Stop-motion animation: Movie magic from old-school methods and modern software
Stop-motion animation: Movie magic from old-school methods and modern software
The inimitable charm of stop-motion animation often comes at the cost of exhausting, tedious manual work. Advanced stop-motion animation software helps you streamline the process.
The inimitable charm of stop-motion animation often comes at the cost of exhausting, tedious manual work. Advanced stop-motion animation software helps you streamline the process.
Stop-motion involves creating a series of still images that can be sequenced into an animated film.What is stop-motion animation?
What is stop-motion animation?
Stop-motion animation is the art form of creating a motion picture from sequences of still images. Stop-motion animators can capture a scene using puppets, figurines, or cutouts, slightly manipulating the objects between each still image. They then sequence the images together to create a movie.
The Humpty Dumpty Circus (1898) is credited as the first ever stop-motion animation. The technique has proliferated ever since, being used in a great many productions, notably King Kong (1933), Gumby (1955), the original Star Wars trilogy of the 1970s and ’80s, and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Today, animators use advanced stop-motion animation software to help streamline the time-honored traditions of the genre.
Stop-motion animation is the art form of creating a motion picture from sequences of still images. Stop-motion animators can capture a scene using puppets, figurines, or cutouts, slightly manipulating the objects between each still image. They then sequence the images together to create a movie.
The Humpty Dumpty Circus (1898) is credited as the first ever stop-motion animation. The technique has proliferated ever since, being used in a great many productions, notably King Kong (1933), Gumby (1955), the original Star Wars trilogy of the 1970s and ’80s, and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Today, animators use advanced stop-motion animation software to help streamline the time-honored traditions of the genre.
Types of stop-motion animation
Claymation
Claymation
Stop-motion animators reshape modeling clay sculptures frame by frame to create a motion picture.
Stop-motion animators reshape modeling clay sculptures frame by frame to create a motion picture.
Cutout-motion
Cutout-motion
Artists build each scene of the stop-motion animation using flat cutouts of material like paper or fabric.
Artists build each scene of the stop-motion animation using flat cutouts of material like paper or fabric.
Object motion
Object motion
Animators utilize everyday objects such as toys or dolls. Lego toys are particularly popular.
Animators utilize everyday objects such as toys or dolls. Lego toys are particularly popular.
Pixilation
Pixilation
Artists apply stop-motion techniques to human actors who pose for long series of photos.
Artists apply stop-motion techniques to human actors who pose for long series of photos.
Puppet animation
Puppet animation
Puppet characters, slowly manipulated for each photo, supply the action.
Puppet characters, slowly manipulated for each photo, supply the action.
Silhouette animation
Silhouette animation
The stop-motion animator backlights objects to create shadows, which are then captured as still images.
The stop-motion animator backlights objects to create shadows, which are then captured as still images.
Benefits of using stop-motion animation software
Stop-motion animation is a rewarding but painstaking art, requiring the sequencing of more than 100,000 still images for a feature-length production. Sophisticated stop-motion animation software makes the task significantly easier.
Stop-motion animation is a rewarding but painstaking art, requiring the sequencing of more than 100,000 still images for a feature-length production. Sophisticated stop-motion animation software makes the task significantly easier.
Blend analog with CGI
Animators can save time and resources by creating digital models of characters, sets, and facial expressions in stop-motion programs before building or 3D printing the physical parts.
Animators can save time and resources by creating digital models of characters, sets, and facial expressions in stop-motion programs before building or 3D printing the physical parts.
Cloud-based collaboration
Powerful cloud-based stop-motion animation software centralizes mountains of data, making it accessible from anywhere and coordinating smooth workflows between artists, directors, producers, and production managers.
Powerful cloud-based stop-motion animation software centralizes mountains of data, making it accessible from anywhere and coordinating smooth workflows between artists, directors, producers, and production managers.
Optimized scheduling
Stop-motion software with machine learning–based generative scheduling can spread many thousands of tasks across a large team in minutes, and then adjust for changing variables on the fly.
Stop-motion software with machine learning–based generative scheduling can spread many thousands of tasks across a large team in minutes, and then adjust for changing variables on the fly.
