- Briefly outline what stop motion animation is and how it is done.
Stop motion animation is a film that is created with a series of images played back one after the other in order. With Lego, the character is placed in a position, then a photo is taken. The character is the moved slightly and another photo is taken. Each photo is slightly different from the previous and following, creating a series of photos. When the photos are “flipped through “in order, or shown one after the other quickly, the character will appear to move. It is similar to flipping through a book.
- Who was one of the first animators to create story driven and coherent stop motion films? What innovations in the process of character building is he responsible for?
Arthur Melbourne-Cooper was one of the first animators to create a stop motion film with a story line. It was called Matches: An Appeal, produced in 1899. His films were some of the first to have a storyline, them and unique animation techniques.
- What is go motion and what film was it first used for? Why could this process of animation only be used recently (last 20 years)?
Go motion is basically stop motion animation, except a blur is added to scenes with motion. This makes the characters and actions seem more alive to the viewer. It was first used commercially in Star Wars the Empire Strikes Back, for some of the creatures and robots. This technique was only possible in more recent years because of the technology required to get the effect.
- What are the requirements (equipment) in order to create a stop motion film short?
To create a stop motion short film, a Camera, set, posable characters, computer program, a base are needed. The characters must be posable as the film is created with a series of photos. The set and base could be green screened or could actually be models but are often three-dimensional. There are also many roles such as script writing, story line grabber, animator and set design needed to create a film.
- Watch the Lego Stop Motion movie – “You Callin’ Me Old?” What are the limitations of using Lego characters when trying to create realistic movements and actions? How did the animators create Lego Characters who can talk? Can you think of any other way to show a Lego Character Talking? The story is a simple one issue plot, why do you suppose they chose to keep things simple when it comes to the story/plot?
Lego characters do not have knee or elbow joints which makes their movement stiff and robotic. When animating with Lego, a pig board is used as a base. Since each peg is a defined space apart, the movements are on a grid rather than completely free. Lego characters arms only move forwards and backwards not out to the sides like real humans, which once again limits their actions. To create a Lego character who can talk, they switched the head with a smiling closed mouth for a head with an open mouth. Because they switched back and forth between the two it looked as though the character was opening and closing its mouth another way to show a character talking could be moving it slightly like it’s nodding its head. Since “you calling me old “was a stop motion animation short film, the plot was relatively simple so that it could be animated and voiced over relatively easily. Anything complex is hard with stop motion animation and very time consuming, so a short story line is easier.
