by Janice Blencowe & Gisèle Winger
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Clay animation as seen in the current hit movie "Chicken Run" can be a very exciting hands-on classroom activity. Interested? Read on. |
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Why do clay animation? Students work collaboratively while planning, writing, designing, building and animating a project. Making characters move is a lot of fun. Once you understand the principles of persistence of vision and how to make the characters move, you will be ready to begin. What is persistence of vision? "Moving Pictures" uses a concept called persistence of vision to create an illusion of movement. A movie is actually a series of still images run through a projector. A person watching these images sees movement which is really an optical illusion. You can create a simple animation with as little as two images. Remember the Flip book you once created in grade school? Same principle. Have your students create one prior to beginning your clay animation project. |
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Let's begin! Step 1 -Creating a storyboard. As with any writing activity, students will need to follow the steps for "Process Writing". Planning the story is essential. Creating a web and brainstorming ideas is a great place to begin. Always remember: The story is the most important part of any clay animation project. The more you include in your storyboard, the easier it will be to create with your clay character. |
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Step 2 -What you need to start. You will first need to acquire some modelling clay for your project. Plasticine works best. It is an oil based product and does not dry out and comes in a variety of colours. You will be able to move your character without having the clay crack or split. The modelling clay may be hard right out of the package. Break the clay into smaller pieces and kneed the clay with your hands to make it more pliable. Also remember to use a workmat as it will leave an oil stain on paper, wood or fabric surfaces. Other bits and pieces will be needed for the completion of your character. Collect craft items such as "small styrofoam balls, google eyes, pipe cleaners, beads, etc." Do not use Play dough as it dries out and you will be unable to move/use your figure after it dries out. |
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Step 3 -Your clay character. When you are ready to create your clay character, you will need to think about how the character will look from all angles, and how it will move. It is a good idea to start with an "armature". An "armature" acts as a skeleton for your clay creation. You can use pipe cleaners to form your basic skeleton and cover it with the clay. You need to think about your characters movements at all times. Is it able to stand? Can you make small changes to its position and it can still stand, walk, move? Is it top heavy? Use lighter weight materials inside your character (ex. styrofoam ball for the head or body) and use Plasticine only on the exterior. |
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Step 4 -The set Your character will need a setting or some kind of backdrop. It is important to make sure that your set is secure. Any movement of your set will be very noticeable in the final production. Even the slightest bump usually causes the final animation to appear to be taking place during an earthquake. Also some objects on your set will be made out of clay, but you may use other objects as well. If your set or backdrop is computer generated just make sure that the objects are well proportioned to your clay character. |
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Step 5 -Taking the pictures. Using a digital (or even scanned 35 mm pictures) take stills of each movement for your character. If possible I highly recommend the use of a tripod. That way the camera will be as still as possible. |
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Step 6 -Using Spin Photo Objects. Using Spin Photo Objects you can stitch your still images together to create a "movie". |
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Step 7 - The final production. Figure creation, backdrop design, lighting, sound effects and a musical score are wonderful for enhancing the final production. All which can be added in HyperStudio.
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Great fun. Janice Blencowe & Gisèle Winger attended a workshop given by Melinda Kolk at MACUL 2000. |
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Sharing our new skills with others:
Since 11/25/00