SHADOWMACHINEs Art Department Production Manager Whitney Schmerber presents on stage at Autodesk University.Bringing Pinocchio to life with Flow Production Tracking software
Bringing Pinocchio to life with Flow Production Tracking software
One of the most significant and talked about stop-motion animation features in recent years was Guillermo del Toro’s reimagining of the classic tale Pinocchio. Animation and production studio SHADOWMACHINE were instrumental in making the stop-motion animation a success; they used Autodesk’s Flow Production Tracking software to coordinate the massive effort between the many stop-motion animators and other team members. Watch this Autodesk University talk featuring Art Department Production Manager Whitney Schmerber.
One of the most significant and talked about stop-motion animation features in recent years was Guillermo del Toro’s reimagining of the classic tale Pinocchio. Animation and production studio SHADOWMACHINE were instrumental in making the stop-motion animation a success; they used Autodesk’s Flow Production Tracking software to coordinate the massive effort between the many stop-motion animators and other team members. Watch this Autodesk University talk featuring Art Department Production Manager Whitney Schmerber.
Applications for stop-motion animation
Since the early days of stop-motion animation, it has found uses in many different applications.
Since the early days of stop-motion animation, it has found uses in many different applications.
Feature films
Feature films
Many beloved films have used stop-motion animation in part or for the whole movie, including family fare like Coraline and Frankenweenie, and feature productions such as Mad God by VFX wizard Phil Tippet and Charlie Kauffman’s comedy-drama Anomalisa.
Many beloved films have used stop-motion animation in part or for the whole movie, including family fare like Coraline and Frankenweenie, and feature productions such as Mad God by VFX wizard Phil Tippet and Charlie Kauffman’s comedy-drama Anomalisa.
Short films
Short films
Short films made with stop-motion animation have etched themselves in cinema history, including Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers.
Short films made with stop-motion animation have etched themselves in cinema history, including Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers.
Advertising
Advertising
Stop-motion animation can be used for marketing purposes, helping capture audiences’ attention and make a brand stand out.
Stop-motion animation can be used for marketing purposes, helping capture audiences’ attention and make a brand stand out.
Art
Art
As an art form, stop-motion animation offers a highly creative and expressive medium with which to share artistic ideas with the world.
As an art form, stop-motion animation offers a highly creative and expressive medium with which to share artistic ideas with the world.
Software for stop-motion animation
Flow Production Tracking
Maya
Media & Entertainment collection
The music, sound effects, and voice-over used in stop-motion animation are all recorded separately and then combined with the images to create the final product.The importance of sound effects in bringing stop-motion to life
The importance of sound effects in bringing stop-motion to life
Because stop-motion animation consists of a sequence of still images, sound effects and music must be applied separately. This addition of sound is as important as capturing the images—it will enhance the animation for the audience, allowing them to suspend disbelief and become immersed in the narrative. Sound and music are also integral in creating mood, atmosphere, and tone. You can use stop-motion animation software such as Flow Production Tracking to coordinate the visual and sound elements of your production effectively.
Because stop-motion animation consists of a sequence of still images, sound effects and music must be applied separately. This addition of sound is as important as capturing the images—it will enhance the animation for the audience, allowing them to suspend disbelief and become immersed in the narrative. Sound and music are also integral in creating mood, atmosphere, and tone. You can use stop-motion animation software such as Flow Production Tracking to coordinate the visual and sound elements of your production effectively.
Customers using stop-motion animation
Connected data and cloud production yield a stop-motion opus
Connected data and cloud production yield a stop-motion opus
Award-winning stop-motion studio LAIKA uses Generative Scheduling in Flow Production Tracking (formerly ShotGrid), as well as Maya and Inventor to design digital models and facial expressions before physical production.
Award-winning stop-motion studio LAIKA uses Generative Scheduling in Flow Production Tracking (formerly ShotGrid), as well as Maya and Inventor to design digital models and facial expressions before physical production.
Mixed media shop keeps shorts sweet
Mixed media shop keeps shorts sweet
Production company Passion Pictures combined CGI with stop-motion, including 3D printed model heads, to produce a hybrid animation ad.
Production company Passion Pictures combined CGI with stop-motion, including 3D printed model heads, to produce a hybrid animation ad.
Making a real boy takes next-level organization
Making a real boy takes next-level organization
To handle the stop-motion animation of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio after the pandemic required sudden remote work, Portland’s SHADOWMACHINE turned to Autodesk Flow Production Tracking as a centralized source of truth for scheduling.
