Stop Motion Animation: Create Your Own Cartoon With Clay Characters!

Students in this class will learn about stop-motion animation by creating their own background, clay characters, and using a digital camera and software to animate their characters.  In the first class, we will learn about what stop-motion animation is and how it is created.  We will create our backgrounds and clay characters and understand how to use the digital camera to create our animation's frames.  In between the two scheduled classes, learners will use their digital camera to take pictures of their clay characters, moving the clay slightly between each picture.  In the second class, we will load our pictures into the Filmora Wondershare software, create a title card and credits and edit how long each picture displays to create our finished animations.  Learners also have the option of using iMovie and using their phone to create their animation if they have enough storage for the pictures they take.

I will start each class with a group discussion about what the students already know about animation and how it works.  We will then look at examples and begin on the 'making' stage of our work, checking in with each other throughout the time, and sharing what we are learning and doing.  
Class 1:
During the first class, we will use clay and paper to create their background and characters.  Students will learn about the process of animation from storyboard to completion.  They will create their backgrounds from construction paper and any other materials they wish.  They will then create their clay characters.  We will finish class by learning how to use the digital camera to create the "frames" of our animation and share what we have learned.

Class 2:
In the second class, we will use software to edit the pictures taken.  Students will learn how to edit the length of time a picture is on the screen so that their characters appear to move.  We will finish up both classes by sharing what we created and learned.


As a note, I am happy to teach to single learners and I do not cancel due to low enrollment.