Stop motion: craft skills for model animation

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1. Introduction - playing God

What is stop motion?

Nature and caricature

What this book is for

Chapter 2. Getting equipped

What do you need?

Choosing a camera

Lenses

Animation software/frame grabbers

Tripods

Lighting

The animator's toolkit

Editing/sound

Glossary

Chapter 3. Getting animated

Animating familiar objects as a first approach

Setting up for the first time

Notes on movement

Timing: single frame or double frame?

Squash and stretch

The dope sheet/X-sheet

Planning

Chapter 4. Keep it simple - developing your story

Idea - script - treatment

Planning your shots - basic film grammar/composition of shots

The storyboard

Editing - animatics and story reels

Chapter 5. Coat-hangers for armatures - making your own model

Character design

Working with modelling clays

Making your own puppet

1. Simple wire and plasticine puppet

2. Durable clothed puppet

Chapter 6. Model makers - the professionals

The maquette

Ball-and-socket armature

Mould making - hard and soft moulds

Casting

Coloring

Costumes/dressing

Model-making masterclass - ScaryCat Studio and the Duracell bunny

Glossary of model-making materials

Chapter 7. Four walls and a sky - sets and props

Research the look

Design and building of sets

Interior sets

Exterior sets

Forced perspective

Making props

Rigging

Glossary of materials for sets

Chapter 8. Sound advice - the voice track

Pre-production

Recording dialog

Sound breakdown

Lip sync

Music and effects copyright

Chapter 9. The mechanics of movement

Studies from observation

Posing the model

Timing

Weight

Anticipation, action and reaction

Walking and running

The illusion of speed

Animal and bird movement

Chapter 10. Animation masterclass - Teresa Drilling

The model

On what creates a character

First position

The extreme downward position

On Vinton's

Beginning the upward move

Slowing down at the top of the move

Settling into the final position

Chapter 11. The performance

Character animation

Comedy and comic timing

Subtle character animation

Chapter 12. The production process

Lighting

Health and safety issues

Setting up the camera

Shooting with a rig

Special effects - tips and hints

Final checks before you hit that button

Interview with Tim Allen

Glossary

Chapter 13. Post-production

Timecode

The picture edit

Sound

Titles and credits

Exporting your final film

Chapter 14. Getting the job - the business of animation

Know where you stand

Different work, different studios

Commercials

Series

TV specials and features

Applying for jobs

Your showreel

Starting out as a runner

Festivals

Sending proposals to commissioning editors

Bibliography

Appendix 1. Software and recording equipment suppliers

Appendix 2. Manufacturers and outlets

Appendix 3. Calendar of animation festivals and film festivals incorporating animation

Appendix 4. Animation courses that include or specialize in stop motion, and related organizations and websites

Index