Animating still life weekend
Using the professional application DragonFrame to capture stop motion and a range of stop motion techniques and processes you will create an exciting and surprising animation. This weekend course will introduce you to some of the techniques of internationally celebrated animators such as Jan Svankmajer and Paul Bush.
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 24 May 2025End Date: 25 May 2025Sat-Sun (Daytime): 10:00 - 17:00In PersonLocation: Keeley StreetDuration: 2 sessions (over -2 weeks)Course Code: VK341Tutors: Stephanie GriffithsFull fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £179.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
In this short practical workshop, you will explore the popular animation technique of animation made famous by animators including Jan Švankmajer and Paul Bush. Through animating found objects and their juxtapositions with other objects you will create exciting transformations and produce dynamic and surprising animated sequences.
What will we cover?
- An awareness of the work of Jan Švankmajer and Paul Bush and their creative use of found objects.
- planning an animated sequence using found objects
- Setting up an HD camera and connecting it to a computer to capture stop motion footage
- Understanding frames and timing
- Animating your objects using iStopMotion
- Exporting the short animated sequence as a movie.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- recognise the work of Jan Švankmajer and Paul Bush and their creative use of found objects
- plan an animated sequence using found objects
- set up an HD camera to capture stop motion footage
- animate your objects using iStopMotion
- export your short sequence as a movie.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is a beginners’ course.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught using a range of techniques including demonstrations, practical exercises, group and individual assistance and hand-outs. Please note the City Lit uses Apple Mac computers in Animation, Cartooning, Digital arts, Film, Graphics, Illustration, Photography and Web design.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Our high definition cameras and the latest professional equipment and software are available for your use throughout the course. It would be useful to bring a memory stick (or portable hard drive – please note PC formatted hard drives can be read by Apple mac computers, but not written to).
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You can further develop your skills and interest in Animation through a range of courses at the City Lit in animation, cartooning, illustration, digital film and editing courses. You can also enhance your work through a range of sound design courses at City Lit. You can find the outlines of courses available by entering the subject you’re interested in the search box of the City Lit website at http://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses.
General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday from 12:00 – 19:00.
See the course guide for term dates and further details
Stephanie Griffiths is a BAFTA award winning animator with over 20 years professional experience working on numerous well known children’s animated programmes. As well as a string of credits in broadcast model and drawn animation, Stephanie has produced experimental films creatively combining animation and live action. She is also an accomplished puppet maker and puppeteer. Teaching and mentoring has been an integral part of Stephanie’s practice and she has facilitated and mentored a wide range of innovative animation and art projects working with different communities and international artists.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.