Stop-motion, while not as spread out as other filmmaking techniques, has certainly made its mark in the industry. Even if we're not familiar with the term, we've likely encountered this art form on multiple occasions without realizing what it was. Therefore, today we'll explore precisely what stop-motion is and how it works.
What exactly is Stop-Motion: another way to create motion
When we think of films, our minds typically conjure images of live-action movies or animated ones, whether in 2D drawings or 3D computer-generated imagery (CGI). However, there's a wide range of techniques for filmmaking, and stop-motion is one of them.
Essentially, a film is a series of still images that, when projected successively at a certain speed, create the illusion of movement. This is akin to how the cameras on our iPhones or smartphones function when capturing everyday events.
In traditional 2D animation, these "images" are flat drawings, while in CGI animation, they are digital models. However, stop-motion, also known as "frame-by-frame animation", takes the concept of a "film" quite literally.
Basically, it involves taking an object, whether real or created, rigid or malleable, and photographing it from the same viewpoint —much like a static camera shot— against a backdrop in different positions. By playing back these images sequentially, the movement of the object is simulated. A well-known example of this technique is the British children's series Postman Pat. Additionally, we've seen this art form in the recent reimagining of the classic Pinocchio, by Guillermo del Toro.
Within stop-motion animation, there are several variations that employ different base resources, such as cut-out animation (using flat cut-out drawings), claymation (using clay or other malleable materials), or even pixelation (involving people).
It's a highly artisanal and meticulous way of filmmaking, as it requires a person to move the object or characters millimeter by millimeter with their own hands. Considering that around 24 images are needed for every second of film… one can imagine the sheer amount of effort involved in each stop-motion production. It is truly remarkable.
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