Please explain this animation

[DLuftStudios]

Bird

a while back an animator helping me out sent this to me. I dont understand the point of the motion guide or even how the bird is flapping. it looks like its all one frame. Someone please break this down for me!!

[akoRn]

ok, this is very simple.. the bird is actually converted into a symbol, graphic.. in the graphic (but i usually use movieclip), u can create a sequence in itself.. so the he/she made the bird flap, and it'll loop the flapping sequence..

bout guide line, it basically make a movieclip/graphic follow on a line.. u first create a guide line.. draw a line on Guide:Layer 1 for instance, then put the movieclip on the first frame, then make a new keyframe, maybe on frame 30, put on the other end of the line..

then juz add a tween! and there u go.. a movieclip following a path/line u created.. :D