Automatic bone handle generation for efficient manipulation of a graphic object is described. Initially, a request is received to generate bone handles for a graphic object. Responsive to the request, a bone handle generation system determines an outline of the graphic object. Based on the outline, this system then generates a mesh corresponding to the graphic object. The bone handle generation system contracts this mesh inward to form a contracted mesh. By then collapsing edges of the contracted mesh, the bone handle generation system generates a set of connected line segments forming a skeleton of the graphic object. The bone handle generation system reduces the set of connected line segments by removing line segments and by merging vertices that connect different line segments. Based on this reduction, the bone handle generation system obtains the bone handles, which are controllable with user input to deform corresponding portions of the graphic object.