Active Stop Motion Posts
News: History of the World Explained (Using Hundreds of Buckets of Paint)
If you have yet to see the work of famed graffiti artist/filmmaker Blu, you're in for a real treat. Blu creates films with painted still images (graffiti style), installed in various public spaces. He photographs the paintings, and then assembles them into a stop motion animation.
News: Toy Story 3's Opening Short "Day & Night" Outshines Feature
Toy Story 3 has received rave reviews across the board. Curious, a couple of us here at WonderHowTo went to see it last night. We found it to be decent. Not fabulous. The opening was exhilarating. Full of action and humor and a thoroughly dynamic use of 3D, but the rest of the movie didn't exude the same energy. The story was sweet and touching, and the characters were as lovable as ever. However, I was looking for a little more action.
News: Truly Insane Fire Animation
Brusspup once again blows my mind (see previously below). His latest project is an extremely well executed animation, using a grid of tea candles to represent classic video games.
News: 2,000 Watercolor Paintings + 3 Months Hard Work = 1 Amazing Animation
Loving Breakbot’s newest single, Baby I’m Yours, featuring Irfane. But I'm even more impressed by the music video. Created by Irina Dakeva (of Wizz Design), the rotoscope animation was tediously made with over 2,000 watercolor paintings. Check out motionographer's interview with Irina on her process. Previously, Björk Rides Magnificent Waves of Clay.
News: Do Do Do, DoDo Do-Do, DoDoDo-Doo DoDoDo DoDoo...
Does that (hopefully somewhat correct) tune ring any bells? Here's a reminder: Once upon a time there were two Italian plumbers named Mario and Luigi. Mario and his sidekick resided in the Mushroom Kingdom, a monarchy ruled by the beautiful Princess Peach. Mario's mission: stop the villain Bowser from his numerous attempts to kidnap the lovely princess.
How To: Create a flipbook animation
Flip book animation is a very cool video effect that is relatively easy to make. Check out this tutorial and learn how to make your flip book come alive as an actual cartoon! In this video, graphic designer and author, Alan Lastufka, shows you how to make your very own mini animated film using paper, pencil and some fancy editing technique. If you have a couple of hours to kill, why not make a flip book cartoon and impress your friends?
News: WTF! That Car's Got Better Hair Than Me
Man, I'm kinda jealous of this car's hair. It's blowing in the wind so nicely (mine just doesn't flow like that)!
How To: Use Bafran computer program to animate flying Legos
As many of you stop-motion animation practitioners out there have probably realized, Legos are a great material for that medium, allowing for great diversity while being relatively easy to work with. Can they fly though? This video features a British boy explaining how to use a free computer program called Bafran to make Lego characters appear to be flying in an animated video.
News: Papercraft Parkour Brought to Life by Hand (Literally)
Parkour + Papercraft + Animation... what could be better? Truly original piece of work entitled "Parkour Motion Reel" by Serene Teh and Noel Lee. Previously, Sick. Decapitating-Head-Exploding Paper Animation (NSFW!)
News: Trip Out On This (Perhaps NSFW)
Far-out animation entitled "Love and Theft" by Andreas Hykade of Germany. Careful - there's some slightly risqué imagery in there (depending on how liberal-minded your boss is). Apparently Hykade was inspired by Bob Dylan:
How To: Make a stop motion video
In this tutorial, from Zappos, learn how to make a simple stop motion video. This process is a lot easier than you would expect and this video is here to give you a step by step.
How To: Make a LEGO stop-motion movie
In this how to video, you will learn how to make a LEGO stop motion movie. First, you must create your set. The base plate must be taped down to the table or a hard surface. To create the animation, move the LEGO man's leg and take a picture. Move it again and take another picture. Keep on doing this until he reaches the destination you want. The more pictures you take the smoother the video will be. To edit the animation, import it to your computer and open up your movie editing program of c...
News: If Neo Was a LEGO
This incredible brick film titled "Trinity Help" is a frame-accurate stop-frame animation of the famous
News: LEGOmation
Brickfilms. Michel Gondry brought LEGOmation into the spotlight with his "Fell in Love With a Girl" music video (White Stripes). However, LEGOmation has been around since the late 80's, the first known brickfilm being Lindsay Fleay's The Magic Portal.
News: Grand Theft Auto-Style Car Chase Via Google Maps
Fun little animation from Honest Directors, in which Google Maps hi-res satellite footage of New York is used to create a faux car chase through the streets of Brooklyn. Previously, Evil Pixels Demolish New York City.
News: The Buildings Are Alive
Amazing building facade animation art by Urban Screen. "How it would be, if a house was dreaming"... Previously, Magical LED Graffiti "Paints" With Video.
How To: Make a claymation video
In this Film and Theater video tutorial you will learn how to make a claymation animation video. This is a Zappos how to video. The equipments that you will need for this are a camera on a tripod, a trigger so that your camera stays steady, constant source of light and clay. Make some animation characters with the clay. Start moving your characters around and take a picture of the movement. When you are editing, each picture will take up two frames. If you want to be in slow motion, then put ...
How To: Shoot a stop-motion animated film
This video will show you how to make a stop motion film using an editing program called Windows Movie Maker. Find a place to film your stop motion movie. Preferably a well lit area where the light source is constant. Set your camera on a tripod and position at the angle you prefer. Place the object you want to use in your film outside of the camera's view, and take a picture. Move your object slightly into the camera's view and take another picture. Repeat this many times, until your object i...
News: T-Shirt War (Stop Motion Style)
This clever stop motion film by comedy duo Rhet and Link uses 222 t-shirts and few special effects. To learn more about the process, check out the second video in the gallery below.
