After high school, I got accepted to California Institute of the Arts, which is a film school that specializes in animation.
CalArts tasked me with creating a short film with as many animation techniques as I knew.
The movie I made is called “Surreality”, a short film that utilizes stop motion animation, in conjunction with real-world actors and locations.
Take a break from reading this story, and click the ‘play’ button to watch the “Surreality” short film.
Now that you’ve seen “Surreality”, let’s review how you can make your own movie, too.
We’ll assume that you, the reader, already have a story idea for your own stop-motion movie project.
Ready to transform your story idea into a real movie?
Make Your Movie
To begin your own stop motion animation adventure, you’ll need a camera.
It’s likely you won’t need to buy any special camera; use whatever camera you have, including your smartphone.
Modern smartphones and digital cameras can produce excellent results for your filmmaking project.
For “Surreality,” I used a Nikon D80 DSLR camera, which allowed me to capture high-resolution still images, and I could change the lenses to get different perspectives.
If you have a camera, then you can move on to the next step.
Plan Your Movie
Before diving into any movie production, it’s crucial to plan your project.
A good way to start planning your movie is to create storyboard examples and thumbnail sketches in order to visualize and communicate your ideas to others.
The storyboard is important for stop motion animation, and it’s almost like a comic-book version of your movie.
It’s ok if your storyboards are just stick figures, since that leaves room for creative interpretation.
Animate Your Movie
Speaking of ‘stick-figure drawings’, the “Surreality” short film had sections of hand drawn animation, such as the introductory credit sequence.
There are scenes of 2D animation in “Surreality”, but the majority of the scenes use ‘stop-motion animation’ – what does that phrase mean?
Stop-motion animation is a technique that brings inanimate objects to life frame by frame, creating a unique and captivating visual effect.
If you’re wondering how to make a stop motion video, start with simple stop motion ideas.
You could animate everyday objects, clay figures, or even paper cutouts.
The key to stop-motion animation is to move your subject in small increments, taking a photo after each movement.
Over time, you’ll gradually develop an animation intuition.
Timelapse In Your Movie
Another technique used in “Surreality” was timelapse video, which can add dynamic energy to certain scenes.
Using the timelapse method involves taking photos at set intervals, and then playing them back at a faster speed, compressing time visually.
Matte Your Movie
For more elaborate scenes, I experimented with matte painting in order to expand the scene around the story’s main character.
Matte paintings allow you to create backgrounds that would be impossible or impractical to construct physically.
With a matte painting, you have a powerful tool for expanding the visual scope of your project.
Edit Your Movie
Once you’ve captured your various frames and video clips, the next step is learning how to edit videos.
Software like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere can help you assemble your frames into a seamless animation.
The editing stage is where you can refine timing, add music or sound effects, and polish-up your final product, before you show it to an audience.
Just Start Stop-Motion Animating
If you’re still asking, “How can I make a stop motion video?” remember that the most important thing is to start creating.
Begin with whatever equipment you have available, even if it’s just a smartphone and some household objects.
The beauty of stop motion animation lies in its accessibility – with patience and creativity, anyone can bring their ideas to life.
Creating “Surreality” was a learning experience that taught me valuable lessons about filmmaking, creativity, and perseverance.
For aspiring filmmakers and animators, I hope my experience serves as inspiration. You don’t need expensive equipment or a large crew to create engaging movies.
With creativity, determination, and a willingness to learn and experiment, you can produce work that stands out and tells your unique story.
Have Fun and Share Your Results!
I encourage you to start your stop motion animation journey today.
Gather your equipment, brainstorm ideas, and begin creating.
Whether you’re using a smartphone, a DSLR, or even traditional film, the most important thing is to start telling your stories.
When you finish your short film, share your creations and let’s continue to inspire and learn from each other in this ever-evolving world of filmmaking.