How to Know the Basics of Stop Motion Animation

Stop motion animation is a process with much in common with the regular animation on a technical level. The main difference is the animation itself, which can be anything not drawn. Since artistic talent is a little harder to come by than not, this can be a wonderful way to start animating.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Preproduction

1. Script your animation before you animate anything so you have a clear idea of what your animation will look like. It doesn't need to be complex, just clear.
2. Cast about for players for your animation. Even if the players are pennies or a toy car, they're an important element.
3. Set your stars upon a background appropriate to your vision for the film. A stark background is probably best for beginners, since it allows you to catch mistakes before they get too far, and you'll know what to look for in the future.

Selecting the Gear

4. Begin your efforts by picking out a good camera. Digital works well and has the added that it can send pictures to a computer, making editing a bit easier.
5. Prepare your subject. Whatever it is, it needs to be dressed, molded or otherwise set for being filmed. Puppets and the like can even be left in position while you set up the camera for filming, unlike actors.
6. Determine the necessity for digital manipulation. Animation is done most often on computers now, and editing software for animation, such as Windows Movie Maker, can often be found pre-installed on a computer. If you aren't using digital equipment to film, you'll need a scanner for this.

Production

7. Take a picture with the camera you've chosen, selecting the best angle. Make sure that it's a good clean shot. If you have to, shoot again to get it right, or just to have a back up.
8. Move your subject one step, which is one increment of time forward. Estimate 1/20th of a second worth of movement, which sounds pretty small but isn't. Go to 1 second per frame and you'll have your subject moving at super speed.
9. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until your script is complete.

Post-production

10. Edit your film. A first animation effort shouldn't need much editing, so simply checking over your stop motion for anything that really stands out as bad work, such as a family photo sneaking its way into the sequence, should be enough. If you want to add any special effects, this is the time.
11. Animate using the tool of your choice. Using a digital camera has many advantages here, as you can upload it straight to your computer and start animating right away. You have to sequence and edit traditional film before you commit it to celluloid.
12. View your animation. Something might not be noticeably wrong until you actually see it on a screen. If it isn't right, you can still go back and fix it. Even if you're doing this for personal experience, instead of for a professional portfolio, getting it right is important, which means going back to Step 1 and repeating the sequence.