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, you will learn about developing a story, making models, creating set and props, the mechanics of movement, filming, postproduction and how to set about finding that elusive first job in a modern studio.

Introduction : playing God, getting equipped, getting animated, keep it simple : developing your story, coat hangers for armatures, model makers : the professionals, four walls and a sky : sets and props, sound advice, the mechanics of movement, the performance, filming, post-production, getting the job : the business of animation.

Student and amateur stop motion animators
Secondary market - professional animators.

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.