How to Make Movies With Animation

Animated movies have been around for decades and are so important to the film industry they have their own category at the Academy Awards. For novice filmmakers, animation may seem like a huge undertaking, but there are two easy ways you can create animated films or implement animation into a live-action film. The process is more complicated than that of standard filming, but learning and understanding animation can help a filmmaker make sense of the world of film as a whole.

Things You'll Need

• Video camera
• Tripod
• Computer
• Video editing software
• Movie props

Instructions

Stop Motion Animation

1. Prepare the equipment. If using a digital camera to capture the images, have multiple memory cards available to store all of the cameras. Secure the tripod to the ground by using duct tape, because a slight bump on the tripod could mess up every shot. Use small spot lights from a hardware store for basic lighting.

2. Plan out the scene by creating storyboards and gathering supplies. For example, a collection of Hot Wheels cars could make a great overhead shot for a chase scene in a movie. Use miniature models to create a road, surrounding trees and other things like stop signs. The more details there are, the better the production will look. Use storyboards to plan different angles and potential camera shots.

3. Set up the elements in the scene. Using the car example, the cars would be at the starting point for the scene. Using a camcorder, take a one frame shot of the scene by pressing the record and instantly pressing it again. Use a digital camera to take a snapshot. Place the device on a tripod for the steadiest shots.

4. Move each element in the scene slightly in-between each shot. For example, move the cars up a tiny bit. Take the next shot on the camera and repeat the process.

5. Use multiple cameras to achieve multiple angles of the same shot. This will make the project look more professional and not bore the viewer.

6. Continue the process until the scene is complete. Each second of footage usually takes 27 to 30 shots, so a 1 minute scene could have more than 1500 pictures.

7. Upload the pictures to a computer and compile them together using video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro. After processing the pictures, speed up the clip to real time to view the full animation.

Adobe After Effects

1. Create new animations or add animated effects to videos by using Adobe After Effects.

2. Right click in the "Project" window and choose "Create New Composition." Choose the size of the video for the project, name the project and click "OK."

3. Import files into the project window by dragging and dropping them there. Adobe After Effects is compatible with video files, audio files and a wide assortment of picture files including Adobe Photoshop files.

4. Add the files to the project by dragging them down to the "Timeline" window. A real-time preview of the project can be seen in the "Composition" window.

5. Create "Keyframes" to animate the project. Keyframes set starting points and ending points for elements of a project and then fills in the animation in-between. The default transform keyframe options are for "Scale," "Rotation," "Position" and "Opacity. For example, if you set the "Position" keyframe to start an object at the left of the screen and to end at the right, an animation will fill in the movement for the rest.

6. Use the "Animation and Effects" menu to add more animation. These animations can make object wiggle, explode or even generate lightning if needed.

References

• Creative Cow