Introductory Exercise: Craft: The Power of Animation

Overview

Goal: To develop basic narrative, understand the principles behind animation, plan for an create an expressive animation. 

Description: Stop motion is a technique in which objects are physically transformed in small increments between successive frames such that they give an appearance of motion when replayed. In this project you will choose an object, imbue it with personality, and plan and create a stop motion animation using simple tools.

Deliverables:

• Short (3-6 seconds) stop animation video or GIF

• Short 5 slide presentation showing process

The Introductory Exercise is a brief and engaging activity aimed at introducing fundamental concepts and skills essential for a design project. In this exercise, students are encouraged to think creatively, rapidly produce clear prototypes, and grasp the basics of design methodology and collaboration. Key elements covered include ideation, precedent research and selection, sketching, rapid hand prototyping, presentation formatting, as well as engagement with critique culture and the synthesis of feedback through iteration.

These exercises, wrapped in a playful and engaging brief, provide a hands-on experience illustrating how design ideas are communicated. The goal is to build students' confidence in generating conceptually rich ideas and manifesting them as complete designs swiftly. Importantly, this process allows students to begin contemplating the studio topic through the lens of their own creative work, all without the stress associated with creating a "good" project on a broader topic. The Introductory Exercise period serves as a microcosm of the Iterative Catalyst Process, fostering a supportive environment for creative exploration.

---

What is Stop Motion

Stop motion is the method of crafting a moving image frame by frame through sequential alterations of a physical scene, photographing each frame, and playing them as a sequence. It's recognized by various names like "Claymation" or "Stop Action Movies." Despite diverse terms, they all share the core principle of capturing a series of images with incremental changes, creating the illusion of movement. Whether photographing puppets, people, collages, or any movable object, the key is generating movement illusion through physical actions. Notably, stop motion operates in the physical realm, distinct from the digital domain. Although modern animators often employ digital post-production techniques, the essence lies in the tangible manipulation of objects or materials before the camera.

Part 1: Analysis

We will begin with an exploration of stop-motion animation. What is possible with animation? Can anything be animated? How can ordinary objects be transformed into complex characters and stories?

Types of Stop Motion Animation

1. Claymation

2. Brickfilms (Legofilms)

3. Puppet or Model animation

4. Cutout animation

5. Sand animation

6. Paint animation

7. Object animation

8. Pixilation

9. Pinscreen/Pinboard animation

10. Destructive animation

11. Animated Light and Shadow

Instructions:

Each educator/group should choose one of the following stop motion animations for analysis and answer the following questions as a comment within their group workspace.

• What was surprising about the animation? What made it unusual or unique?

• How was the animation made? What materials or techniques do you think were used?

• How is sound and/or music used? How are the ideas communicated?

• How was the animation expressive of an idea or concept? Can you name the idea being expressed?

---

Part 2: Theory: The 12 Principles of Animation

In this part you will have a theory introduction to the basics of animation.

The 12 Principles of animation, pioneered by Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, serve as a foundational guide for creating captivating and lifelike animated sequences. These principles encompass a comprehensive set of guidelines that contribute to the illusion of movement and emotion in animated characters. They include concepts such as squash and stretch, which add a sense of volume and flexibility to characters; anticipation, which prepares the audience for an upcoming action; and follow-through, which ensures that movements have a natural and realistic flow. Other principles, such as timing, exaggeration, and appeal, address the nuances of timing, exaggerating actions for emphasis, and creating characters that resonate with audiences. Together, these principles provide animators with a comprehensive toolkit to breathe life into their creations and deliver narratives that captivate and resonate with viewers.

Instructions

Read the above link or watch the video below to learn about the 12 Principles.

---

Part 3: STOP! Motion? Creating your first Animation

Conceptual Inquiry / Brainstorming

In this part you will come up with an initial idea for further development.

Brainstorming forms the foundation for student projects and is approached through supporting the  fecundity of ideas through a deep commitment to non-linear collaborative idea development. There are three moments or stages  of brainstorming, Initial (individual or informal small group), Class (collective) and Collaborative (team project.)

Initial brainstorming is the students’ first opportunity to ideate on the presented project theme based on the Framing discussion. At this stage, students are encouraged to quickly develop an extensive collection of ideas around both the problems they wish to address given the project context AND initial solutions for those problems from the mundane to the preposterous.

Instructions

• Review: "Disney's 12 Animation Principles"

• Watch the short instructional videos below:

• Choose an object that you will animate. Think carefully about the scale (at this point, a fist size object +/- will be easiest to work with.) There should be some manipulative aspects of the object.

• Envision an identity and emotion for the object based on what it is/what it wants to be.  I.e. the “playful” pixar lamp. Scissors that want to cuddle. A squishy ball that wants to be a chef and crack eggs. 

• Based on the objects desires, choose one of Disney’s 12 Principles. Think of anticipation or tension you would like to express.

Part 4: Planning

In this part you will plan out your animation using a storyboard.

Instructions

• After brainstorming, sketch out a basic storyboard of the motion sequence. Your animation will be very short (4-6 seconds), so complete a frame panel for ever ⅓-½ second. Give your animation a title.
  
  A storyboard is a graphic organizer that plans a narrative. This is where you can take your written story outline and translate it into the specific shots, movements, and interactions of your characters. This is a visual outline of every scene you plan to capture. This is also a good place to ensure your video will make sense. If someone doesn't understand your storyboard right now, people may not understand your finished video once it is complete. Use as many frames as you need. Be thorough.

Example

Here is a storyboard example by Canadian illustrator Catherine Wilkie

View fullsize

The resulting animation:

Storyboard Tools & Templates

Template: Storyboard Template.pdf

Online tool: https://www.storyboardthat.com/

Animation Examples

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/q9KzNn

https://stopmotionmagazine.com/i-am-square-by-benoit-leva/

Part 5: Create!

Create a brief stop motion video! You can use the methods and tools below:

Methods

• How to MAKE a STOP-MOTION VIDEO with a PHONE

Tools

• https://flixier.com/create/stop-motion-maker

• https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stop-motion-studio/id441651297

• Professional: https://www.dragonframe.com/

• Stop-Motion App Tutorial

Part 5: Present & Critique!

Create a slide presentation with the following in our group drive and post the link below. We will present and critique in our next live session.

• Title

• Concept Statement (1 sentence)

• Description of “character” with images

• Story Board

• Stop motion animation