Blender 3D Studio (Blender.org)

If you get cocky, you can download this relatively advanced programme which lets you wrap textures around complex shapes and move them around; it's much more akin to the Invisible Man-style Maya graphics you would see in the movies.

Xtranormal (Xtranormal.com)

Pull on both your screenwriting hat and your film-director shoes. All you need to do is write a dialogue-rich script for a short film; you can choose between a number of pre-ordained sets and computer-generated characters, choose expressions and gestures; the programme does the rest. Office japes are going to be more hi-tech than ever. Alternatively, recreate a scene from your favourite movie.

Aniboom Shapeshifter (Aniboom.com/Shapeshifter Animachine.aspx)

Essentially, a simple version of the old Microsoft Paint programme that allows you to set your ideas into motion. Draw shapes, fill them in, then use a handy slider to move between different moments in time. There is also an online gallery to which you can look at for inspiration, to allow you to finalise your storyboard before you begin direction.

Animasher (Animasher.com)

This really is animation for dummies: drag and drop a number of different pre-drawn objects - a Transformer, a hot-air balloon, a bottle of wine or a pair of legs - into a central screen area.

Then, hit "record" on the handily-located console before dragging and moving your objects around the screen.

Not the most advanced of programmes, but definitely one for younger animators.

Go Animate (Goanimate.com)

As well as containing a basic Flash-based programme for creating your own cartoons from scratch (it also contains several cut-out character templates to help you along), Go Animate also allows the younger user to augment their holiday snaps with cartoon-ish pre-made animations - think little bunnies in mortar boards for classroom snaps, or a woodland theme for outdoorsy pictures.

Scratch online (Scratch.mit.edu)

Unlike many of the other websites here, you will need to download this programme, which was designed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to help children from the age of eight develop learning skills.

You can create animations from scratch.

Instead of it being a Paint-style interface, however, Scratch mimics traditional programming language by encouraging its users to drag and drop various commands which instruct the action on screen.

Less sexy, but probably more educational. - The Independent