Stop Motion: Craft Skills for Model Animation

Summary

To make great animation, you need to know how to control a whole world: how to make a character, how to make that character live and be happy or sad. You need to create four walls around them, a landscape, the sun and moon - a whole life for them. You have to get inside that puppet and first make it live, then make it perform.

Susannah Shaw provides the first truly practical introduction to the craft skills of model animation. This is a vital book in the development of model animation which, following the success of Aardman’s first full-length film 'Chicken Run',is now at the forefront of modern animation.

Illustrated in full colour throughout you are shown step by step how to create successful model animation. Starting with some basic exercises, readers will learn about developing a story, making models, creating sets and props, the mechanics of movement, filming, post production and how to set about finding that elusive first job in a modern studio.

Table of Contents

acknowledgements

chapter 1
introduction, playing God
nature and caricature
what this book is for

chapter 2
getting equipped
what is your aim?
recording formats
film
video/DV
animation software/frame grabbers
essential and non-essential extras
the animator’s toolkit
lighting
editing/sound
rough guide to film/video or DV recording budgets
glossary

chapter 3
getting animated
animating familiar objects as a first approach
timing: single frame or double frame?
notes on movement
first experiments: the bouncing ball
the dope sheet/X-sheet
planning

chapter 4
keep it simple, developing your story
idea script treatment
planning your shots, basic film grammar/composition of shots
the storyboard
editing animatics and story reels

chapter 5
coat hangers for armatures making your own model
character design
working with modelling clays
making your own puppet

chapter 6
model makers, the professionals
the maquette
ball and socket armature
mould making, hard and soft moulds
casting
colouring
costumes/dressing
glossary of model making materials

chapter 7
four walls and a sky, sets and props
research the look
design and building of sets
interior sets
exterior sets
forced perspective
making props
rigging
glossary of materials for sets

chapter 8
sound advice
pre production
recording dialogue
lip sync
sound breakdown

chapter 9
the mechanics of movement
studies from observation
posing the model
timing
weight
anticipation, action and reaction
walking and running
the illusion of speed
animal and bird movement

chapter 10
the performance
character animation
comedy and comic timing
subtle character animation

chapter 11
filming
filming information
lighting
motion control
health and safety issues
special effects tips and hints
final checks before you hit that button
sending your film to the labs
glossary

chapter 12
post production
timecode
sound

chapter 13
getting the job the business of animation
know your limitations
different work, different studios
commercials
series
TV specials and features
applying for jobs
your showreel
festivals
sending proposals to commissioning editors

bibliography

appendix 1
software, camera and recording equipment suppliers

appendix 2
manufacturers and outlets

appendix 3
calendar of animation festivals and film festivals incorporating animation

appendix 4
animation courses that include or specialize in stop motion and related organizations and websites