Stop Motion Animation for Beginners Stop Motion Animation is a filmmaking technique in which inanimate objects or figures appear to move. The Wallace and Gromit movies use this technique, and some of the films that students may see in the Wisconsin Film Festival are made using Stop Motion. It is a very easy way for elementary students to create short films of their own.
Animation is a perfect STEAM project, incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.
The basis of Stop Motion is simple: you take a photo of a figure, move it just a little bit, and take another photo. Repeat this process many times, and then play the photos in sequence at a very fast pace. The more photos you take, the smoother the action will be. An iPad, tablet, or smart phone and a Stop Motion Animation App are the essential elements. Stop Motion Studio is a free app for iPad or iPhone. There is also a version for Android. Here is what you will need: ☛☛ Two pieces of white foam core to create the studio ☛☛ Objects or small figures to animate ☛☛ Smart phone or iPad ☛☛ Tripod or stand to hold your device steady
22 2020 Wisconsin Film Festival Big Screens, Little Folks Study Guide
☛☛ Stop Motion Animation App like Stop Motion Studio on iTunes or Google Play
Create the Studio Place one piece of white foam core on your table, and the other piece vertically in back of it to form the background. Place your studio in a well-lit area. You can also provide some additional lighting with a lamp or worklight, but be careful not to create shadows on your set. You can also use a tri-fold presentation board as the backdrop, but you may need some supplemental lighting. If you prefer, you can use colorful foam core. Colors will absorb more of your available light. Photos from a magazine can also make great backdrops. Of course, your students can draw backgrounds as well. Use a tripod or iPad stand to steady your camera.
Choose Characters Students can create characters with any of the following: ☛☛ Action figures or small dolls or animals ☛☛ Clay figures that you create ☛☛ Wooden blocks ☛☛ Small household objects such as paper clips, bandages, or bottle caps