HowTo: Bake With Photoshop
As a slightly belated birthday tribute to Photoshop (Photoshop turned 20 this past Friday), here is a clever stop animation short honoring the software.
How To: Make a moving gif from Myspace using GifNinja
The first thing you have to do make a movie is to click on Start and go to windows Movie Maker. And then click on Import media to edit the video which you want. And then drag the selected video to Time line at the bottom. If you want to make your movie for less than a five seconds or so click on the Trim and drag it to your left hand side. When your done with that click on file menu and click on publish movie. You can name your file and can also choose the destination you want and then click ...
How To: Create a stop-motion Lego fire
Add some flames to your brickfilms! A little fire always helps light up a scene, especially in your legomation creation. Check out this video tutorial to learn how to create a stop-motion Lego fire. This Lego animation technique will show you how to start the fire and keep the fire going. It's perfect for your next brick film masterpiece.
How To: The HowTo Behind Avatar
There's a HowTo behind everything, including the astounding, just released 3-D Avatar. Reviews across the board agree with one thing: the film is visually breathtaking. PopSci explains the technology behind the filmmaking.
How To: Make claymation
There's something magical about stop-motion animation made with clay, it's an ideal medium for depicting strange transformations. In this short tutorial you'll learn how to make a simple claymation movie of your own. The video introduces you to some of the materials you'll need, shows you a little about animating and takes you through some of the steps to upload your animation onto your computer for editing.
How To: Make realistic claymation characters
As a beginning stop-motion animator, there's a lot of trial and error. What tools and materials do you use? How do you sculpt realistic clay figures? This video tutorial walks you through some of the essential materials, and demonstrates sculpting a torso out of Super Sculpey.
News: Beautiful Animated Boxes Conducted by Drummer
You don't want to miss this animation. The overall concept -particularly the color, movement and sound- is beautiful. The piece is entitled "Box Animation, performed by Mike Edel, and created by Jordan Clarke.
News: Sick. Decapitating-Head-Exploding Paper Animation (NSFW!)
VIDEOGIOCO, an insane animation by Donato Sanson and Enrico Ascoli. Careful. Definitely NSFW, particularly in the 0:30 range.
News: Björk Rides Magnificent Waves of Clay
Whether you love Björk or you hate her, her Wanderlust music video is must-not-miss. Created by Encyclopedia Pictura, a California based production company, the video combines live action, puppets, scale models, and computer generated animation.
How To: create animation by hand
One great, award winning How-to. Produced 20 year ago. You might have observed that on Sundays we tend to slow down the pace. Which is to say that we enjoy offering a leisurely How-to on the Lord's holy day. Be patient, Tonto: the subtitling is primitive: and the running time is as long as it needs to be: and yes, it was produced before the frenetic era of the internet.
How To: Do different types of traditional hand animation
This film was awarded the Green Ribbon in Itami Film Festival, 1993. Learn how various techniques of animation work and see some amazing examples- including an animated pin up girl! The film is in Japanese dialogue with English subtitles.
How To: Sculpt the face of a polymer clay stop motion armature
This video animation tutorial demonstrates the process of sculpting a human face out of polymer clay as part of an armature for stop motion animation. The demonstrator begins by molding a piece of polymer clay into the general shape of a human skull and neck, and impresses the more finite features with the aid of a flexible sculpting tool. Watch this instructional video and learn how to sculpt the face of a polymer clay stop motion armature.
How To: Make a Lego man walking animation
If you're planning on being the next Ridley Scott of brickfilms, then maybe you need to start off with a few basics, like in this video tutorial about how to make a Lego man walking animation. Creating a world of moving legos for your "legomation" masterpiece starts with the simplest things... walking.
How To: Create a phenakistoscope (early form of animation)
The phenakistoscope is a predecessor of the flip book, but don’t worry: it’s easier to make than pronounce.
How To: Make stop-motion animation with Windows Movie Maker
Watch this video tutorial to see how to make stop-motion animation with Windows Movie Maker. First, you'll have to take all of the pictures for your animation, with your action figures, Legos... dolls. Import all of your pictures onto the timeline in Windows Movie Maker. Now, just learn how to edit it and time it out right in the software program. Before you know it... one sweet ass animated video.
How To: Do stop motion animation
Blake Whitaker shows you the basics of doing stop motion animation. You are going to need some particular equipment, and a lot of creativity.
How To: Become a cartoon animation master
Want to become a cartoon master? Want to make your own animations? Well, you've found the right place!
How To: Make an animated movie
Hey, want to make an animated movie, but you don't know how to start? First of all, you need a good idea. Good ideas are hard to find, but you could always steal one from someone more talented than you. Found a good idea? Very good. Now take good care of it, over time that idea will turn into a story almost by itself.
How To: Animate LEGOs for stop motion animated brickfilms
Watch this in-depth video tutorial on how to animate LEGOs for stop motion animated brickfilms. This is a detailed peek behind the scenes of stop-motion animation from the director of the "Circle Circle Dot Dot" music video, Blunty3000.
How To: Widen a LEGO mini-figure's arm motion for brickfilms
If you're into animation, you can't pass this up... see how to widen a LEGO mini-figure's arm motion for brickfilms. Brickfilms are animated films using LEGO, Mega Bloks, or other plastic construction building block toys. Most are stop motion, but some brickfilms are even made with CGI, traditional animation and live action.
How To: Animate stop motion films with iKITMovie
iKITMovie is stop motion animation software for PC's running Windows XP or Vista. All you need is a computer and a USB webcam or USB streaming camcorder and you are ready to make your own brickfilms or clay animation (claymation) movies. If you wish, you can simply import your JPG images (640x480) that you have already taken with your camcorder or digital still camera for simple editing.