How to...teach claymation

Teaching Pre K-8, Mar 2001 by Lindroth, Linda

Remember the California Raisins? Do your students recall the Pillsbury Dough Boy or Gumby and Pokey? Your students will love creating their own claymation characters complete with movie animation.

WHAT IS CLAYMATION?

Clay animation, or claymation, is a technique by which characters are created out of clay and photographed in a series of pictures that capture very small changes in the position of the character from frame to frame. When these pictures are then viewed in rapid order, the resulting animation makes it look like the character is moving. This illusion is created when the brain fills in the gaps between the still images. A good way to demonstrate this illusion is with the use of flip books or a Thaumatrope.

WHY DO CLAYMATION?

Claymation effectively integrates the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS). Tech4Leaming has a comprehensive standards correlation listed at www.tech4learning.com TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity and promote creativity.

TECHNOLOGY COMMUNICATION TOOLS Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

Implementing these standards using claymation provides students with experience in using the digital camera and imaging software to create the animation as well as CD-ROM, video or the Internet to share the finished claymation.

STEPS FOR GETTING STARTED

1 Identify a curricular area for claymation. Almost any topic can be enhanced with claymation. Student groups should work carefully to develop the story and a plot that will be easy to follow and still be interesting to watch. Some ideas to get you started: Retell a historical event, work with a science cycle like the life of a frog, animate the character in a story or the sequence of a fairy tale. Let students be creative. In a recent teacher training on animation, one group animated building Frosty from a pile of snow. He narrated The Snowy Day for their weather study!

2 Create a story web. Plan your action for the animation by detiding on the scenes and dividing each motion into small steps to be photographed.

ANALYZE THE MOTIONS - Walking, sitting, etc.

DECIDE HOW MANY CHARACTERS

DESIGN BACKDROP FOR THE SCENE determine a stationary object which will be a focal point for the camera. This will keep each frame of your animation in the correct perspective when you animate. Use a title, a wall clock, a sun in the sky, a tree, etc.

BREAK SCENE INTO FRAMES - this is your story map and will identify each photo to take.

3 Create your character(s). Materials for a basic character can be found in the Clay Animation Kit (see resources) or can be purchased individually from craft shops. I have started collecting scrap items for my claymation characters from junk at home and I have my PTA and parent volunteers assisting in gathering yam, felt, toy miniatures, doll furniture and other miscellaneous items for use as props and costumes.

TWO PIPE CLEANERS - Fold pipe cleaners in half and twist a loop into the tended end of one. This makes the skeleton for the head and arms. Push the other pipe cleaner through the loop and twist to form a neck and torso, leaving enough pipe cleaner for the legs. Turn up the ends to make hands and feet.

1" STYROFOAM BALL - Push loop into the ball to attach the body to the head. Shape the ball to match your character.

ALUMINIUM FOIL - Use foil to shape the body and create bulk. (it's lighter than clay and easier to shape

MODELING CLAY - Use a thin layer and mold it over the head and body. Build it up over the feet to create stability and balance.

FISHING LINE - Use as fine as you can to prevent it from being seen. This line helps in holding a hand in position, in supporting the body of your figure for different motions as you take pictures.

4 Set up your background. Use a background that contrasts with your character - no blue background with a blue dress! A darker color works best. Make sure you have a focal point that stays constant throughout filming.

5 Take your frame-by-frame photos. Position your clay character and take your first photo. Be sure you leave room in the scene for the sequence of motion you plan to film. Position again and continue taking photos until all frames are taken. A small tripod will help keep your camera stationary.

6 Bring your animation to life. Using an animation program, like SpinPhotoObject from Tech4Learning, you can insert your digital pictures in the order you want. Align the frames to your focal point to stop motion from floating on the screen. Let the software create your GIF animation, and name it 7 Publish animation files. Your animation can now be placed into Powerpoint, HyperStudio, a web page, be videotaped, or put into any application that allows animations. Add music to support your story. Voila! Your students are now animators!

RESOURCES FOR CLAYMATION

Clay Animation Kit

This complete kit for creating claymation in the classroom is from Tech4Leaming. The kit includes a CD with PhotoSpin, a book for how-to, clay and miscellaneous materials for creating your clay characters.