By Leslie Rule

Stop motion animation is an easy way to jump into digital storytelling or movie making. Stop motion is an animation technique where an object is moved incrementally and pictures are taken of each movement. When played continuously the object appears to move on its own. Think Wallace and Gromit, the Incredible Mr Fox, or an old time favorite, Art Clokey’s Gumby.

From a technical point of view, stop motion animation requires few resources: a camera, a computer, and a firewire cable that connects the two. Adobe Premiere and Premiere Elements have specific stop motion functionality, completely automated, with a preview window to see your work in progress. The program captures each shot and drops it into the timeline where it is available to edit. From there, it’s easy to add audio tracks (voice-over and sound effects), transitions, and titles because the images are already in a video editing program.

Stop motion can be a long process…it takes a lot (a whole lot!) of images, but it’s engaging and offers an amazing canvas for the imagination. These examples are all very different (Stickies, Minilongue), but collectively show the great range of creative possibilities stop motion provides. This year my media students have used clay (Claymation), pennies, crayons, and Legos to build and animate their worlds. CommonCraft videos also use stop motion in the service of simple and elegant how-tos.

Besides the obvious ways stop motion animation is different from live action, it is particularly appropriate for younger students and for those who enjoy working with their hands. Normally video editing doesn’t require much tactile manipulation, but stop motion is all about making props and sets and using hands to move objects through the space…all about touching. Students who are especially good at using their hands or especially bad at sitting quietly or keeping their hands to themselves might find they have a new career.

Stop motion can be a long process…it takes a lot (a whole lot!) of pictures, but it’s engaging and offers an amazing canvas for the imagination. If you are registered at the Adobe Essential site, you can download the complete curricula, including the step-by-step how to. If not, registration is free and immediate.