Stop-motion animation, sometimes referred to as object animation, is a popular filming technique which has been around almost as long as film itself. Concerned with filming still-shots of objects (such as toys, blocks, dolls, bricks or paper images) and then compiling the shots in sequence to simulate movement, stop-motion has been a technique which is experimented with since the late 1890s.
Stop-motion animation has been called both a filming and a photography technique, as it can be achieved by compiling a series of photographs or single frame film shots into a short or feature-length film. There are several different types of stop-motion animation, ranging from object animation (figurines and objects are moved in each frame), pixilation, pinscreen animation (pin-pricks in cardboard or plastic are illuminated from behind and added or subtracted in each frame to make moving images), cut-out animation (with different paper objects), time-lapse animation (of moving images such as plants or clouds), and traditional animation (sometimes referred to as cel animation, and traditionally made from cartoon sketches).
Stop-motion animation can be achieved by filming single shots or frames and moving each object or item so that they are in a slightly different position in each frame. Some software programmes have been developed to make this process easier. Stop Motion Pro, iStopMotion, and Monkeyjam are all popular amongst amateur and professional film makers. Because the director is in control of all elements of the film – the director can even manipulate the figures (instead of having to rely upon human actors and their unpredictable behaviour) – the stop-motion filming technique has been popular with film students and experimental film-makers for many years.
Stop-motion animation has been called both a filming and a photography technique, as it can be achieved by compiling a series of photographs or single frame film shots into a short or feature-length film. There are several different types of stop-motion animation, ranging from object animation (figurines and objects are moved in each frame), pixilation, pinscreen animation (pin-pricks in cardboard or plastic are illuminated from behind and added or subtracted in each frame to make moving images), cut-out animation (with different paper objects), time-lapse animation (of moving images such as plants or clouds), and traditional animation (sometimes referred to as cel animation, and traditionally made from cartoon sketches).
Stop-motion animation can be achieved by filming single shots or frames and moving each object or item so that they are in a slightly different position in each frame. Some software programmes have been developed to make this process easier. Stop Motion Pro, iStopMotion, and Monkeyjam are all popular amongst amateur and professional film makers. Because the director is in control of all elements of the film – the director can even manipulate the figures (instead of having to rely upon human actors and their unpredictable behaviour) – the stop-motion filming technique has been popular with film students and experimental film-makers for many years.