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http://www.oscarstringer.co.uk/

There are many different types of software and types of animation. We are going to focus on stop motion animation. (Which is the type of thing used to create Wallace and Gromit.)

To create a stop-motion animation you need: a camera or video camera, Windows Movie Maker, (which all PCs have) or some other film editing software. You will also need something to animate.

Stop Motion Animation

• Keep it very simple.
• Don’t have too many characters.
• Adapt stories that both students and teachers are familiar with.
• Larger objects are easier to manipulate.

Using Models

• Focus on the main feature of the animal or character you are making.
• Keep facial features to a 2 or 3 (e.g. eyes, nose, mouth)

Areas where animation can be used are:

• in team building for staff,
• developing interpersonal/ people skills.
• as a learning resource for all subjects
• for creativity in Art
• to improve literacy in English
• for calculations in Maths.

One of the benefits of animating is that everyone starts at the same level so it is suitable for students of mixed ability.

Filming Tips and Tricks

• The moves in-between each picture don’t have to be too small.
• To avoid the objects you are animating looking like they are twitching then you will need to do the maths and work out how many shots you will need to take.
• To slow down the animation, you will need a pause. You do this be keeping the object/subject still and taking several photographs.

Bringing your animation to life
You make think once you’ve done your animation and edited it that that will be it, but no. One of the key things with any film or animation is the music. Here are a list of useful websites to get royalty free sound effects and music from.

www.findsounds.com
www.partnersinrhyme.com
www.freeplaymusic.com (this music can only be used in school.)

Also, here are some links to free animation programmes
StopMojo www.mondobeyondo.com/projects/stopmojo/
MonkeyJam www.giantscreamingrobotmonkeys.com/monkeyjam