I am so happy because next month we’ll be celebrating Halloween 🎃. For me, that means Halloween pretzels, pumpkin spiced latte, and the corpse bride costume as I settle in my bed and watch my all-time favorite musical dark fantasy animated movie, the Corpse Bride.
You know what I love about this movie is the unique storyline and yes, the technique they have used to add a signature, creepy feel. You must be wondering what technique I am talking about it, it’s the STOP MOTION ANIMATION!
Stop motion animation a unique style on its own has been gaining popularity despite being classified as an old-school animation style.
Its steady existence in the video world can be accredited to the likes of popular animated movies such as Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, The Boxtrolls, and the Oscar-nominated film, Fresh Guacamole.
While stop motion animation is a common attribute in all the films we have mentioned, it can also be used in the digital marketing space.
In general, animated videos receive plenty of love from viewers. Why so? Because they are eye-catching, vibrant, and effective to engage with prospects.
As the animated video market has become more saturated than ever, stop motion animation is that one unique style that you can use to stand out.
Here at BuzzFlick, we love ❤️animations! We offer different animation services 2D animation, 3D animation, cel-animation, and motion graphics services, to name a few.
Within the animation industry, we’re always on the hunt to explore new techniques and styles to delight and lure our clients, and of course their target audience.
Unfortunately, stop motion is overlooked. And there are reasons behind it including, preconceived notions, lack of awareness, and time constraints.
Yes, of course, stop motion is among those animation styles that are not suitable for everyone, but, it could be the ticket to your success if used appropriately.
Today, in this blog, we’ll be shedding light on the fundamentals of stop motion animation, its origin, types, and how beneficial this animation can be for marketers.
So, without any further, ado let’s get started.
What is Stop Motion Animation? 😊
Stop Motion also known as stop frame animation is an animation style in which a camera is repeatedly started and stopped, frame-by-frame. This is done in order to provide the inanimate figures and objects with the impression of movement.
How does it work?
When you play back the sequences of the images you have created in speed, it gives the illusion of movement. Stop motion is quite similar to 2D hand-drawn animation that we often see in old works of Disney.
However, in stop motion instead of drawings, we use real objects. It takes fairly long to execute this type of animation if compared to others.
The Different Types of Stop Motion Animation
Stop motion animation is one of a kind, but there are still many ways to use it to boost your brand’s visibility.
Cutouts, clay (claymation), puppets, and even live-action can all be subcategories of stop-motion that can be used to create an engaging promotional or commercial video.
1. Cutouts
Cutout animation usually uses two-dimensional, flat models with joints to create the illusion of movement.
In 1917, a cutout-type movie titled El Apóstol was the first-ever stop motion movie.
Currently, popular examples of this technique include South Park, which originally used cutout animation before transitioning to computer animation.
Explore the technique of producing cutouts and how you might wish to experiment with them.
2. Clay & Puppets
I am putting these two animation styles together since, they are practically identical. A malleable substance is molded around a wireframe and subtly altered for each shot to create the appearance of sequential movement.
Chicken Run (2000), which grossed over $224 million, is the highest-grossing stop-motion animated picture of all time and is categorized as a clay film. In contrast to cuts, everything is in three dimensions.
Clay is more difficult to work with than other puppet materials since it is susceptible to smudges, dust, etc., which disrupts the shooting uniformity.
Puppetry, which is not precisely clay, is the most popular style of stop-motion animation today and is likely what comes to mind when you hear the term.
The legendary Christmas series Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town are early examples of stop-motion puppetry.
Because computers can’t do it for us, the process of producing authentic stop-motion is essentially the same (more on that in a bit) regardless of whether cutouts, clay, or puppets were utilized.
The human element of having to control the subjects bit by bit, moment by moment, in order to obtain a single frame, is still the most captivating component of the process. Computers have attempted to imitate it (South Park or The Lego Movie, for example), but they have failed.
3. Live-Action
While claymation and puppets are real-world objects, stop motion can also employ real-world humans to imitate live-action videos with a twist.
The following movie was created by the filmmaker and photographer Philipp Klein Herrero.
In his own living room, he skied and climbed mountains using household things. This video instantly gained popularity on social media, with many users commenting, “This is really inventive!” and “Extremely smart! I adore the concept, and the execution was flawless!”
The video also attracted the interest of brands. Rab Equipment, outdoor equipment, and apparel business undertook a flat lay challenge in the spring of 2020 to determine how individuals “enjoyed the outdoors” creatively during the first few months of quarantine.
They observed Philipp’s video and posted it on Instagram. From that point on, they began to receive more stop-motion submissions for the contest, many of which incorporated their own products.
This is a terrific example of how stop motion can be used to engage customers and promote products as part of a marketing or social media plan.
Stop Motion Animation Production Process – A Walkthrough 🙂
Stop-motion animation is a technique for creating animated videos by photographing objects and moving them gently between each frame.
Objects are sketched or designed as three-dimensional figures, shot using two cameras side-by-side, and then reconstructed to produce the appearance of movement.
In films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline, this sort of filmmaking takes time and forethought but may produce distinct artistic expressions.
To get started with stop-motion, you must have a camera or equivalent device on your desk that takes photographs when the shutter button is pressed. You will also need models and objects, such as furniture or food, that are easily manipulated into new locations for each frame for your video.
Creating the appearance of movement, this animation technique involves moving an item between a sequence of various places in space. It has existed for decades and is still utilized now. It was conceived in 1908 by French filmmaker Emile Cohl. 📽️
The first animated film was titled “The Artist’s Life” and used stop-motion methods to animate sketches from the director’s notebook.
Stop-motion films are adored by filmmakers due to their inexpensive production costs and creative potential in each frame and transition between frames.
