CAUSEWAY/SPRINGBOARD
Stop-motion Animation Workshops
Andrew Low

Film maker Andrew Low and Fiona Macfarlane ran a series of ten stop-motion animation workshops with clients from Causeway/Springboard, who designed and built their own characters and then animated them in a short film. The remarkable outcome is “Dreaming”, a five-minute animation film which includes behind the scenes footage.

“We have found that one of the best ways of looking at animation is in terms of the animator “acting” through the puppet. It’s a very powerful process, giving voice to those who strongly dislike the idea of being on-screen themselves. They are able to project their thoughts and ideas through the actions of the stop-motion puppet and for many that can be very empowering.”

What is stop motion animation?

Stop-motion animation is a film-making technique that has been used for decades to create imaginative and interesting stories that could never be brought to the screen in any other way. From the black and white drama of ‘King Kong’ to the modern day adventures of ‘Wallace and Gromit’, viewers have been able to use their imaginations to accept that what they are watching is really happening, even though all they are really watching is a 12-inch puppet. A similar process occurs within the animator creating these films. Imagination is the key to making it work.