Stop animation entitled “Curiosity” using the Stop Motion Studio app for iPhone.
This week I’m reviewing Stop Motion Studio. Stop motion is an animation technique which involves the incremental movement of physical objects photographed in sequence to create the illusion of motion. You may be familiar with stop motion from claymation films including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Wallace and Gromit, and Fantastic Mr. Fox, however, stop motion has been used as an art form for over one hundred years. The first film, The Humpty Dumpty Circus, was created in 1898 by Albert E. Smith and J. Stuart Blackton. Animation (and film in general) relies on the phenomena of persistence of vision. Essentially, our eyes and brain can only process separate images at a rate of approximately 10 to 12 per second and holds onto these images for approximately 1/15th of a second. Therefore, playing many images in rapid succession (16 frames of more) will create the illusion of movement. If you’re doing the math, that means that a feature length film (approximately 90 minutes long) would almost 130,000 frames.
Stop Motion Studio is an app that helps users develop stop motion animation on their phone, tablet, or computer. Users can take photographs manually (e.g. pressing the shutter butter each time) or use the app’s self-timer to take photos at automated intervals, then stitch the photos together as frames of animation. As the video is created, users can playback their work to check their progress.
Intended Use: The app is intended for making art.
Target Audience: The app is listed as being appropriate for ages four and up. It is simple enough for young children to use with adult support. Once users understand the basics of stop motion animation (which is a learning curve in and of itself) users who are younger or have limited skills with technology can use the app easily.
Usability: The interface is primarily graphic. Users tap buttons which look like they perform the operations they are supposed to (e.g. a plus sign to start a new project, a camera to begin taking pictures, a reverse arrow to undo, etc.). The app also has a brief tutorial (and several video tutorials) walking new users through the app step by step.
Cost:
iPhone and iPad- Stop Motion Studio is free, Stop Motion Studio Pro is $5.99
Mac- Stop Motion Studio is not available, Stop Motion Studio Pro 2 is $9.99
Android- Stop Motion Studio is free, Stop Motion Studio Pro is $5.99
Chromebooks- Stop Motion Studio is free, Stop Motion Studio Pro is $5.99
Windows- Stop Motion Studio is not available, Stop Motion Studio Pro 2 is $9.99
Amazon Fire- Stop Motion Studio is free, Stop Motion Studio Pro is $5.99
Technical Requirements: Available on the platforms listed above.
Pro’s:
The app is straightforward and easy to use.
Users can take photos automatically or by time lapse. They can use automated camera settings or manual modes. This means users can have as much or little control over the shooting process as they like or is developmentally appropriate for them.
Users can turn on a grid to aid in composing their scene (e.g. lining up objects, using the rule of thirds, balancing composition, etc.).
The onion skin feature allows users to line up their next photograph with the previous frame. This helps the user plan the movement of their objects frame by frame (rather than having to guess where to move the object next based on playback).
The masking tool (available in Pro) allows users to remove unwanted objects from their frames such as strings or props.
The app supports Apple Pencil which allows users to draw and paint on layers of their film.
The app is available in English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish.
Con’s:
Users will need to upgrade to the paid versions of the app to unlock all of the available features.
If you want to add audio to your stop motion videos you will need to upgrade to Pro or export your video and add the audio in another app/program (e.g. iMovie).
Making a stop motion film that is longer than a few seconds can take a very long time due to the number of frames required to simulate motion. This technique may not be the most user-friendly for people who struggle with tolerating frustration. That said, this is less of a critique of the app and more of general caveat when considering stop motion as a medium (especially in art therapy).
Is it worth it? The free version is worth your time as it is a straightforward tool for making stop motion animation. There are a lot of features which make it suitable for art therapists and hobbyists alike. The paid versions have robust creative tools including title screens, overlays, filters, the ability to shoot in high-definition and 4K, support for remote camera operation (allowing you to use a DSLR to capture images instead of your phone), support for full manual shooting modes, and support for green screen which can yield professional looking results. A full comparison of the two versions is available here: Learning Curve Tech.
Therapeutically and artistically, stop motion can allow makers to combine a variety of different expressive media into one project. This can include sculpture (e.g. making and arranging figurines, sculptures, cut paper, found objects, etc.), storytelling, music (e.g. selecting a sound track and effects or writing one’s own original score), photography, drawing/painting (e.g. creating backgrounds, adding visual effects), and video editing. I think that this can help bring back some of the tactility and craftsmanship that can sometimes get lost when making artwork digitally.
A strength of stop motion as a medium is that it can be flexible. The work can be done on an individual basis or shared with members of a group. Individually, the client can have total control over the entire creative process. In a group, this creates opportunities for socialization, developing leadership and communication skills, problem solving, and creative collaboration.
“The joy of model animation – its whole point both for the animator and the viewer – has always been its intimacy. It’s all about close focus – fingers, hands, touch. It’s the feel of a puppet in the animator’s hands – a unique blending of sculpture and performance. When an animated character is seen moving on screen, the animator is ever-present, everywhere in the shot, an invisible spirit transforming the puppet into a living being. Magically, the animated performance has much of the immediacy and vitality of a live one.”