Cartooners

About

Cartooners is a DOS program that lets you build animated comic panels by mixing visuals and text. Pick a backdrop, add characters and objects, then write short captions to create simple cartoon scenes. The animations are charming but brief, focusing on static panel composition. The process feels like a digital cut-and-paste tool, with most effort spent arranging elements and writing dialogue to complete each sequence. The charm lies in its hands-on creativity with minimal technical barriers. While the range of options is narrow, the ease of use made it a standout for early home computers. Released at the end of 1989, it’s less about gameplay and more about letting users act as their own cartoonist. The lack of interactivity means it leans into being a novelty "print kit" rather than a traditional game.