INCURSION SESSION FOR STUDENTS
Stop Motion Animation - Claymation
A complete 3D claymation experience . Students can use their own imagination, or your choice of theme or subject that links to a school project; as the focus for this practical session where they will model a character/s and film a story / commercial by re positioning their character/s and using image capture software and web cameras. They will then edit their film using Windows Movie Maker, add titles and credits to complete their film ready for viewing
My Software
RGS AvaCam - freeware image capture software that works with most webcams
Windows Movie Maker - This program is included on all Windows system computers.
The great thing about this software is that students can access the software at no additional cost to continue their claymation in their own time.
Vista and Windows7 users- click here for a link to download a free version
What Is Stop-Motion?
Using a web cam, a windows PC and AvaCam image capture software it is possible to capture one frame of a puppet or object, make a small change to it's posture or position within a scene and then capture another frame. After this is repeated many times over the illusion of movement is achieved by combining all these sequential photos in movie where each photo runs for a split second. The effect is to create the illusion of life-like movement.
To make the animated movie students import their photos, arrange them and edit their in Windows Movie Maker, they add captions, titles, sound and credits to complete their project.
Stop motion animation can be incorporated into a diverse range of subjects and programs: Art - Animation relies on stylized representation of form and movement. Animation provides a unique way to enhance skills gained in visual art training, combining them with other subject areas. English - Animation is commonly used to tell a story; creative writing skills are used to develop plots and stories for short animation.
My Hardware-
- 15 Laptop Computers with all associated electrical leads and power-boards
- Data Projector
- 15 Coreflute Animation stages
- plasticine and modeling tools
- props
- 15 lamps
- 15 web cameras
- Paper & paints for scenery and story boards
- 63 Wire decorated mini figures
What You Need To Provide
- Access to power
- Cleared table space. Minimum of 1m x 70cm per computer and stage
- Chairs
- Enthusiastic students
- Optional- student authored stories/theme that we can animate.
- Optional - Preparatory activities ( supplied)
- Optional - decorated wire figures (see below)
- Optional - painted scenery
Characters - Figures
Ideally, students should create their own characters out of plasticine. However; in practice there is not sufficient time in a half day incursion for students to undertake this process as well as set up a stage with props, take around 200 still photos and then edit in Movie Maker. In addition, when working under pressure students often create spindly plasticine figures that don't stand up well and deteriorate when they are re posed or under lights. Experience has lead me to use wire pos able figures rather than plasticine for these intensive short claymation incursions.
Schools can opt to use my selection of 62 pre decorated figures that I will deliver to the school prior to their incursion day. This will allow students time to select their figures and "bond" with them so that they can incorporate them into their story and storyboard.
Other schools opt to purchase "blank" wire figures and have their students decorate them as part of their art classes ahead of their incursion day. These figures (pictured below) can be purchased from Zart Art Phone 0398901867, ask for Zart Little People, medium sized.(Image and price below taken from the Zart Art 2009 catalogue)
Where possible I will also deliver the "stages" to the school prior to the incursion so that students can paint their scenery and set up the props in their stages.
At the completion of the incursion I will burn all the student's photos and movies on a CD as well as create a "compilation" movie of all the student's work.
Suitable For
years 5-10Session Length
Best outcomes are obtained with a half day minimum session duration due to the number of skills we are employing.Student Skills Required -
some computer experience and competence with a mouse.Preparation
Best outcomes are obtained if teachers and allow students time to decide on a theme/topic, create a story board &/story with at least 4 scenes, draw/paint scenery ( will be "blu-tacked" onto animation stage). Optional - Decorate their own wire figures.
I have prepared a curriculum sequence document that will allow you to prepare your classes and get the most from your incursion.
Where possible I will visit your school well prior to your incursion to discuss the theme for students movies and brief teachers. Book your incursion early so that we can schedule this
Download the Claymation preparation .pdf
Some theme suggestions for your claymation project
This sessions can be designed as:
1. Half Day or full day incursion
2. Your choice, by negotiation
3. Holiday Program - 10am to 5pm (day)
4. Major Term Project - Full day , once fortnight ( this could be with 1, 2 or 3 classes as required) 10 full days
I'm flexible and negotiable so don't hesitate to contact me regarding your session ideas.
In addition schools may select a theme, or use one of my themes for their session.
I am also prepared to design sessions specific to your requirements, please contact me to discuss your ideas.
Maximum Class size - 28 students
Photo showing a school hall set-up for a class of claymation using my equipment
After School and Holiday sessions - 20 students
Special needs students must have an accompanying aid.
Please refer to my index page for my rates and additional information including the dates I have available
Make an Enquiry
Downloads and Information
Teaching Resources
Movie Maker
It's possible that your student's won't complete their movie editing process in their incursion session. The following document provides comprehensive instructions on how to use Movie Maker. Movie Maker is an application that is included in all Windows OP systems. Many people don't know it's even there so look under Program Files on your C drive to locate it.
Vista / Win7 Users
Microsoft hasn't included the original Movie Maker software bundled with their Vista / Win 7 operating systems. Follow this link to download the free Movie maker version 2.6 that will work on these operating systemsMicrosoft Movie maker for Vista / Win7 - free download
Download my instructions for using Movie maker to edit your claymation movie
AvaCam Image capture Software
Use AvaCam (Free version) to capture your images using any web camera. AvaCam is easy to use and versatile. The 'burst' facility (Like a SLR camera) is especially useful
Download AvaCam image capture software
Download PIVOT stick figure animator ( freeware). This is s super application that students can use to animate stick figures. It's a great application for illustrating the "stop motion" side of animation
Incursion Brochure
This .pdf contains an outline of the Claymation incursion plus some basic preparatory activities.
Class Preparation
I will mail/ deliver a CD containing examples of students films that your students can critique.
This .pdf provides a simple "Flip Book"
Or a more current example - Wallace and Gromit
TEACHERS PD SESSION
Claymation - Stop Motion Animation
During this session teachers will make a short film using AvaCam webcam image capture software and edit it using Windows Movie Maker. We'll cover preparation, storyline, software usage, equipment and materials, classroom management and how this media can be integrated into your curriculum to achieve outcomes in several KLA's
Recommended Time Allowance: 2 hours