Stop-Motion Animation: How to Make and Share Creative Videos by Melvyn Ternan
Stop Motion Animation: How to Make and Share Creative Videos
Melvyn Ternan
Apple Press
If you want to create a stop-motion film it is often daunting, as there is a lot of preparation and pre-production to consider. This book aims to simplify the process in the clearest way possible in order to assist with the transition or perhaps begin a budding animator’s venture into stop-frame animation from scratch.
In this well laid out, step-by-step guide Melvyn covers everything from software to seting up, from prop-building to editing, as well as different types of stop-motion techniques. The book uses QR codes throughout, linking the smartphone-ready reader to video clips of examples used in the book.
As stated before, the book is very much a beginner’s guide to starting out stop-frame animation. I personally found the book ideal for trying out simple animation tests and idea generation for workshops with children or young adults. It doesn’t really go into the finer points of producing a sophisticated animated performance, nor does it go into much detail about puppet fabrication, but rather gives a very simplified and cost effective way of giving all the different techniques a try. The book, put simply, is a ‘how to’ guide to create stop-motion animated videos on little to no budget.
Nice additions to the book come in the form of case studies that support the different techniques explained in the book, with insight into a wide range of practitioners’ work from student films like Kevin Parry’s The Arctic Circle, to the Aardman short films Gulp and Dot by Will Studd and Ed Patterson representing the breadth of materials and adventurous nature of stop-motion.
The chapters on equipment give a comprehensive rundown of the different quality and price ranges of cameras and capture/editing software, in order to allow any reader the opportunity to create animated films, whatever their budget.
A particularly interesting and well thought-out section is the chapter dedicated to animating on new technology and how to create your own setup for shooting on equipment like the iPhone. Offering both a makeshift setup for both vertical and horizontal shooting. As well as opening up the prospect of animation to anyone, this is also a great idea for recent graduates struggling with creating or practicing stop-motion on their own at home; Given how crucial it is to stay practiced in the world of stop-motion animation, without the need of expensive and high quality equipment this book sheds light on the possibilities to test and refine your abilities without splashing out.
This is a fun and engaging book, packed full of examples and ideas. It is a great way of laying the groundwork for creating your own animated film; it covers the basics and would give any stop-motion enthusiastic a solid start.
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