Animation- Clay Stop Motion Animation Basics
You can use any manipulative to create a stop motion animation. Paper, blocks, fabrics and clay. An animation you create using people as actors in a stop motion animation is called Pixelation. Here are some examples of animation sets working with clay. There is also an example of a Pixelation. Have you seen a Pixelation before?
Step 1
Animation-Script and Shot List
After you have your idea, it is always a good plan to write out a script for the story you want to tell. Develop a script for your animation idea. Include notes in your script of the action your characters will perform. The script does not have to be very long. Just make sure the message you want to convey comes through. You can write your script using google docs.
Next, Create a Shot List with drawings and notes to accompany your script. The shot list will have some notes about the action and the script. For example if the actors are entering from the right, include notes or arrows that convey that action. If the actors are speaking in a scene, include notes from the script in the shot list. Include camera angles and equipment that is necessary to perform the shots. You can organize your shot list using google sheets or you can draw and write notes for your shot list by hand.
Next, Create a Shot List with drawings and notes to accompany your script. The shot list will have some notes about the action and the script. For example if the actors are entering from the right, include notes or arrows that convey that action. If the actors are speaking in a scene, include notes from the script in the shot list. Include camera angles and equipment that is necessary to perform the shots. You can organize your shot list using google sheets or you can draw and write notes for your shot list by hand.
Step 2
Animation-Story Board
The storyboard is the map that provides instructions to the actors, camera person, editor, and support team. The usual storyboard resembles a set of comic book drawings. Like comic books, storyboards communicate as much information as possible with a combination of artwork and text.
Most movies are still created this way so story boarding is a great skill to have.
This week you will develop a storyboard from original ideas for an animation or Pixelation that you can film.
Pre-visualization is not only a great skill to have as a movie maker, it is a great skill
as a leader. Storyboards, shot lists, and screenplays are three parts of the planning
process that help communicate to the production and post-production team the goals
for the project. Although they are not always essential for every project, aspects of the
three always appear in a well-developed movie project.
To Do:
Think about how to incorporate different shots to emphasize key details of your story
Storyboard your animation idea
Most movies are still created this way so story boarding is a great skill to have.
This week you will develop a storyboard from original ideas for an animation or Pixelation that you can film.
Pre-visualization is not only a great skill to have as a movie maker, it is a great skill
as a leader. Storyboards, shot lists, and screenplays are three parts of the planning
process that help communicate to the production and post-production team the goals
for the project. Although they are not always essential for every project, aspects of the
three always appear in a well-developed movie project.
To Do:
Think about how to incorporate different shots to emphasize key details of your story
Storyboard your animation idea
Step 3
Animation-Paper Cut Out Part 1
For this unit, students will create animations using assorted technologies. Students will create a Thaumatrope, Zoetrope and a flip book. Students will practice drawing sequential art in the style of graphic novels. Students will create a documentary video of their animation at the end of this unit. Start with your idea. Write about what you want to capture in your animation. Then think about what the scene should look like. Does it take place indoors, outdoors, daytime or night? Is this an underwater scene or does it take place in the desert?
Have you ever seen an animation made only using paper? There are some good ones out there. Watch the videos on paper cut out animation. I included two really old paper animations for you to watch if you want to. I included the oldest one I could find. A video for called A ship of oranges from 1927 and a simple paper cut animation set to music called Le Merle from 1958.
To Do:
Write a short script that you can animate with paper cut out
Create a storyboard for your script
Practice 5 sketches of the characters in your animation
Begin collecting papers and materials for your animation
Optional- Search for a short animation from 1927 titled A ship of Oranges.
Have you ever seen an animation made only using paper? There are some good ones out there. Watch the videos on paper cut out animation. I included two really old paper animations for you to watch if you want to. I included the oldest one I could find. A video for called A ship of oranges from 1927 and a simple paper cut animation set to music called Le Merle from 1958.
To Do:
Write a short script that you can animate with paper cut out
Create a storyboard for your script
Practice 5 sketches of the characters in your animation
Begin collecting papers and materials for your animation
Optional- Search for a short animation from 1927 titled A ship of Oranges.
Step 4
Animation-Paper Cut Out Part 2
This week we are going to create the paper cut outs for the script you wrote in week 2. Draw, Color and cut out all of the characters and objects that are going to show action in your animation.
Have you ever had an idea for a stop motion video but you didn't want to use clay? Well, for this activity I would like you to think of some other materials that could be used to create an animation. I have posted some of my favorites examples below. Can you find any examples of stop motion that were created using something other than clay?
Have you ever had an idea for a stop motion video but you didn't want to use clay? Well, for this activity I would like you to think of some other materials that could be used to create an animation. I have posted some of my favorites examples below. Can you find any examples of stop motion that were created using something other than clay?
Step 5
Animation-Tips and Tricks
Whether you have created a number of stop motion clips or you are just getting started, it always helps to see how other people use tricks when they are filming. Watch the three links below. The first two are posted separately because I trimmed some content out of the middle of the clip. The last one shows some steps that you would need an adult to help with. Don't use a sharp knife to cut anything. And don't take the stuffing out of pillows to do these tricks. Ask for help with the materials if you decide to use any of the tips.
To Do:
Watch the videos below. Then write about three of the tips you would like to try. Using google docs write a few sentences about why these tips you selected will help you in your Stop Motion Animation projects.
To Do:
Watch the videos below. Then write about three of the tips you would like to try. Using google docs write a few sentences about why these tips you selected will help you in your Stop Motion Animation projects.
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Step 6
Google Slides for Animation
Google slides can be used with images you upload as well as with images you gather from the internet. Watch the video and create your own google slides video using the steps shown in the Get Animating!! FUN With Google Slides video below. Your animation should be at least 30 slides. You will produce about one second of video for every 30 slides
Use google slides to practice animation skills. Unlike shooting your own animation stills, using google slides you will be able to edit the animation as you produce it. This practice will help you gauge how much to change the set and characters between shots.
Use google slides to practice animation skills. Unlike shooting your own animation stills, using google slides you will be able to edit the animation as you produce it. This practice will help you gauge how much to change the set and characters between shots.
Step 7
Animation-Action!
Over the past few weeks we have been developing ideas for stories and characters. We have also learned about some special effects and tips for improving our animations. This week I would like you to make a first version of your character. It doesn't have to be completely finished perfectly. We will be posing the figure before it is finished so that we know it can be posed the way we need it to be before we add the finished details to the surface. If you plan to use modeling clay, there is a short video of a student creating a simple clay figure over a wire armature. The finish that is in the video is perfect for the step that we are on this week. You will have more time to finish off the details in the future. So notice that the figure in the example video is just blocked in. It really isn't symmetrical or very finished looking. We can work on that later. This is the week we start to figure out what materials are going to work and which ones to avoid. You get to choose the materials that will best bring out your vision. You can use clay, found materials, legos, toys etc. Just make sure you have permission to use the materials because you will be working with these materials for more than one assignment. Once you create your character, practice posing the character and photograph the poses. I would like you to submit 5 images of your character each in a different pose. Choose the poses based on the story you are telling. For example, if your character doesn't fly, dont spend a lot of time setting up a pose with your character flying. Instead, look back at your story board and script and think of how your character will act out the scenes. Use poses that will help you tell the story you wrote.
To Do:
Create a first draft of your character
Pose and photograph your character in 5 different poses
To Do:
Create a first draft of your character
Pose and photograph your character in 5 different poses
Thaumatrope
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