Animation has the power to attract people of all ages, from children to adults. Throughout the history of cinema this technique has always been present. In both short films and feature films, this tool has already produced a variety of highly successful narratives and characters.
Among the various technologies used in animation, stop motion is one of the most fascinating and curious. Present since the dawn of cinema, this technique continues to arouse curiosity for the way in which it gives life to static objects.
If you’re interested in learning more about stop motion, we’ll continue to explore this technique below.
Surely you have already seen films like “Coraline and the Secret World”, “Corpse Bride”, “The Night Before Christmas” and “Chicken Run”. So, you may have noticed that these films have a similar and rather peculiar animation style. This is stop-motion, a handcrafted technique that provides a unique aesthetic, distinguishing itself from more traditional animation approaches.
The animation technique involves photographing physical objects frame by frame. When played sequentially at normal speed, these photographs create the illusion of movement. This differs from conventional animation and filming, which captures continuous movement.
The technique involves using real objects, such as dolls, clay figures or cutouts, which are moved and photographed manually.
Stop motion animations have a unique aesthetic, often characterized by visible textures, “blocked” motion, and a handcrafted appearance.
There are different forms of stop motion, each with its specific characteristics and techniques. Some of the most used forms are:
Characters and scenes made with modeling clay or clay.
It involves animating real people or objects, capturing them frame by frame as you move in small increments.
Use figures or objects cut from paper or other materials, moving them to create the animation.
He uses inanimate objects to create animation, often combining stop motion techniques with elements of traditional animation.
The magic of stop motion takes a lot of work. It requires a lot of patience and precision on the part of its directors. The process generally involves the following steps:
The initial phase involves developing the film’s concept and designing the characters and settings.
In traditional stop motion works, such as “Coraline and the Secret World” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” it is common to use small-scale model characters. Dolls have articulated structures, often made of wire or other flexible materials, so as to allow for a wide variety of movements during animation.
Additionally, there are different versions of the same character (or parts of it, such as the head) to fit different scenes or specific actions. These different versions may vary in terms of facial expressions, clothing and props, depending on the needs of the scene.
Sets are often built as models or miniatures to match the scale of the characters.
The camera position and focus are adjusted to frame the scene. Adequate lighting is also set to ensure consistent exposure and avoid unwanted shadows.
Magic starts to happen in this process. The animator takes a photograph of the scene. Then, the objects or characters are moved to the next photo.
This process happens as many times as necessary to complete the job. In professional productions, such as “Corpse Bride” or “Chicken Run,” it is common to photograph thousands of individual photos to create the animation.
Additionally, small changes are made between each frame to create the illusion of smooth, convincing motion.
Finally, the captured images go through the editing and post-production process. The frames are arranged in the correct order and playback speed adjustments are made. You can add sound effects, music and other elements.
The stop motion technique is linked to the beginnings of cinema, even if precise information on the first filmed stop motion work is scarce.
According to some sources, “The Humpty Dumpty Circus”, directed by Albert E. Smith and J. Stuart Blackton, may have pioneered this technique. However this short film is considered lost, suggesting the absence of a currently known copy. The film featured an animated performance by characters from a wooden toy set.
One of the first films to use stop motion significantly was “Le théâtre de Bob,” a Segundo de Chomón production released in 1906.
Another point of reference is the short film “The Haunted Hotel”, directed by J. Stuart Blackton in 1907. For many researchers of the genre, this is the first stop motion film to receive wide appreciation and influence other artists.
The post What is stop motion and how to create an animation with this technique appeared first on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
