film, video & TV training | professional development
D.I.Y. Stop Motion Animation
| Discipline/s: | design |
| Level: | Beginner |
| Course Code Date/s & times: |
Contact us to register your interest. Course scheduled to commence July 2013 after Melbourne International Animation Festival (20-30 June 2013) |
| Contact hours: | 27 |
| Places: | 12 |
| Fee: | $572 Open Channel Members / $693 (non-members) (Prices are Inclusive of GST) (Membership: $55 / $44 concession - join Open Channel here) Optional Costs: Rig & Software Purchase is not essential for the course, as we will be demonstrating in class. However participants should have the capacity to apply learning with a camera or smartphone/tablet, plus software to complete set exercises outside class time. Estimated cost for building your own Rig with supplied plans, plus purchasing suitable Animation Software (class will use Aardman’s Animate It software): $330 |
| Prerequisite: | Drawing and basic computer skills an advantage. Students to provide own laptop. Open Channel has limited laptops available for use if you do not have your own laptop, however you may need to share with another participant. |
D.I.Y. Stop Motion course runs over two weekends, and trains participants in the basic skills of creating “Do It Yourself” Stop Motion animations using accessible production tools, under the supervision of award winning animator Jacquie Trowell.
- Learn how to set up your own stop motion rig that uses common media devices and off the shelf materials.
- Learn the art of stop motion, how it works, the different techniques and logistics.
- Storyboard a short animation.
- Build puppet and/or elements for your short animation.
- Gain the skills to conduct testing phase, then shoot a short scene or shot for feedback.
Course Outline
Session One (Friday 19 October 2013; 6 – 8pm)
- Course Intro - schedule, modules, aim, outcome
- Meet with MIAF Festival Director Malcolm Turner on the Art of Animation
Session Two (Saturday 29 June 2013; 10am – 5pm)
- Introduction to the technique – how it works, a bit of history, various techniques
- Understanding fps, timing, performance, staging and audio
Session Three (Sunday 30 June 2013; 10am – 5pm)
- Stop motion logistics (rigs, armatures, sets, camera and lighting)
- Story, storyboard, shooting schedule and planning the action
- Building sets and elements for animation
Homework (between 1 July and 12 July 2013)
- Build set and elements for animation
- Plan the action and story
- Shoot at least one shot
Session Four (Saturday 13 July 2013; 10am – 5pm)
- Review and discuss progress
- Troubleshoot problems
Session Five (Sunday 14 July 2013; 10am – 5pm)
- Post production considerations – editing, audio, sfx
- Compositing
- Planning the rest of the film
Tips for Creating a Simple Animation
If you want to animate characters, limit yourself to a maximum of two. And avoid dialogue if you can – this needs to be recorded before you shoot, broken down into frames and then you need to change mouth shapes when you are shooting.
We recommend that you don’t choose plasticine if you are new to stop motion as it takes the longest to manipulate and re-sculpt between frames.
Our preferred animation software is Stop Motion Pro. You can check it out and download a trial version to familiarise yourself with it at www.stopmotionpro.com. Less expensive and simpler is Aardman’s new Animate It for PC (trial version at http://animateit.kudlian.net/), iPhone and iPad (available from the app store).
Making a film is not compulsory, however the course will set an exercise to shoot a shot or short sequence of shots for feedback, with the goal of preparing participants to complete their own short film after the course is finished.
We’ll go through all of the above on the course so don’t feel you have to have every last detail of a film script prepared before we start. But a bit of forethought will go a long way. Above all, keep your idea simple. This will give you the best chance of finishing what you set out to achieve and getting the most out of the course. You’ll also stress less and have more fun!
Who should do this course?
An ideal beginning for anyone interested in stop motion animation.
Where can I go after this course?
After this course you can continue to produce stop motion animations, seek work as an Animation Assistant, or apply for film school animation courses using your developed folio of work.
How do I Enrol?
Simply print an Enrolment Form and return to us with payment to secure a place in the Short Course. See the Enrolment Form for details on how to pay.
Short Courses Application Form (pdf)
Tutors
JACQUIE TROWELL
Director and award - winning stop motion animator Jacquie Trowell has won acclaim for her innovative and experimental approach to animation for advertising, new media, short film and children’s education. She began her career in South Africa and pioneered the use of distinctly African imagery in her stop - frame work. She has written, directed and animated material for global advertising agencies, education giants Sesame Workshop and Unicef, and was nominated for a Golden Bear in Berlin for her short film, Beyond Freedom. She has over 100 productions to her credit and 20 years of industry experience. Jacquie co-founded award winning stop motion companies XYZOO Animation in 1992 and Triggerfish Animation in 1996. She now works as an independent director of animation in Melbourne, Australia.
