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1-2-3

Stop Motion (Slowmation)

Stopmotion animation brings inanimate objects to life through careful, frame-by-frame photography. From clay figures and paper cutouts to everyday objects, this hands-on technique creates the illusion of movement by capturing tiny changes over time. It’s a creative way to tell stories or explore motion using real-world materials and your own unique vision.

Your Mission is to plan and create a short stopmotion animation. You’ll design or choose your characters and sets, then capture a series of photos that, when played in sequence, bring your scene to life with movement and personality.

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​Project Goals 

  • Develop skills in planning and executing frame-by-frame animation

  • Learn about timing, pacing, and smooth motion through stopmotion techniques

  • Explore creative problem-solving with physical materials and sets

  • Tell a story or express an idea using movement and composition

FIRST: make sure your KRITA is set up correctly for animating

Level 1

You MUST do all of the animation exercises below:

If you have already completed an Animation Cycle (this semester)

you may either:

- repeat one or more of the exercises to see if you can do better / faster.

- skip ahead to the assignments for this project.

1

Rolling Ball
(Timing)

Animate a ball rolling along a roller coaster. 

2

Bouncing Ball
(Stretch & Squish)

Animate a ball rolling off the abrupt end of a rollercoaster and bouncing on the ground. 

3

The Potato Sack
(Path of Action)

Animate a little potato sack hopping (flopping?) from one side of the canvas to the other

4

Jumping and Falling
(Follow Through) 

Animate a simple character jumping up and falling back down â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹

All four exercises should be completed within ONE 5-day week.

LVL1 CHECKPOINT

AFTER completing ALL 4 exercises,
but BEFORE moving on:​
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1) Name your files correctly:

  • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level-ExerciseNumber

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-Rotoscope-1-1RollingBall

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-Rotoscope-1-2BouncingBall

  • Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.

  • Use hyphens in image or file names --- no spaces.

    • Even though Windows and Mac computers allow spaces, the web is built on systems that do not handle spaces well. When a file name has a space, web browsers often change it to %20, which can cause broken links or make files not load correctly.

    • Using hyphens (-) instead of spaces helps your files work properly online.

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2) Do the level 1 reflection

  • Download the template.

  • Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.

  • RENAME IT

    • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-1

  • Answer the questions. You can focus on one exercise or answer for both.

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3) Hand in all 5 files

Click here.

Level 2

​BEFORE YOU BEGIN

​1) GET the level 2 DESIGN BOOKLET

  • Download the template.

  • Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.

  • RENAME IT

    • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-2

    • Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.

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2) Choose your level 2 assignment (below)​

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3) Start the booklet before starting your assignment

  • Answer the questions in the following sections:

    1. The Assignment-ID and timeline questions.

    2. KNOW WHAT YOU’RE PRACTICING​

    3. FEEDBACK

    4. PLAN YOUR APPROACH

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4) do your assignment​

How to Do Stopmotion

How to Make a Stop-Motion:

What you will need: 

To make a stop-motion-animation, you will need something to...

  • take photos (such as a phone, iPad, or camera),

    • Speak to your teacher ASAP if you do not have one of these.​

  • hold your camera device steady (we have phone-mounts in class)

  • animate with (play-dough, paper, action figures, vegetable peels, etc.)

Storyboarding

For longer animations (aka your Project), you need to make a storyboard.

  • A storyboard is like a comic book version of a movie or animation, where you draw pictures in a sequence to plan out and visualize how each scene will unfold. This helps you organize and understand the flow of the story before actually making the film or animation.

  • Aim for 3-5 major scenes.

  • If you have narration,  write it alongside their storyboard, so that the two work well with one another.

Construction!

  1. Gather your materials.

  2. Build your characters/sets/props.

  3. Set up your stage, including setting up your photo-taking device.

    • If using one of the phonemounts, make sure you have a shutter remote and connect with it via Bluetooth (the remote lets you take pictures without touching/bumping your phone!)

      • Speak to your teacher ASAP if the battery is dead!

  4. Start taking your photos, moving your pieces bit by bit between each shot. Remember, you have 8 photos per second of footage.​

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Re-Construction!

Uploading, Editing, and Narrating.

  1. Uploading:

    • Goal: to get photos from your device to the computer

    • Ms. U has had the best luck uploading to a Cloud Storage that she can also access on the computer, like the OneDrive app.​

    • You will have A LOT to move so email won't work.

    • Make sure ALL of your photos are saved in one folder, that is ONLY for this animation.

      • ex) OneDrive > Media Design 11 > Walk Cycle Stopmotion FRAMES​

  2. Editing

    • Decide if you want to edit your photos (eg: increase the contrast).

    • Happy with your photos? Open up Windows Movie Maker

      • Yes, it's old. And it's still the best.​

      • If our computers don't have it anymore, alert Ms. U immediately. 

    • Start a new project and copy all of your images into WMM.​

    • Select all of the new frames (Ctrl-A) and change their speed to 0.125 (aka 1s/8f).

      • Want to slow down or speed up specific frames? Just select them and change the speed.

  3. Narrating​​

    • Record your dialogue with your phone (see uploading above) or use one of the class headsets that have a mic.​

    • You can copy your audio file into your WMM project. Place it so it plays at the correct time.

    • You can do the same for music and sound effects.

