Stop Motion: Craft Skills for Model AnimationTo 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, you will learn about developing a story, making models, creating set and props, the mechanics of movement, filming, postproduction and how to set about finding that elusive first job in a modern studio. Susannah Shaw is Programme Development Manager for the Animated Exeter festival. She was head of the Bristol Animation Course from 1996 to 2000 at the University of the West of England and former camera assistant at Aardman (working on 'A Close Shave' among other films). |
Contents
chapter 1 introduction playing God | 1 |
chapter 2 getting equipped | 8 |
chapter 3 getting animated | 21 |
chapter 4 keep it simple developing your story | 35 |
chapter 5 coathangers for armatures making your own model | 51 |
chapter 6 model makers the professionals | 76 |
chapter 7 four walls and a sky sets and props | 102 |
chapter 8 sound advice the voice track | 114 |
chapter 12 the production process | 176 |
chapter 13 postproduction | 195 |
chapter 14 getting the job the business of animation | 200 |
| 213 | |
appendix 1 software and recording equipment suppliers | 215 |
appendix 2 manufacturers and outlets | 217 |
appendix 3 calendar of animation festivals and fi lm festivals incorporating animation | 221 |
appendix 4 animation courses that include or specialize in stop motion and related organizations and websites | 235 |
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Common terms and phrases
Aardman Animations action aluminium andand angle anima Animation Festival Animation Film armature audience Awards ball Barry Purves body bounce bunny camera moves character animation Chicken Run clay color Contact Cosgrove Hall Cosgrove Hall Films Courtesy of ScaryCat create dialog director drill edit eyes Film Festival Deadline foam latex frame give glue Gromit head idea International Animation International Film Festival Jeff Newitt joints keep lens light lightlight lip sync look Mackinnon & Saunders model animation mould mouth movement Nick Park Nightmare Before Christmas ofof Photo Susannah Shaw Plasticine position props puppet resin scene screen script sculpt shoot shot showreel silicone sound speed squash and stretch stop motion story storyboard tape thethe things tie-downs Tony Guy track walk Wallace and Gromit weight wire youryour youyou zoom
Popular passages
Page x - Most of these principles apply to model or puppet animation as well as - as they are derived from the scientific study of movement - the effect of gravity, friction and force on masses.