap your hands together once Thunder - Shake a piece of plexi-glass or thick cardstock Boiling water - Blow air into a glass of water using a straw Baseball bat hitting a ball - Snap a wooden matchstick If you do not have access to the equipment or otherwise find it impossible to make your own, there are CD-ROMS and websites offering royalty-free pre-record sounds you can use as desired, and this might be a more viable option for you. Always review the usage permissions for any pre-recorded sound effects you use. Even if something is free to download, it may not be free to use, especially for commercial purposes. It is very important that you know what you are permitted to do before you use a sound for your cartoon. If your cartoon has dialog in it, you or others you know will need to be the voice bringing your characters to life. As you record your lines, read from the script using appropriate intonation and expression, and make sure that you match your lips to the animated lips of the cartoon. Consider manipulating the voices using computer software. If you have fewer voice actors than characters, you can change the voice of one character simply by adjusting the attributes of the voice sample you already gathered. You will need to invest in special audio editing software to do this, but depending on which one you use, you can likely change the pitch and add overtones, like metallic garbles, to the voice recording.
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One-sentence summary -- Get the right equipment. Record your own sound effects. Look for free pre-recorded sound effects. Record real voices, if necessary.


Belts may make a round tummy look even rounder and they may not even help to hold up your pants. Instead, try wearing suspenders with your pants or choose pants that have built-in suspenders. Overalls are also a good choice since they will have a similar effect. The front panel of overalls will also help to give you a slimmer look. Hats can help to make you seem taller, which may help to create a slimming effect. It is also a great way to dress up an outfit, even if you are going for a casual look.  Try a wide brimmed hat with a maxi sundress for an effortless summer look. Pair a baseball cap with a pair of jeans and t-shirt for a casual, easy weekend look. Put on a fedora with a suit for a fun, fancy look. You can use necklaces, watches, earrings, and bracelets to help minimize larger features. Wear a large accessory on the area that you want to minimize.  For example, if you want your neck to look smaller, wear a long, chunky statement necklace or a big bow-tie. For a smaller looking wrist, wear a large-faced watch or a chunky bracelet. A stack of bangles on each of your wrists will also have a slimming effect on your arms.  For slimmer looking fingers, put on a large statement ring.
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One-sentence summary -- Try suspenders if you carry most of your weight around your waist. Put on a hat if you are on the short side. Choose large accessories to balance out larger features.


Dirga Pranayama is often called the three-part breath, due to its focus on breathing into and out of three separate regions in the abdomen. It may sound simple, but it can be quite difficult to perfect.  Inhale through the nostrils in one long, continuous breath.  Breathe into the first abdominal target, the low belly.  With the same breath, breathe into the second target: the lower chest, at the bottom of the ribcage.  Continuing the same inhalation, breathe into the third target, the lower throat. You should feel it just above your sternum. Once you've inhaled into each of the three target areas, you'll begin exhaling. On the exhalation, focus on the three abdominal targets, but in reverse order.  Exhale through the nostrils in one long, continuous breath, just like on the inhalation.  Focus on the lower throat first, then feel the exhalation move down into the lower chest and the lower belly. Learning how to breathe into and out of the three abdominal targets may be difficult for beginners. When starting out, it's best to isolate each individual abdominal target. You can do this by using your hands to track the movement of your breath.  Rest one or both hands on each of the three abdominal targets. Focus your breath into and out of each target. You should feel your hand(s) move up and down on the inhalation and exhalation.  Once you've learned how to focus your breath into each of the three individual abdominal targets with your hands, practice each target without touching your abdomen.  When you've mastered breathing into and out of each target area without using your hands, connect each step and practice the entire process in one fluid breath.
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One-sentence summary -- Inhale to the three abdominal targets. Exhale in reverse order. Practice your technique.


Starting the night before the book report is due is way too late. Starting a few days before might also be too late unless you're an extremely fast reader. Give yourself time to read the book and understand it fully, then write your report. This might take a week or more to complete. This means you need to start looking for your book as soon as you can. Finding a book can take time, so don't rush it. You might find the perfect book, but it's checked out and has to be returned to the library. The amount of time you need for your book report will depend a lot on your personal pacing, the length of the book you choose, and your personal writing strategy. However, getting a head start never hurts. You need to follow any of the guidelines your teacher gave you for the report. Underline the parts that relate to choosing a book. What do you need to know? Some important information might be:  Whether there is a minimum number of pages you need to read Whether the book should be fiction (made up) or non-fiction (true) Whether the book needs to be a specific genre, such as drama, science fiction, etc. Whether a graphic novel is an appropriate choice What kinds of information your teacher wants you to get out of the book There are millions of books out there, and between your school library and the public library, you have access to thousands. Within the parameters your teacher has set (number of pages, fiction or non-fiction), figure out what kind of book you would most like to read. It's important to choose something you want to read so that the assignment goes as smoothly as possible. Some possible questions you might ask yourself as you are choosing a book for a report are:  Can you make the writing process easier by picking a book that ties into the work you're currently doing in class? Do you want something with a historical background, or something that takes place now? Is there a particular topic that interests you that might be a good choice – animals, skateboarding, or music, for example? Do you like funny books or serious books? Do you like books about real people, or would you rather read fantasy or science fiction?
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One-sentence summary --
Start working early. Go through the rules for the report. Decide what kind of a book you want.