How To Make a Digital Stop Motion Film
Mike Brent Describes the Animation Process in a Nutshell
Mike Brent is an amateur independent animator from Stop Motion Animation.com known as Strider. This information portal is a web community administrated by Anthony Scott. Within this community, Brent focuses mainly on the Eastern European style of stopmotion known as Puppetfilm.
After viewing Street of Crocodiles, [Timothy & Stephen Quay, 1986] Brent says he realized that this was a form of animation “capable of dealing with deeper issues.” He likened the technique to “pure expressionism,” and claims that it has the capacity to provide animators with the tools to express themselves on a par with the greatest masters of any artistic medium.
The Stop Motion Animation Website
The Stop-Motion Handbook, from the resources section of the, has several chapters addressing many of the basic questions an aspiring animator might have. This is core material gathered from the rest of the website. The message board is the heart of Stop Motion Animation.com, but for those who need to warm up, there is a Newbie Corner. For specific information, techniques tips and tricks choose between many informative forums. Although there is an extensive links page provided, Brent talks about learning to be an independent internet researcher. This is because innovation out dates information as quickly as it is loaded.
The Process of Making a Digital Stop Motion Film
In the handbook, Brent sets out to create a basic overview of the entire process of animation from the beginner’s perspective. Without this basic understanding new artists would not know what kind of equipment to buy. The overview sums up how Frame Grabbers work with DVD camcorders and webcams, which he suggests is the easiest way to get started with this kind of animation.
To make it easy to visualize, Brent sets out a scaffolded guide
- Capture frames using a frame grabber
- Edit footage adding effects, titles, sound and music using standard video editing software
- Compress using video compression software
- Post it online or output to video
Capture Frames in Stop Motion Animation
Because this is a very broad topic, Brent advises the reader to study Chapter 6: Choosing a Camera for Stopmotion from the handbook. He says that there are advantages for each style of camera that need to be weighed before a final purchasing decision. Webcams or DVD camcorders make it easy to take advantage of powerful Framegrabber programs. Digital Still cameras are still favoured as a way of working with high definition frames.
Brent talks about how to use webcams alongside a main camera to onion skin. This means to view multiple frames at the same time. He also talks of a concept called frame scrubbing, which means flicking through the frames quickly to remind the artist of sequence. This information leads into a technical discussion about rotoscoping, which allows artists to load preshot footage as background for a puppet or creatures. He explains that artists will need to make decisions about compositing software to enable him or her to synch the material together, whilst editing seamlessly.
The article does not offer artists suggestions about what equipment to purchase. Instead, Brent talks about the kinds of technical ability an animator may need to consider, when purchasing animation equipment. In this way, he sets the scene for beginners to ask questions and to research about the method and style that will work best for him or her.
Editing Footage for Animation
Brent makes the distinction between capturing data and editing it. He stresses the need for beginning animators to search out the latest information online. It is possible, he suggests, for artists to teach themselves even the more advanced techniques and ways to use equipment. He also suggests that there may be tasks which require patience and dedication.
Ways to approach learning might be through manuals, message boards and personal experimentation. It seems that a combination of these styles of learning would be freely available online from websites such as StopMotionAnimation.com It can become an expensive hobby or career and so starting out experimentally may save the artist a great deal of time and money. Later real decisions can be made about the types of methods and equipment to use.
Compression of Animation Files
By the time an artist finishes editing their work and has added titles and music, the movie file will be large enough to require compression. Brent offers advice about file size reduction. He suggests that artists cut out any unnecessary information or blank patches in an effort to make the file smaller. He talks about the need for creators to think about the need to download the file on a dial up modem. To this end he recommends abbreviating everything possible for digital animation.
Brent’s suggestions are a great starting point for beginning animators. The Stop Motion Animation website is also a great way to meet up with other enthusiasts and to become involved in an online community.
Stop Motion Animation
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