Stop Motion: Craft Skills for Model Animation

Table of contents

1. Front Cover
2. Half Title
3. Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation
4. Title Page
5. Copyright
6. Dedication
7. Contents
8. acknowledgements
9. elements of an animation shoot
10. chapter 1 introduction – playing God
    1. nature and caricature
    2. what this book is for
11. chapter 2 getting equipped
    1. what is your aim?
    2. recording formats
    3. film
    4. video/DV
    5. animation software/frame grabbers
    6. essential and non-essential extras
    7. the animator’s toolkit
    8. lighting
    9. editing/sound
    10. rough guide to film/video or DV recording budgets
    11. glossary
12. chapter 3 getting animated
    1. animating familiar objects as a first approach
    2. timing: single frame or double frame?
    3. notes on movement
    4. first experiments: the bouncing ball
    5. the dope sheet/X-sheet
    6. planning
13. chapter 4 keep it simple – developing your story
    1. idea – script – treatment
    2. planning your shots – basic film grammar/composition of shots
    3. the storyboard
    4. editing – animatics and story reels
14. chapter 5 coat hangers for armatures – making your own model
    1. character design
    2. working with modelling clays
    3. making your own puppet
15. chapter 6 model makers – the professionals
    1. the maquette
    2. ball and socket armature
    3. mould making – hard and soft moulds
    4. casting
    5. colouring
    6. costum es/dressing
    7. glossary of model making materials
16. chapter 7 four walls and a sky – sets and props
    1. research the look
    2. design and building of sets
    3. interior sets
    4. exterior sets
    5. forced perspective
    6. making props
    7. rigging
    8. glossary of materials for sets
17. chapter 8 sound advice
    1. pre-production
    2. recording dialogue
    3. lip sync
    4. sound breakdown
18. chapter 9 the mechanics of movement
    1. studies from observation
    2. posing the model
    3. timing
    4. weight
    5. anticipation, action and reaction
    6. walking and running
    7. the illusion of speed
    8. animal and bird movement
19. chapter 10 the performance
    1. character animation
    2. comedy and comic timing
    3. subtle character animation
20. chapter 11 filming
    1. filming information
    2. motion control
    3. lighting
    4. health and safety issues
    5. special effects – tips and hints
    6. final checks before you hit that button
    7. sending your film to the labs
    8. glossary
21. chapter 12 post production
    1. timecode
    2. sound
22. chapter 13 getting the job – the business of animation
    1. know your limitations
    2. different work, different studios
    3. commercials
    4. series
    5. TV specials and features
    6. applying for jobs
    7. your showreel
    8. festivals
    9. sending proposals to commissioning editors
23. bibliography
24. appendix 1
    1. software, camera and recording equipment suppliers
25. appendix 2
    1. manufacturers and outlets
26. appendix 3
    1. calendar of animation festivals and film festivals incorporating animation
27. appendix 4
    1. animation courses that include or specialize in stop motion and related organizations and websites
28. index