Stop-motion animation
Make simple but fun videos with models by using…
Two great examples of stop-motion animation are Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. Big projects such as these are made by teams of experts but you can make your own fun videos using simple techniques.
Stop-motion animation involves photographing a figure, such as a clay model, a Lego figure or a toy character, once, then moving it very slightly to make a very small change to its pose, then photographing it again. For example, an arm can be slowly raised or the legs adjusted. When the photos are put together in order and shown as a sequence, it looks as though the model has moved.
Stop-motion animations can be anything from a few seconds to a fulllength film. It can take several hours to make even a short sequence, so you need to be very patient. Making the animation requires a camera and a model. You can use a digital camera but the camera on a tablet or a smartphone will also work.
Connect your camera to a tripod stand or place it securely so it won’t move. Each photo needs to be from exactly the same position to achieve the effect of motion once the shots are put together.
Set up the scene, which could be a Lego character seeming to walk across a table. Keep it simple at first and use a single model with no changes to the background. Your camera or device may have software that can edit and join the images together to create the animation. If it doesn’t, ask an adult to help you download a free app; try Stop Motion Studio or Stop Animator, for example. Use a desk lamp or ring light to brighten your scene and keep the same level of light as you photograph.
Tim Allen has helped to create lots of stop-motion animation, including Shaun the Sheep and Postman Pat. He told The Week Junior, “As a kid I loved watching cartoons and stop-motion animation. It takes time and lots of practice. I have now been animating as my job for 22 years and I’m so grateful to say that I am a stop-motion animator.”