Puppet Making Tutorial

Foam latex is generally the material of choice for a flexible stop-motion puppet, but some of us can’t go and bake toxic chemicals in the kitchen stove.  Rubber latex isn’t as flexible, but it is an expectable alternative.  This tutorial covers the steps for creating a stop motion puppet with a rubber latex head.

Here is the list of tools and materials, excluding what is needed for the armature, eyes, and costume:

Tools

Sculpting tools

Assorted brushes

Hot glue gun

Hair dryer

Bowls

Stir stick

Fan

Scissors

Screw driver

Materials

Plastalina or Roma Clay

Sculpey 

Floral tape

Aluminum foil

Rubbing Alcohol

Hot glue

Wood board

Foam board

Mold release

Petroleum jelly

Hydrocal plaster

Water

Rubber latex

PaintAluminum armature wire

Plumber’s epoxy putty

An Armature We Can All Afford

Of course a ball-and-socket armature is ideal for a stop-motion puppet, and there are some nice kits out there.  But a wire armature is an effective low-budget alternative, and can be a good option for secondary characters as well.  This tutorial goes through every step of creating a wire armature.  It is a method I taught at the Academy of Art, and observed some common mistakes made by beginners.  So as a bonus, here are some additional tips:

• Make your puppet as light-weight as possible.  Choose light-weight material.  If the puppet is going to walk, it needs to stand up on one foot.
• Clay puppets must not be top-heavy.  Design must take this into account.  The head and chest can have a lighter material at the core.
• Clay puppets will also stand better if they have big feet.
• Shop for the right stuff.  Especially the armature wire.
• Have wipes or a wash cloth standing by while working with epoxy putty.
• The wire will eventually break.  Greater space between bones will spread out the bending point and reduce breakage.
• Practice fitting the bolt into the bottom of the foot through the platform before animating.  It’s tricky.

A Motion Blur Trick

Okay, so adding motion blur to bad animation won't make it better, and plenty of great stop motion animation is produced without it, but I think it's a fun effect.  It's a way of smoothing out fast moves, and can be done in a subtle way so it doesn't draw attention to itself.

And not to suggest that this is the only way to do it.  If you have a different way of accomplishing motion blur, please share it in the comments below.

Getting a Little Animation Done

So there I was, poised and ready to get a new stop motion tutorial out there after an epic first semester teaching at the Academy of Art, when the 11 Second Club puts up an irresistible audio clip for the January competition.  The idea of animating dialogue I didn't understand was intriguing.  So I spent a chunk of semester break creating the above animation.  Finished second place.

I plan to have a new tutorial up on the subject of motion blur within the next couple of days.

Animating Backwards

Animating a complex metamorphosis effect in clay can be an epic task. Try animating it backwards and reversing it in post production. Start with your final sculpture and animate it transforming into a blob or simple shape. Then export your frames in reverse or flip your animation in editing. This method will give you greater control over the final appearance of the character, and will go a whole lot faster than forming a detailed character one frame at a time.  Lots more details in the above tutorial.

Experimental Animation

This semester I will be teaching experimental animation at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. While researching examples of found-object animation I came upon this collection of creative projects.

Hallmark Announces Stop Motion Special "Jingle All the Way"

Okay, I'm plugging this because I'm on the animation crew...

In the tradition of TV’s best-loved animated Christmas classics, Hallmark Channel announces the World Premiere of “Jingle All the Way,” a Hallmark Channel Original Animated Special, starring one of Hallmark’s most lovable characters, Jingle the Husky Pup™, which premieres exclusively on the network, Friday, November 25 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C).

In “Jingle All the Way,” a spirited Husky puppy looking for a home at a Christmas tree farm instantly bonds with a young boy visiting with his parents. As the boy rides away, unable to keep him, the pup escapes and embarks on a snowy journey to find his friend again. Guided by a wise cardinal and the sound of jingling bells, he eventually receives the help he needs from a big man in a red suit just in time for Christmas morning.

The animated special offers the first-ever opportunity for viewers to activate the Jingle Interactive Storybook and Story Buddy™ while watching original program content based on the book.

“Jingle All the Way” is a Bent Image Lab Production. Chad Harris, Jodi Schade, Diana Stuart, Shawn McClaren and Ray Di Carlo are Executive Producers. Tsui Ling Toomer is Producer. Chel White directs from a teleplay by Allan Neuwirth.