Sharing!

  1. Make sure your WMM file is saved

    • Save it in the folder that contains the Frames folder.

  2. Go to File > Export​

    • Save it as an MP4.

    • Make sure you follow the class file-naming protocol!

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You're Not a Robot!

Make sure you hand in BOTH your final animation video

AND the WMM project file.

Pick and Do 1 Assignment using Stopmotion:

A

Walk Cycle

Create a looping walk cycle using a simple modeled character, focusing on timing, weight, and smooth motion.

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focus on:

  • clear key poses (contact, passing, up, down)

  • consistent timing and spacing

  • a sense of weight and balance

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Choose this if you want to build strong animation fundamentals and practice making movement feel natural and believable.

B

2-Second Transformation

Create a short looping animation where one shape or object smoothly transforms into another.​

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focus on:

  • clear start and end shapes

  • smooth in-between motion

  • a loop that resets cleanly

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Choose this if you enjoy experimenting with transformation and creative transitions.

LVL2 CHECKPOINT

AFTER completing your assignment,
but BEFORE moving on:​
​

1) Name your file(s) correctly:

  • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level-WhichOneYouPicked​

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-Stopmotion-2-AWalkCycleWMM

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-Stopmotion-2-AWalkCycleFinal

  • Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.

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2) FINISH the level 2 reflection​

  • aka the last section in the Design Booklet.

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3) Hand in all 3 files

Click here.

Level 3

The Project

Let's get to it! For this project, you will create a short, 8–15second  stopmotion animation that tells a clear story using physical materials and frame-by-frame animation. This is your chance to bring objects to life and communicate an idea through action.

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Your goal is to tell a complete, understandable story using movement, timing, and visual choices. Your animation should have a beginning, middle, and end — even if the story is very simple.

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Why Short Animations Matter:

Short animations aren’t easier — they’re stronger.

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When you only have a few seconds, every frame has to count. You have to think carefully about timing, movement, and storytelling instead of filling time with extra motion. Professional animators often work in short clips for this exact reason: short animations force clear ideas, strong planning, and clean execution.

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A well-made 8–15 second animation can show emotion, action, or a full story moment more effectively than a longer animation that’s rushed or unfinished. In this project, your goal isn’t to make more frames — it’s to make better ones.

Think of it like a visual sentence instead of a paragraph: concise, intentional, and powerful.

​​​​​​BEFORE YOU BEGIN

​1) GET the level 3 DESIGN BOOKLET

  • Download the template.

  • Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.

  • RENAME IT

    • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-3​

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​2) fill out the booklet as you do the project.

Your Stopmotion must include:

  • A 8–15second stopmotion animation

    • that's approximately 64–120 frames for 8 FPS. Make sure your camera-device has the space!

  • A clear narrative moment (something changes, happens, or is revealed)

  • At least one main character or subject (object, figure, or material)

  • Evidence of intentional planning (poses, staging, and sequencing)

  • Smooth playback with consistent frame spacing

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Focus on:

  • Story clarity over complexity

  • Clear cause-and-effect between actions

  • Staging and composition so the viewer knows what to look at

  • Using movement to communicate emotion or intent

 

Ready to Make?

  • Animation method: Stopmotion (physical materials)

    • ​We have plasticine, paper, and LEGO in class.​

    • You are welcome to bring materials from home.

  • Length: 5–10 seconds

  • Frame rate: 8 FPS (frame speed in WMM = 0.125)

  • Camera setup must stay stable throughout filming

    • Use a phone mount or tripod!​

  • Use consistent lighting and background​​

  • Export as a video file (MP4)

 

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To Help You Get Started:

 

1) Decide What Your Story Is About
Your story does not need dialogue or text. Think in actions, not words.

Good story ideas include:

  • A character trying and failing, then succeeding

  • An object that comes to life

  • A transformation or surprise

  • A problem and a solution

  • A loop with a twist at the end

If you can explain your story in one sentence, it’s probably strong.

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2) Choose the Right Materials
Think about what your materials can do naturally:

  • Clay for morphing and transforming

  • Paper or cutouts for flat, graphic movement

  • Objects (toys, tools, food packaging) for character animation

Choose materials that support your story, not fight it.

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3) Plan Before You Animate
In your Design Booklet Prototype Section:

  • Write a short story summary (beginning / middle / end)

  • Sketch key moments or frame

  • Decide where the most important action happens

  • Plan how your story ends

 

4) Animate with Intention

  • Move objects a small amount between frames

  • Take your time — rushing creates jumpy motion

  • Fix problems early instead of “hoping it works later”

  • You can't check your playback while taking photos (otherwise you may bump your camera) but you CAN adjust the speed when assembling in WMM.

 

Once your animation plays smoothly and the story is easy to follow, you’re ready to export.

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This project brings together everything you practiced in Levels 1 and 2:
you've got this!​​​

LVL3 CHECKPOINT

AFTER completing your project:​
​

1) Name your file(s) correctly:

  • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level​

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-Stopmotion-3WMM

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-Stopmotion-3Final

  • Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.

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2) FINISH the level 3 reflection​

  • aka the last section in the Design Booklet.

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3) Hand in aLL 3 files

Click here.

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4) Return to the Media Design page and repeat the 1-2-3 cycle with a new project!​​

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