Stop Motion Animation Workshop

On Tuesday 16^th of February, I completed a stop-motion animation workshop which was create, complete and edit our own short stop-motion films. The workshop allowed us to apply practical skills, understanding and methods to solve time-based problems in the task. Also, the workshop allowed us to demonstrate the ability to plan, organise and prepare solutions for the time-based project.  To start the workshop, we were given an introduction into stop-motion animation and the history behind the technique. Stop Motion is an animation technique that makes objects appear like it is moving on its own through photography and film. The first stop motion technique was created in 1887 by Albert E Smith and J Start Blackton called “Humpty Dumpty Circus”. Around this time stop motion animation was seen as “Magic” and audiences were amazed by objects moving around by themselves. Then we explored the development of stop-motion through the years and iconic animators such as Willis O Brian who created King Kong scene in 1935 and Ray Harryhousen who is famous for creating stop motion sci-fi films. After we were given the background history and development of Stop-motion animation, we were given the different elements within the technique that we could use to create our own animations. The stop motion animation techniques included clay, graphic, cut out and puppet animation. To create the our final piece we decided to choose “cut out” stop-motion animation technique because we believed that we could create an effective piece of work from paper. Also, we decided to choose this technique because as a team we felt confident with creating 3D paper models and origami which gave us inspiration to create our final animation piece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGh6maN4l2I- Humorous phases of funny faces created in 1906

To start the final stop motion animation piece we started to create a story and theme for our piece which was inspired by paper sculpting and cut out techniques. We decided to create a story about 2 swans dancing because origami would be incorporated into the animation which allowed us to match the stop-motion animation element. Also, we decided to create a story about 2 swans dancing because it relates to the birds in real life who swim around each other called a “dance” when they first meet each other. As a group, we believed that we could re-create this story into a stop-motion animation and present our skills by allowing the birds to dance in the movie. Before we started to create the piece, we first created a storyboard to plan out what we were going to make and what materials were needed. By using a storyboard, it was useful for the group because it allowed us to understand how the piece was going to be created and what we needed to complete in order to achieve it. Also, the storyboard was useful because it allowed us to explore and combine our ideas together to create a final scene that was ready to be developed into the next stage.

To create the final piece, we decided to create a water background to symbolise the swans dancing in water. A background was created because it allowed the scene to be more realistic and understandable to match the story we wanted to create. Also we believed that creating a background would make the scene more engaging and eye-catching when the final piece was edited and created. Watercolour paints were used to create a peaceful, water background which presented shade and tones. However, watercolour paints were not useful as the camera didn’t pick up the colours when photographs were taken. Also, watercolour paints were not useful because it didn’t make the origami swans stand out on the sheet. To solve the problem we decided to use acrylic paints to create a more colourful background which had more tones and shading. This made the origami swans start and all the pieces were ready to be taken and edited.

Origami Birds

Water colour background for the scene. 

A photograph of myself creating a watercolour
background.

Frist initial background colour.



Creating Origami Birds

Final acrylic background for the scene with
different shades and tones.

To capture the scene through stop-motion animation and make it accurate we collected a camera and tripod. The tripod was used because it allowed the camera to be held at the same positon throughout the scene which would make the final piece equal and accurate when created. Also a tripod was used to position the camera at a particular angle so that all the photos taken would be equal and accurate. For the stop-motion animation to work, we placed the origami swans onto the paper and moved them at short distances at each stage and took a photograph which was built up to create the dance scene. I found moving the origami swans challenging because I kept moving them at bigger distances and placing them out of shape. However, I gained confidence from the task and created a full scene which was captured on camera. After creating our original idea, we had spare time, so we decided to create a title for our piece which would be incorporated into the animation film. We decided to keep the title of the film simple and named it “Swan Dance”. Stop motion animation was used to move the letters of the title away from the centre so that the story would arrive after they left. Paper cut outs were used to create the title which matched the animation technique. After the title was created, we captured all of our scenes and moved to the University Of Barnsley to edit them.

Swan dance title and scene.



Final title and scene

 

Filming Scene



The camera used to create the scene.

To combine and edit our scenes, we placed the images onto the IMovie Software which allows you create a variety of movies. I didn’t feel confident using the IMovie software as I have never edited films before but my skills were developed throughout the session. Firstly, we imported all of the images from the camera and arranged them onto the software so that they were ready to be edited. Next, we shortened the amount of time which all the scenes had to be presented to allow the animation to work and combine all the images together. Finally, we created a stop motion animation piece that featured the title and story combined together perfectly.