What is stop motion
Stop Motion animation is an animation and video technique that simulates movements of static objects through a succession of still images that, played consecutively, produce a sensation of movement.
This technique, created frame by frame at about 10 or 15 fps, is characterized by having a very artistic, manual procedure that requires patience and time. To carry it out, almost any material can be used, from plasticine, wood, clay and even people.
In Spanish, this art is referred to as volume animation, although the use of this term is very strange. Before acquiring its name, Stop Motion previously went by many names, "frame-by-frame animation", "volume capture", "crank step", and "stop-by-frame animation" have been some of them.
Stop Motion Origin
The origin of Stop Motion is not really clear. As often happens in the history of cinema, historians and researchers do not agree on what originated from what. Some say it was Georges Méliès, others say it was Albert E. Smith together with J. Stuart Blackton and there is also talk of pioneers in general, among whom Thomas A. Edison or Segundo de Chomón are mentioned.
The reality is that this technique was not sought after, but rather came about by chance and created an infinite universe of possibilities for visual artists and filmmakers. In 1896, the camera with which George Mèliés recorded the movement of carriages and people on the Place de l'Opéra in Paris failed. The shutter failure resulted in a record of scenes in which the images that were recorded gave the impression that people and carriages appeared and changed as if by magic.
From that moment, stop motion evolved and created new stories and possibilities, from the famous Travel to the moon (1902) by Mèliés, going through Cameraman's Revenge from Ladislaw Starewicz (1912), to Tim Burton's stories like Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) o Corpse Bride (2005).
Types of animation in Stop Motion
There are endless possibilities in spot motion and it can be done with almost anything and by anyone, from the most amateur to the most professional. Some of the most used techniques are:
Plastimation or clay animation
Plastimation uses malleable materials such as clay, plasticine, wax, dough, etc. It is achieved by molding materials until the desired shapes and figures are achieved and, once finished, move and deform them in short, meaningful movements.
This technique is usually accompanied by others, since not only the subject of movement is important, but also the environment and circumstances in which it moves. After all, a story is being told.
The evolution of technology has also relapsed on plastimation. There are subcategories such as strata-cut or strata cutting or "clay fusion", sometimes these modalities are accompanied by technology, elements and 3D animation, depending on the budget.
Brickfilm or brick film
The Lego Movie. This type of stop motion is one of the best known, LEGO or similar pieces are used here, always in the shape of bricks and buildable. It is a technique that can also be accompanied by others, not only for the creation of the environment, but also for playing with materials and circumstances. It is generally mixed with plasticine, paper, cotton, etc. Currently, brickfilm is also often accompanied by digital animation and special effects, as in the LEGO movies.
Other types
Cut-out: it is based on the main use of the paper: photographs, cardboard, plastic, fabric, etc. If the objects or characters are made of fabric, seams or glue are often used to articulate them and give them more movement.
Pixilation: it is the technique that people use. In this technique, the actors pose and move frame by frame until the desired sequence of movements is created.
How to do Stop Motion
Stop Motion is not a complicated technique, it can be done with almost any material. But it is true that, for it to turn out well, a series of parameters must be taken into account and, above all, one must be very meticulous and careful. Basically, this technique has no way back, a mistake will make it necessary to repeat the entire movement sequence.
It is important to keep in mind that, in each frame, there must be a slight modification that, later, will create the movement. The smaller that modification is, the more realistic the animation. You also have to keep in mind factors such as light, the axis, the fitting... after all, you are shooting a film that will have to go through postproduction.
The most famous Stop Motion
Visual arts and cinema have always gone hand in hand. They have created works that have made history and even today, they continue to give away movies, series and products that the public consumes daily.
There are the classics: Coraline (2009), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), The Corpse Bride (2005) or Chicken Run (2000). Although there is also a varied list of films in which to enjoy this technique, films that are not so well known but highly recommended. you can see a list here.
