stop motion is an animation technique that consists of creating the illusion of movement from static objects, through a series of successive photographs. It is a form of art and expression, which requires a lot of creativity and patience. With stop motion you can create fascinating and original stories, using different types of objects, such as plasticine, paper, toys or people.
Would you like to learn how to make your own stop motion with mobile? It is easier than you think. You only need a mobile with a camera, an application to edit photos and a lot of imagination. In this article We are going to explain how to make a stop motion with your mobile, what rules it has, what examples you can find and what tips can help you improve your technique.
What is stop motion?
Stop motion is an animation technique that is based on the principle of retinal persistence, which causes the human eye to perceive a sequence of still images as a moving image. To create a stop motion, you need a camera, a tripod, a light source and an object or character that you want to animate. The process consists of the following steps:
- The object is placed or character in the starting position and a picture is taken of it.
- The position is slightly changed or the expression of the object or character and another photograph is taken.
- The previous step is repeated as many times as necessary, until completing the action or scene that you want to show.
- The sequence is played of photographs at a certain speed (usually between 12 and 24 frames per second), to create the sensation of movement.
stop motion It is a very old technique, which dates back to nineteenth century, when the first devices to project moving images were invented. Some of the pioneers of stop motion were Émile Reynaud, Georges Méliès or Segundo de Chomón. Stop motion reached its peak in the XNUMXth century, with films like King Kong (1933), Forbidden Planet (1956) or Star Wars (1977). Today, stop motion continues to be a highly valued technique used by filmmakers such as Tim Burton, Wes Anderson and Nick Park.
Examples of Stop Motion
There are many examples of stop motion, both in film, television, advertising and the internet. Some of the most famous examples are:
- Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): is a film directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton, which tells the story of Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween, who decides to celebrate Christmas in his town. The movie is made with articulated dolls and elaborate settings, which create a dark and fantastical atmosphere.
- Wallace and Gromit (1989-2008): is a series of short films and a movie created by Nick Park, which tells the adventures of Wallace, a cheese-loving inventor, and his intelligent dog Gromit. The series is made with plasticine figures and has a very British and witty humor.
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009): is a film directed by Wes Anderson and based on the homonymous book by Roald Dahl, which tells the story of a fox who steals food from three evil farmers. The film is made with stuffed animals and has a very peculiar and detailed style.
- The Lego Movie (2014): is a film directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, which tells the story of Emmet, a Lego worker who must save the world from an evil tyrant. The movie is made with Lego pieces and figures and has a very dynamic and fun pace.
How to make a stop motion with the mobile?
To make a stop motion with your mobile, no need to have a big budget no professional team. All you need is a mobile phone with a camera, an application to edit photos and a lot of imagination. Here are some tips for making your own stop motion with your mobile:
- Choose the theme and script of your stop motion. Think about what story you want to tell, what characters you are going to use and what scenarios you are going to create. Make a script with the actions and dialogues that your stop motion will have.
- Choose the material and style of your stop motion. You can use any type of object or material you have on hand, such as playdough, paper, toys, or people. You can also choose the style that you like the most, such as realistic, comical or abstract.
- Prepare the space and lighting of your stop motion. Find a place where you can place your phone with a tripod or a fixed support, so that it does not move or blur. Also look for a natural or artificial light source that is constant and uniform, to avoid shadows or color changes.
- Take your stop motion photos. Use your mobile app or a specific app to take your stop motion photos. Remember to slightly change the position or expression of your object or character between each photo, and take as many photos as necessary to complete your story.
- Edit and play your stop motion. Use your mobile app or a dedicated app to edit and play your stop motion photos. You can adjust the brightness, contrast, color or sound of your photos, and choose the playback speed you want. You can also add music, effects or texts to your stop motion.
This brilliant technique, now at your disposal
Stop motion is an animation technique that consists of create the illusion of movement from static objects, through a series of successive photographs. It is a form of art and expression, which requires a lot of creativity and patience. Stop motion can be apply to different types of objects, such as playdough, paper, toys or people. You can also make stop motion with your mobile, using an application to edit photos and following some tips.
We hope this article you liked it and you learned about stop motion, its examples and how to do it with your mobile. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave us a comment. It's time to create your shorts!