Today, I would like to talk about the type of animation I work with stop-motion.
Who is this article for?
This article might be helpful for those who would like to order a stop-motion advertisement for their business/brand or any personal needs and would like to learn more about what it is, as well as for stop-motion artists who start their way in this field.
Why am I talking about it?
Rather often, when customers come to me with an idea to get animated, and we start discussing it in detail, I see they do not understand WHAT stop-motion animation truly IS. They see the samples bring the references but do not realize HOW such videos are produced.
As a result, they may expect:
Some unrealistic deadlines for production;
Changes that could not be made after the animation is shot;
Effects that are not typical for this type of animation;
And many other little things that come up in the process.
So, let’s try to make it clear.
What is stop-motion animation?
It is a filmmaking technique in which the animator manipulates the physical objects, moves them in small increments, takes photo, moves again, takes photo, and so on.
As a result, when the series of images is taken and played back, we see it as a movie,
an independent motion.
Such animation can be filmed at different frame rates, but the most popular ones are 12/15/24 FPS (frames per second).
The higher the frame rate, the smoother looks the movement.
I usually animate at 24 FPS, which means that to create 1 second of animation,
I need to take 24 images and move my objects 24 times (or less, depending on
the movement I want to get).
At 12 FPS the movement looks more cartoony.
What things/objects can be animated in stop-motion?
Any sort of physical product can be translated into stop-motion (from coffee beans
to clothes, so stop-motion is perfect for showcasing different products.
If there is no product/physical object but service to be explained, or an invitation to
be sent, a family/company story to be told, a music clip, or film credits, then it could
be done with paper, felt, clay, plasticine or any other material which work better with
the concept and the brand. The props will be carefully crafted and animated to meet
the customer's needs.
It means that to animate the product, the animator needs to get it physically, or if it is
not a product, then the appropriate props should be designed.
We can even animate people in stop-motion (called pixelation) if the models are required.
What equipment and programs do I use to produce stop-motion?
The essential equipment is a camera and Dragonframe, which is a professional software designed for stop-motion animators that allows them to create not only simple but also complex, high-quality stop-motion animation.
Hopefully, these little clarifications were helpful, and now you understand better what stop-motion animation is.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at julia.ivashenko@icloud.com
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