Stop Motion: Craft Skills for Model Animation

To make great animation, you need to know how to control a whole world: how to make a character, how to make that character live and be happy or sad. You need to create four walls around them, a landscape, the sun and moon - a whole life for them. You have to get inside that puppet and first make it live, then make it perform. Susannah Shaw provides the first truly practical introduction to the craft skills of model animation. This is a vital book in the development of model animation which, following the success of Aardman's first full-length film 'Chicken Run',is now at the forefront of modern animation. Illustrated in full colour throughout you are shown step by step how to create successful model animation. Starting with some basic exercises, readers will learn about developing a story, making models, creating sets and props, the mechanics of movement, filming, post production and how to set about finding that elusive first job in a modern studio.

Table of Contents:
acknowledgementschapter 1introduction, playing Godnature and caricaturewhat this book is forchapter 2getting equippedwhat is your aim?recording formatsfilmvideo/DVanimation software/frame grabbersessential and non-essential extrasthe animator's toolkitlightingediting/soundrough guide to film/video or DV recording budgetsglossarychapter 3getting animatedanimating familiar objects as a first approachtiming: single frame or double frame?notes on movementfirst experiments: the bouncing ball the dope sheet/X-sheetplanningchapter 4 keep it simple, developing your storyidea script treatmentplanning your shots, basic film grammar/composition of shotsthe storyboard editing animatics and story reelschapter 5 coat hangers for armatures making your own modelcharacter designworking with modelling claysmaking your own puppet chapter 6 model makers, the professionalsthe maquetteball and socket armature mould making, hard and soft mouldscastingcolouring costumes/dressingglossary of model making materialschapter 7 four walls and a sky, sets and propsresearch the lookdesign and building of setsinterior setsexterior setsforced perspectivemaking propsriggingglossary of materials for setschapter 8 sound advicepre productionrecording dialoguelip syncsound breakdownchapter 9 the mechanics of movement studies from observationposing the modeltimingweightanticipation, action and reactionwalking and runningthe illusion of speedanimal and bird movementchapter 10the performance character animationcomedy and comic timing subtle character animationchapter 11 filmingfilming informationlighting motion control health and safety issuesspecial effects tips and hintsfinal checks before you hit that buttonsending your film to the labsglossarychapter 12post productiontimecodesound chapter 13getting the job the business of animationknow your limitationsdifferent work, different studioscommercialsseriesTV specials and featuresapplying for jobsyour showreelfestivalssending proposals to commissioning editorsbibliographyappendix 1software, camera and recording equipment suppliersappendix 2manufacturers and outletsappendix 3 calendar of animation festivals and film festivals incorporating animationappendix 4animation courses that include or specialize in stop motion and related organizations and websites

Review :
'A wonderful introduction to a rather complicated and unique art form.' Ray Harryhausen director of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, and Jason and the Argonauts 'Don't attempt stop motion before you read this book! Susannah has covered everything in this no-nonsense approach to the industry.' Richard Goleszowski director of Creature Comforts and Rex the Runt 'Stop Motion contains a huge amount of valuable information for the budding stop-frame film maker. A great addition to the film craft library.' David Sproxton, co-founder and Managing Director of Aardman Animations 'Practical, informative and full of quotes from key characters in the story of the stop-frame industry. I wish I'd had this book when I was a student.' Joan Ashworth, Head of Animation, Royal College of Art'When it comes to animating, this excellent book covers timing of movement, story development from idea to script, compositing you shots, editing and so on. Susannah's book will certainly make you want to get out there and get started on model animation.'Pat Raine Webb, Animatoon magazine, February 2004"...a mine of information. This book gives an unrivalled detailed technical overview of the subject."The Times Higher Education Supplement"...an attractive, easy to handle paperback with clear and concise text...This is the perfect book for anyone contemplating getting into model animation."Dope Sheet"This is a truly fantastic book. If you want to learn how to do stop motion animation film-making or to do animation well, read this book closely, do the exercises and follow the instructions. This book is beautifully laid out and illustrated with copious useful diagrams and photographs."Focus magazine