Stop-Motion Animation

Stop motion animation is a way of creating the animation by moving physical objects by hand and using photography to piece the sequence together. The objects are usually made from clay, puppets or paper. 

Skills needed

• Range of stop-frame animation techniques, including excellent sculpting skills
• Strong communication with colleagues and can function well as part of a team
• Close attention to detail and able to work meticulously and creatively
• Can work well under pressure and follow a brief
• Strong organisational skills
• Operate relevant animation and camera equipment
• Knowledge of a wide range of materials

Job roles

• Modelmaker trainee
• Junior modelmaker
• Modelmaker
• Head modelmaker
• Assistant animator
• Animator
• Key animator

Duties include

• Developing animation from concepts
• Creating storyboards from scripts and detailed frame-by-frame visuals
• 2D drawing to design sketches, artwork or illustrations, as well as models, backgrounds, sets, characters, objects and animation environments
• Developing the timing and pace of the movements of a character or object during the frames
• Using technical software packages such as Flash, 3ds Max
• Working alongside editors

Hand-Drawn Animation

Skills needed

• Knowledge of the 2D animation process and animation principles such as pose, timing and stretch
• Understanding of post-production
• Able to work to strict schedules
• Strong communication skills
• Able to understand the continuity of a narrative
• Able to use programmes such as Animo, Toon Boom, Opus, Toonz or Photoshop

Job roles

• Inbetweener
• Digital painter
• Animation director
• Layout artist
• Storyboard artist

Duties include

• Illustrating the narrative and preparing the storyboard, working closely with the writers
• Maintaining the continuity
• Planning actions of scenes, including the background and characters
• Plotting camera moves and predicting technical issues
• Producing neat and creative drawings

Computer-generated animation

Click here to find out more about working in CGI

Useful links

How to break into animation | Tips in 60 seconds

RTS Midlands get animated with Bottletop

Aardman model maker Jim Parkyn shares his secrets of animation

Event report: VFX and Animation

RTS Futures: VFX and Animation