Stop-motion animation : frame by frame film-making with puppets and models / Barry J C Purves.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. What is stop-motion? -- 2. Focusing the idea -- 3. The puppets -- 4. Preparations -- 5. Tools and techniques -- 6. Movement and performance -- --

Introduction -- -- 1. What is stop-motion? -- The beginnings -- The illusion of movement -- Physicality -- A continuous performance -- Special effects -- Wholly animated films -- A one-minute film: The story -- -- 2. Focusing the idea -- Art and truth -- Externalizing internal thoughts -- Stories and themes -- Them and us -- Approaching the story -- A change of perspective -- Out of the mouths of... talking umbrellas? -- Economics -- A one-minute film: Who and where? -- -- 3. The puppets -- Telling the story with puppets -- The physical puppet -- Telling characteristics -- Stylized movement -- Heads and replacements -- Eyes -- Hands -- Puppet size -- Clay -- Other techniques -- A one-minute film: Getting ready -- -- 4. Preparations -- Working with others -- Storyboards -- Sets -- Costume -- Colour -- A one-minute film: Practical puppets -- -- 5. Tools and techniques -- Practicalities -- Lighting -- Sound -- Dialogue -- On-set effects -- Editing -- A one-minute film: Filming -- -- 6. Movement and performance -- Animating on the set -- Puppet design and movement -- Helping the movement -- Performance -- A one-minute film: Putting it together -- Conclusion -- A brief history of stop-motion.

"Stop-motion Animation teaches the skills required to develop as a creative stop-motion animator. It explores how all the elements of film-making - camera work, design, colour, lighting, editing, music and storytelling - come together in this unique art form. With advice on how to use the particular types of movement, characters and stories that typify stop-motion, this book is packed with tips and suggestions to help you get the most out of your stop-motion films, accompanied by illustrations and case studies demonstrating how film-making masters through the years have used it in feature films, short films and television. This second edition also introduces and explores two of the biggest innovations of recent years - at opposite ends of the industry. At the top-end, for film-makers with serious budgets, there is 3D printing in the creation of replacement parts for stop-motion characters while at the amateur/student end of the industry there are a variety of cheap, but effective, apps that can turn turn a smartphone into a mini stop-motion studio. The new edition also includes an extended project in each chapter, covering storytelling techniques, selecting an appropriate style, developing a character, set building and lighting, creating a performance and adding music. These projects combine to lead you through the creation of your first one-minute stop-motion animation"-- Provided by publisher.