Stop frame animation

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Task Genre Learning objectives Materials and resources Process Extension Links Stills
	Task
	In a small team of 5 or 6 animators create a one-minute stop-frame animated movie. There should be a clear storyline about a topical issue aimed at a youth audience with a cast of at least two. Make your characters from clay, use models, paper or card cut-outs, silhouettes, found objects or toys. The example treatment (see stills below) is on the theme of mobile phone bullying by text messaging and by mobile camera or video. School bullies are now using SMS to hound their victims. Text bullying can continue even after school, so there is no let up for the victim. Children's charity NCH is raising awareness of this 21st century cyber-bullying in an effort to halt it before it becomes too widespread: http://www.nch.org.uk/information/index.php?i=237 Your network should have a number you can call to bar and report calls: Orange 0800 801080, Nokia 0870 0555777, BT Cellnet 01753 565 000. Bullying Online also has advice and useful links: http://www.bullying.co.uk/children/mobile_phone.htm
	Genre
	Stop frame animation, also called stop motion animation, or - as with Tony Hart's Morph and Nick Parkes' animated creatures - claymation. *Note*: Industry standard film animations run at 25 frames per second (fps), making movement seem ‘natural’. Persistence of vision is the phenomenon that tricks our brain into believing that a sequence of still images flashed before the eye moves, because the retina records and retains each one for a tenth of a second before processing the next. The rate of frames per second affects how smooth a movement appears. Thus, at a professional standard, even a one-minute animation would need about 1500 stills. Prepare to accept jerkier movement, or aim for a shorter movie! The default time for still images dropped onto the Timeline in many digital video editors is 0.05 second: this gives a rate of 20 fps and will reduce the total number of still images required. If you adjust the timing for each still to 0.04 second, the rate reaches 25 fps, but more pictures will be needed.

	Learning Objectives
	To research a youth issue To develop characterisation, a script and storyboard for a stop frame animation To create models with moveable parts To make a set and props To capture the storyline using stop-motion photography To use a digital video editor such as iMovie, MovieMaker or Serif MoviePlus to edit the video and make titles and end credits To record a soundtrack for the edited movie To export the movie in a suitable format for viewing
	National Curriculum links Art and design - Unit 9C: Animation; English framework - Year 8 Text level, Writing 8 - Develop an imaginative or unusual treatment of familiar material or established conventions; Year 9 Drama 14 – Convey action, character, atmosphere and tension when scripting and performing plays.
	Materials and resources
	Modelling clay and/or other art materials/or found objects DV camera with still picture feature, web cam or digital camera Tripod Lights (optional) Computer with sound recorder DV editing software
	Process
	Pre-production
	Plan and storyboard the movie as with any other video project, including making decisions about different types of shot, sound effects, whether to script dialogue or a voiceover, or use silent movie techniques with screen captions. See the Digital video project for detailed information and help sheets with this stage.
	Make the models, props and set. Design characters with features that can be remodelled, adjusted, or replaced in the case of cut-outs, for different expressions; and with at least one moveable body part.
	Production
	Set up the camera on a tripod, and allow for the possibility of different types of shot (long, medium, close up), but make sure that the set is always framed. However, bear in mind that one second of film requires 25 stills, so let any shot last for at least one or two seconds, or about 50 stills. Move the models by about one finger width for each shot, making sure that you return them to the correct position after expressions, pose etc have been altered: mark their position with chalk, which can be rubbed off when the figure is replaced. Mark the position of the tripod on the floor with coloured tape.
	As image capture will take some time, perhaps lasting several lessons, try to control the lighting to avoid screen flicker – studio lights with daylight bulbs are ideal for reproducing the same lighting conditions, but if they are not available, improvise with whatever lighting is to hand.
	Post-production
	Make a project folder for each group and create two folders inside it for assets called stills and audio. Download your still images to this folder and keep them as sequentially numbered files in order to arrange them easily in the correct order.
	Open your digital video editing software and choose an appropriate setting for your project. Browse to your stills folder and drop the images in turn onto a video track on the Timeline. Save your project to your main folder.
	Preview the movie and adjust timings if desired.
	Make a title frame and end credits for your movie.
	Add transitions between scenes and any special effect that contributes to the narrative, but be very sparing with these.
	Play the movie through and note timings for the soundtrack accurately.
	Read the script while previewing the video and make revisions to fit the timing.
	Use a sound recorder like the one in Windows (Start > Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Sound Recorder), or an iPod if using iMovie, to record the soundtrack, which could be made in several short segments. Save the sound files to your audio folder.
	Browse to this folder and drop your sound files onto an audio track on the Timeline.
	Adjust the volume at appropriate points, or add additional sound effects on a second audio track. Preview and edit the soundtrack.
	When you are happy with your movie, export it in an appropriate format, depending on your platform (PC or Mac).
	Plan a screening for other classes, the whole school, an open day event, or even organise a mini animation festival with your version of "Oscars" for prizewinning nominees.
	Criteria for success The storyline - original and appropriate to its intended audience Creativity and originality in constructing the characters and setting Characterisation, mood and action Camerawork Soundtrack Overall entertainment value Good teamwork
	Extension
	Design a poster to advertise your film Write both a good and a bad review of the movie Make invitations to the movie première Design and create an award for the best film
	Links
	Find examples of existing stop-frame animations for inspiration on these sites: Toon Hound http://www.toonhound.com/ Billed as "your starting point for info on British cartoon, animation, comic strip and puppet creations of the past, present and future". A good animation resource. Animation Nation http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/features/animation-nation-clips.shtml Mondays on BBC4 from 9pm-10pm starting on April 18th 2005. "This new three-part series on the history of animation in Britain looks at the persuasive power of the medium, its success with children and its counter-cultural uses." Watch clips from the series with RealPlayer, including The Magic Roundabout, I am not an animal - an animal rights theme whose techniques include animated collage. TV Ark http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/ Looking for film clips to illustrate techniques for a digital video project? TV ARK, the Television Museum site, has great archive footage from terrestrial, cable and international channels. Stream or download in Real Player format short video clips of different genres of TV programme: from ads, public information films and children's programmes, to news and opening title sequences. Use the clips to help pupils analyse types of shot, angle, length of clip, pace and other characteristics of a particular movie genre before planning their own.
	Stills from the sample animation


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