Stop-motion Animation

Barry Purves is an English animator, director and writer of puppet animation television and cinema and theatre designer and director, primarily for the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse in Manchester. Known as one of Britain's most celebrated animators on account of his six short films, each of which has been nominated for numerous international awards (including Academy Award and British Academy Film Awards nominations), he has also directed and animated for several television programs and over seventy advertisements, title sequences and animated insert sequences.

Defined as a book for beginners, its 200 pages offer a lot more – insights, a wide variety of worthy films, cultural references, creative stimuli, love and passion for animation.

• Chapter 1: What is Stop-Motion?The Beginnings The Illusion of Movement PhysicalityA Continuous Performance Special Effects Wholly Animated FilmsProject 1: Find Your StyleChapter 2: Focusing the Idea Stories and Themes Approaching the Story A Change of Perspective Out of the Mouths of... Talking Umbrellas? Atmosphere and Substance EconomicsProject 2: What's the Story?Chapter 3: The PuppetsTelling the Story with Puppets The Physical Puppet Telling Characteristics Stylised Movement Replacements 3D PrintingEyes Hands Puppet Size Clay Other Techniques Project 3: Find Your Leading Man (or mouse)Chapter 4: PreparationsWorking with Others Sets Costume ColourProject 4: Set the SceneChapter 5: Chapter Tools and Techniques Practicalities The Camera Apps and other Low-Cost OptionsLighting Sound Dialogue Special Effects EditingProject 5: Setting Up and Getting StartedChapter 5: Movement and PerformanceAnimating on the Set Lively MovementHelping the Movement PerformanceProject 6: Make it Read!Conclusion; A Brief History of Stop-Motion; Picture Credits; Acknowledgements