Stop Motion Animation

Pupils all across Fife are actively involved in creating their own animations, mostly through the use of inexpensive cameras such as the Digi Blue and easy-to-use software either the application that comes with the Digi Blue (from Tag Learning) or Pivot - a freeware application.

For many Fife staff their first experience of Animation come through courses delivered by David Imrie and the pupils are introduced through the growing number of animation clubs.

Stop Motion Animation: Key Points

Sample Animations -click on the camera

Making the models

  • Try to keep the model simple and bold
  • Include 2 or 3 features on face and head to animate
  • Include at least 3 features on body to animate
  • Make sure the features are big
  • The model must be able to stand up

Open the Disco Dancing Grapes animation

Disco Dancing Grapes

Dalgety Bay PS

 

Open the Winnie the Pooh animation

Winnie The Pooh

Open the Roman Life animation

Roman Life in Pompeii

one of 4 films from St. Agatha's PS

Creating a storyboard

  • Make a list of the events which will take place in your animation using bullet points
  • Write down the length of time it will take for each event to occur
  • Draw storyboard images to show the actions taking place for each event.

For more detailed advice and tips on how best to create your storyboard please:

 

Open the Firement to the Rescue animation

Firemen to the rescue

Buckhaven PS

Open the Titanic animation

The Titanic

Newcastle PS, Glenrothes

Open the Spider's Teas Party Clip

Spider's Tea Party

Shooting the animation

  • Install your chosen ‘frame grabbing’ software (see Digital Resources) and read the instructions of how to use the software
  • Make sure camera is on and you have removed the tape and plug camera into mains before you start to shoot your animation

 

 

 

Open the Dancing Sheep animation

Dancing Sheep

Scottish County Dance

 

Editing the animation

  • When editing your animation you can take out any unwanted frames by deleting them
  • You can also ‘copy and paste’ in extra frames to make the scene longer
  • Sounds, titles and music can be added during editing

 

 

Websites with a focus on animation include:

Animation for Education

Art Kids

Tech4Learning

This process is explained in full - just click here.