S T O P MOTION Animation

Time-Based Media: art that uses duration as a dimension to the work that unfolds to the
viewer over time.
Animation: the illusion of motion captured by playing static frames (drawings, photographs,
etc) of separate movements in rapid succession.
Stop Motion Animation: animation that is captured one frame at a time with physical
objects that are moved between frames. When the sequence of images is played back
rapidly, the illusion of motion appears.

Frame: an individual picture in a sequence of images.

Shot: the basic building block or unit of film narrative; refers to a single, constant take
uninterrupted by editing or cuts; can also refer to a single frame.
Scene: a unit of film composed of shots that take place in the same setting.
Sequence: In film, a sequence is a series of scenes that form a distinct narrative unit.

Films are made of sequences - sequences are made of scenes - scenes are made of shots

Narrative: art that tells a story.

Video #1: Evolution of Stop Motion

1. Were you familiar with any of the featured examples? Which ones?
The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Terminator, Paranorman,James and the Giant Peach
and Caroline.


2. Was there a clip from something you might like to know more about or watch in its
entirety?
I would like to know more about the King Kong movie at that time. I saw the later versions
with humans.



Video #2: I Love Stop Motion

3. Describe the process of stop motion animation as illustrated in this video.

Emile Cohl brought stop motion to America and since then many directors, such as Steven
Spielberg and Nick Park have used stop motion as a special effects technique.

Video #3: Behind the Scenes of Kubo and the Two Strings

4. After watching this behind the scenes look at Kubo and the Two Strings, what do you now
understand about the process of stop motion animation that uses puppetry?
It takes a lot of and hard work, time, and patience when using puppetry in a stop motion
film. To create another scene the crew must make new faces for the puppets emotions, and also
new outfits when they change. Directors must move the puppet a little every time and then take a
photo and keep doing this process until theyve achieved their goal.

5. Travis Knight, Kubo director shares some illuminating information about the process of
this project. Before working any visual development and making objects / puppets for the
film, what did the animation team work on for two years? Why is this important?
The animation team worked on the foundation of the script for 2 years and figuring out the
characters.

6. How long did Kubo take to create from start to finish?
5 years from start to finish.



7. At the end of the interview, Knight shares what he loves so much about handmade stop
motion. What are his sentiments about the art form?
He loves the ambition and desire of creating a film.

Video #4 / 4.5: Gulp: The Worlds Largest Stop Motion

8. What did the animators need to do with the Nokia phone to shoot this film?
Put it on a cherry picker high in the air in order to capture the scenes.

9. What surprised or interested you about the animators process for Gulp
Their creativity and dedication to create a film that was shot on a phone is amazing. The
process was unique and it involved lots of people to create the film. It was definitely an interesting
process.




Video #5: Dot: The Worlds Smallest Stop Motion

10. List at least 15 tiny objects you spotted in Dot.

Coins, pins, crystals, bee, sand, pencil shavings, safety pin, pencil, light bulb, screw, flowers,
ladybug, bolts and pins, nails,

Video #6 / 6.5: The Science of Sleep

11. How does Michel Gondry blur the lines between dreams and reality using stop motion
animation?
He made it seem as if the people were actually doing the things they dreamed by gradually
transforming scenes.




Video #7: Buttons for Eyes from Coraline

12. Describe the feeling of this scene from stop motion C oraline between Coraline and the
other parents. How would you feel if you were Coraline?
This scene is bizarre because the other parents want says that in order for Coraline to stay she
must sew in buttons as her eyes. I would have reacted the same way that she did because I
wouldnt want anyone near my eyes with a needle and thread.

Video #8: Lazy Mom Artist Collective gifs

13. Choose 1 gif to discuss. What is happening in this gif?

In the gallon of milk gif, one half of gallon is full while one is empty. They are switching being full
or empty.

14. Describe the process for making this work.
The author would have had to patiently have one half of gallon of milk being filled or emptied with
the milk.

Video #9: Peter and the Wolf

15. Who are the characters in this story?

The characters are peter, peters grandfather, the duck, the cow, and the wolf.

16. What is the setting?
The woods in peters backyard.




17. What is the plot?
A wolf ate peters duck and tried to eat him. Thed wolf was captured but his grandpa wanted to
shoot it but peter stopped him. His grandpa tried to sell the wolf but peter releasedit despite what
it has done.



18. Does the animator use only still shots, (the camera doesnt move) only tracking shots (the
camera follows motion), or a combination of the two?
It could be a combination.