Graphics/ animation programs? Or Programming resources?

[Tohru]

I am so clueless! My 13yo ds has always wanted to make his own video games and now, movies. I think he wants to get into programming, but I don't even know where to start looking for resources for him.

 

Does any one know of a good free or low cost graphics or animation program? Or where to even look for something like this? I tried Google, but I didn't even understand the webpages I visited.

 

I'd like to find some software for him to tinker with first - and then if he likes it....I don't even know where to find out how to get more information for him, ie: classes, etc.

 

Thanks.

[NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too]

Scratch and Alice are two free programs that are mentioned here.

 

http://learnscratch.org/

 

http://www.alice.org/