Erasmus+ FairkIT 2015-2018

HOW TO MAKE A STOP MOTION ANIMATION

WORKSHOP REPORT

  

On Tuesday, 22th of November 2016 I introduced my co-workers from kindergarten Medvode the concept of "animation" and computer program iSkysoft Video Editor to create a short stop motion animation. Animation is a process of making the illusion of motion by means of the rapid display of a sequence of images (in this case photos), which is slightly different from each other. Stop motion animation is a technique where you physically manipulate the object so that it appears to move on its own.

With the help of YouTube website I showed them videos what what kind of different options we have to use stop motion techniques. We can use shadow dolls, Legos, instruments, our own body, plasticine and many more.

The first phase of making animation, was the idea. Colleagues had ten minutes to find from the playing cabinet items and toys which were manipulated. They picked wooden figures and wooden blocks. For the production we needed a camera, a tripod and a reflector. The idea was to make an animation showing the danger at the train station. After setting the scene, we began the next phase-shooting. While moving figures was made about a hundred photos.

Photos were downloaded to a computer. I presented them the program iSkysoft Video Editor where we edited the animation. We wanted that each photo is shown for a tenth of a second on the scene. We made a minute long animation but the sound was still missing. We have used sound effects from the program and the animation became more lively.

The respond from my co-workers has been positive. Such work is precise and time-consuming, furthermoren, you have to be skilled in using computer and computer programes. If you like to make such animation with children it would take you  few months to do it, but the final product would be invaluable for them.

                                                                                                                              Ana Jeraj