In certain instances, stop-motion animations are produced frame-by-frame, similar to traditional hand-drawn animations.
The art of animation has existed for a very long period. It also continues to change, with new technologies and approaches being introduced each year.
One of the most prevalent styles of animation is stop-motion, which, in the simplest terms, is the animation of a succession of photos shot one at a time from different perspectives, utilizing manual or automatic ways to create the appearance of movement when watching frame by frame.
Animators have popularized this form of animation on YouTube, where many individuals submit films and videos displaying their originality and expertise in this field.
If you are interested in learning more about how stop-motion works, there are several tutorials available online.
The Core Boons of Stop Motion Animation
The invention of stop-motion animation began in the early 1900s and since then it has only increased its popularity as time has progressed.
I’ll discuss the advantages of stop-motion animation, why you should do it, and what tools you’ll need to begin!
This entire narrative begins with George Méliès. He invented a camera system that could move frame-by-frame without the need for cuts or edits, which allowed him to make the renowned film “A Trip to The Moon.”
This new technology enabled him to produce videos that appeared to be drawn on paper, as numerous drawings were superimposed to generate movement.
It is a photographic method in which an object or person is shifted in tiny increments between individual frames. It may be used to create videos, animations, and advertisements.
This article addresses the prevalence of stop-motion videos in marketing due to their low cost and ease of use with few resources.
Since 1998, when they produced “The Carousel” ads, companies such as General Electric have been employing this kind of video creation.
The promo for the carousel was shot in under two days and cost only $5 million to make.
Stop Motion Animation is a form of animation technique that employs a succession of still pictures to simulate movement.
The term is derived from the physical method in which objects are recorded one frame at a time and then played back rapidly in order to give people and things a look they would not have if photographed using normal techniques.
Since the 1980s, when films such as “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “King Kong” boosted their appeal, these have been around for decades.
It can be used as an instructional tool or for children’s pleasure. Businesses can also utilize it to market their goods and services.
This illustrates the advantages of stop-motion animation, such as its adaptability to a variety of sectors and technological accessibility.
This can be used in a variety of ways, but it must always have one thing in common: time-lapse photography!
Resources you might find helpful:
Intriguing Stop Motion Animation Tips ✍️
Now that you know what stop animation brings to the table, let’s now discuss some of the tips that can help you to create classy stop motion animations for your prospects.
Practice makes perfect
Every great animator in history had to begin their career somewhere.
They also attended classes to learn how to create various animation methods, such as stop-motion. You may have the ability to make a video on your own, but if you want it to appear beautiful, you must practice the art form diligently.
Go high-tech or go home!
Any animation production with several layers, such as voice-overs 🎤 , lighting effects, and editing, should always use technology to get it done right.
Using a computer to create special effects for your film will be far easier since it allows for higher quality output and greater precision. 🖥️
Adobe offers several options to apply high-quality effects to your work using a variety of applications.
The right software is the ultimate key to success
Source: Studiobinder
To get the most out of any animation program, you need to enroll in lessons that will educate you on how to use it correctly and provide you with the necessary success tips.
There are several of these lessons available online at sites like Lynda and Creative Cow.
Keep in mind that it is always preferable to learn anything new through a class rather than by viewing internet videos since certain subjects are much simpler to comprehend when presented by an expert.
Useful readings:
Consider enrolling in an in-person course for Stop Motion Animation
Attempting to master this art form on your own can be challenging, especially if you know nothing about it, to begin with.
Attending one of these workshops and meeting other individuals interested in studying stop-motion animation is one method to experience what it’s like to create an animated picture.
Invest in a good camera
Choosing the appropriate sort of digital camera will have a significant impact on the visual appeal of your work.
Investing in a high-quality camera is also essential because they often offer higher-quality outcomes than standard video cameras.
In Conclusion 😄
To put it in simple words, stop motion is another old-school yet unique animation technique that you can make use of to stand apart from the crowd.
Like other explainer video production company, we have also witnessed that often clients are hesitant to use this technique for their animation videos.
But, let me tell you it’s worth trying because everyone these days is going for either 2D animation, 3D animation, or motion graphics video style.
If you want to give a new yet distinctive look to your brand we highly recommend you to go for Stop Motion Animation.
Stop Motion Animation – FAQs
- What is stop motion animation?
Stop motion animation (sometimes referred to as stop frame animation) is an animation that is captured one frame at a time, including the movement of actual objects between frames. When the visual sequence is rapidly replayed, the illusion of movement is created.
2. What are common types of stop motion animation?
The four common types of stop motion animations are:
- Lego and Action Figures
- Claymation
- Cut-out
- Silhouette
3. Which was the first ever produced stop motion animation and when it was released?
Filmmakers Albert E. Smith and James Stuart Blackton, both British emigrés, are credited for creating the first cinematic stop-motion animation in their 1898 short The Humpty Dumpty Circus, which features a toy circus complete with real-life animals and acrobats.
4. Which is the most popular example of stop motion animation?
James and the Giant Peach is one of the most popular stop-motion animated movie examples.
5. How much does stop motion animated video cost?
Well, compared to the pricing of animated videos (2D or motion graphics), stop motion animation is costlier. Generally, it can cost you more than $10,000 depending on various factors.
According to industry examples, the cost can go up to $50,000 per minute.
6. Is stop-motion animation easy?
To learn stop motion, you don’t need expensive equipment or CGI. That is perhaps the coolest aspect of it. Stop-motion animation is a kind of animation that is simple to produce but can be very time-consuming.
An animation enthusiast who enjoys explaining complex animation techniques, mediums, and videos. Her love for animated films drives her. In her spare time, she enjoys watching animated films from Pixar, Disney, and Illumination productions.
