Stop motion : craft skills for model animation

✍ Scribed by Susannah Shaw

• Publisher: Focal Press
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 219
• Series: Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

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.
* A full-colour, practical introduction to the craft skills of model animation
* Benefit from the advice of top international animators such as Nick Park and Tim Hittle
* The only book to provide a model animator with all they need to know to work in a modern studio

✦ Table of Contents

Front Cover......Page 1
Stop Motion: Craft skills for model animation......Page 4
Copyright Page......Page 5
Contents......Page 8
Acknowledgements......Page 12
Elements of an Animation Shoot......Page 13
chapter 1. introduction – playing God......Page 14
nature and caricature......Page 16
what this book is for......Page 19
what is your aim?......Page 21
film......Page 22
video/DV......Page 25
animation software/frame grabbers......Page 26
the animator’s toolkit......Page 28
lighting......Page 29
editing/sound......Page 30
rough guide to film/video or DV recording budgets......Page 31
glossary......Page 32
animating familiar objects as a first approach......Page 34
timing: single frame or double frame?......Page 35
notes on movement......Page 36
first experiments: the bouncing ball......Page 37
the dope sheet/X-sheet......Page 40
planning......Page 41
idea – script – treatment......Page 45
planning your shots – basic film grammar/composition of shots......Page 48
the storyboard......Page 52
editing – animatics and story reels......Page 56
character design......Page 59
working with modelling clays......Page 62
making your own puppet......Page 65
chapter 6. model makers – the professionals......Page 77
the maquette......Page 78
ball and socket armature......Page 79
mould making – hard and soft moulds......Page 84
casting......Page 89
colouring......Page 94
costumes/dressing......Page 95
glossary of model making materials......Page 96
research the look......Page 98
design and building of sets......Page 99
exterior sets......Page 104
forced perspective......Page 107
rigging......Page 108
glossary of materials for sets......Page 109
chapter 8. sound advice......Page 111
pre-production......Page 112
recording dialogue......Page 113
lip sync......Page 116
sound breakdown......Page 119
studies from observation......Page 122
posing the model......Page 125
timing......Page 126
weight......Page 128
anticipation, action and reaction......Page 131
walking and running......Page 135
the illusion of speed......Page 137
animal and bird movement......Page 138
character animation......Page 142
comedy and comic timing......Page 145
subtle character animation......Page 148
chapter 11. filming......Page 151
filming information......Page 152
motion control......Page 155
lighting......Page 156
health and safety issues......Page 157
special effects – tips and hints......Page 158
final checks before you hit that button......Page 163
glossary......Page 164
timecode......Page 166
sound......Page 168
chapter 13. getting the job – the business of animation......Page 170
commercials......Page 171
series......Page 173
TV specials and features......Page 174
applying for jobs......Page 176
your showreel......Page 177
sending proposals to commissioning editors......Page 178
bibliography......Page 182
appendix 1. software, camera and recording equipment suppliers......Page 184
appendix 2. manufacturers and outlets......Page 188
appendix 3. calendar of animation festivals and film festivals incorporating animation......Page 192
appendix 4. animation courses that include or specialize in stop motion and related organizations and websites......Page 206
index......Page 214