To handle the stop-motion animation of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio after the pandemic required sudden remote work, Portland’s SHADOWMACHINE turned to Autodesk Flow Production Tracking as a centralized source of truth for scheduling.
Stop-motion animation resources
Stop-motion animation resources
Chris Ohlgren of HouseSpecial explains some of the real-life differences between working on highly collaborative computer animation and the straightforward but laborious grind of stop-motion animation.
Chris Ohlgren of HouseSpecial explains some of the real-life differences between working on highly collaborative computer animation and the straightforward but laborious grind of stop-motion animation.
Stop-motion studio LAIKA at work
Award-winning feature-length stop-motion animation studio combines classic stop-motion techniques with CGI from Autodesk Maya and thousands of digitally designed 3D-printed puppet parts to achieve its feature Missing Link.
Award-winning feature-length stop-motion animation studio combines classic stop-motion techniques with CGI from Autodesk Maya and thousands of digitally designed 3D-printed puppet parts to achieve its feature Missing Link.
Stickybones puppet for stop-motion
A duo of experienced animators uses Autodesk Fusion to create a time-saving, highly versatile stop-motion animation puppet.
A duo of experienced animators uses Autodesk Fusion to create a time-saving, highly versatile stop-motion animation puppet.
What you’ll need for stop-motion animation
Stop-motion animation requires a few basic elements, including:
Stop-motion animation requires a few basic elements, including:
Props and characters
Props and characters
Depending on the type of stop-motion animation, you’ll need a variety of materials to create your characters and the worlds they inhabit.
Depending on the type of stop-motion animation, you’ll need a variety of materials to create your characters and the worlds they inhabit.
Stills camera
Stills camera
The quality of your animation depends on the quality of the camera you use to capture each image. A DSLR camera is best, but modern smartphones can yield impressive results for amateurs. You’ll also need a tripod to ensure that the camera remains still between shots.
The quality of your animation depends on the quality of the camera you use to capture each image. A DSLR camera is best, but modern smartphones can yield impressive results for amateurs. You’ll also need a tripod to ensure that the camera remains still between shots.
Armatures
Armatures
An armature is essentially a skeleton for the figures and props that you will be animating. It may be made of wire or similar materials and allows you to move and pose your characters in the positions you need.
An armature is essentially a skeleton for the figures and props that you will be animating. It may be made of wire or similar materials and allows you to move and pose your characters in the positions you need.
Lighting
Lighting
Don’t underestimate the importance and impact of lighting in stop-motion animation. LED lights, reflectors, and more can be used to provide focus and set the atmosphere and tone of your piece.
Don’t underestimate the importance and impact of lighting in stop-motion animation. LED lights, reflectors, and more can be used to provide focus and set the atmosphere and tone of your piece.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) on stop-motion animation
Stop-motion animation is created by artists arranging puppets, clay figurines, paper cutouts, or other physical objects into a scene and taking a photo. The stop-motion animation artists then manipulate the objects slightly, take another photo, and repeat that process many times, often 30 photos per second of film time.
This large quantity of still images is sequenced in order within specialized stop-motion animation software with capabilities designed for stop-motion animation to create a motion picture. The resulting animation is then edited like any other video, including adding music, voiceover, and sound and visual effects.
There are six major types of stop-motion animation:
Claymation uses modeling clay sculptures that are reshaped frame by frame.
Cutout-motion utilizes flat cutouts of material such as paper or fabric to create each scene.
Object motion utilizes everyday objects such as toys or dolls.
Pixilation applies stop-motion techniques to human actors who pose for long series of photos.
Puppet animation uses puppet characters, slowly manipulated for each photo.
Silhouette animation backlights objects to create shadows that are captured as still images.
The main difference between 3D animation and stop-motion animation is in the medium of what’s being animated.
For 3D animation, artists create 3D models and environments within software and can manipulate them in innumerable ways, potentially making photorealistic images. With stop-motion animation, artists manipulate physical objects and photograph them frame by frame to create a film with sequenced still images.
While the cost of 3D animation is coming down, stop-motion animation can generally be done with a lower budget than 3D animation. Both animation styles can be very time-consuming.