Stop-Motion Animation Classes
Bring clay to life
Bring clay to life
Have you seen Early Man or Missing Link and wondered how they made clay come to life? Our classes and private lessons in stop-motion animation teach kids the secret hacks to making their animations look real.
All classes and private lessons are designed to fit the experience level and age of each student.
What is taught?
Who is a good fit?
Educational Benefits
The Principles of Animation
Through the process of stop-motion, students learn the essential “laws of animation” needed to create a life-like animation. Principles like “Squash & Stretch,” “Timing,” and “Arcs,” were created by Disney animators in their quest to create realistic animations.
How to Sculpt, Construct, and ANIMATE
Before they reach the computer to animate, students learn how to use wire, clay, and other materials to create characters, props, or backgrounds. After this is completed, students will bring their creations to the camera and computer and learn how to make their characters move!
Story Creation
Students will use clay, paper, LEGOs, felt, wood, or any material to make a movie! They are also taught how to apply fundamental animation techniques to bring exciting action and personality to their inanimate objects and materials.
Tactical Learners
Stop-motion animation is 90% physical art and 10% computer art. What makes it great for tactical learners is the amount of sculpting, wiring, building with cardboard, and maneuvering their characters it involves! Students will learn the principles of animation with their very own hands.
Creative Kids
Stop-motion is all about story creation. Students are able to come up with any idea for a movie and, through animation, bring it to life! No need to hire actors, just sculpt a character out of clay and we’ll do the voiceovers!
Kids Who Struggle With Screen Time
People assume animation is always on the computer, but what they don’t realize is stop-motion animation existed before computers! Most of class is spent away from the computer, and when we do use it it’s just a display for the camera.
We see the computer as a small player in the process not the center of attention.
Imagination
Stop-motion teaches students how to build brand new concepts and/or expand on older ones. Through brainstorming and then storyboarding their animations, students access their innate imaginative abilities and apply it to their movie.
Technical skills
In stop-motion animation, students learn how to use animation software, DSLR cameras, lighting, and gear needed to move their characters. We also teach how build armatures, sculpt faces, and design props for their movies.
Problem-solving
Test, fail, test, succeed. In stop-motion, it is very easy to make mistakes. Maybe their character keeps falling over, or their bird is flying too fast! Through these mistakes, students learn how to add clay, reposition wire or take more pictures of their bird in flight. Problems are inevitable but so are solutions!
What is taught?
Who is a good fit?
Educational Benefits
The Principles of Animation
Through the process of stop-motion, students learn the essential “laws of animation” needed to create a life-like animation. Principles like “Squash & Stretch,” “Timing,” and “Arcs,” were created by Disney animators in their quest to create realistic animations.
How to Sculpt, Construct, and ANIMATE
Before they reach the computer to animate, students learn how to use wire, clay, and other materials to create characters, props, or backgrounds. After this is completed, students will bring their creations to the camera and computer and learn how to make their characters move!
Story Creation
Students will use clay, paper, LEGOs, felt, wood, or any material to make a movie! They are also taught how to apply fundamental animation techniques to bring exciting action and personality to their inanimate objects and materials.
Tactical Learners
Stop-motion animation is 90% physical art and 10% computer art. What makes it great for tactical learners is the amount of sculpting, wiring, building with cardboard, and maneuvering their characters it involves! Students will learn the principles of animation with their very own hands.
Creative Kids
Stop-motion is all about story creation. Students are able to come up with any idea for a movie and, through animation, bring it to life! No need to hire actors, just sculpt a character out of clay and we’ll do the voiceovers!
Kids Who Struggle With Screen Time
People assume animation is always on the computer, but what they don’t realize is stop-motion animation existed before computers! Most of class is spent away from the computer, and when we do use it it’s just a display for the camera.
We see the computer as a small player in the process not the center of attention.
Imagination
Stop-motion teaches students how to build brand new concepts and/or expand on older ones. Through brainstorming and then storyboarding their animations, students access their innate imaginative abilities and apply it to their movie.
Technical skills
In stop-motion animation, students learn how to use animation software, DSLR cameras, lighting, and gear needed to move their characters. We also teach how to build armatures, sculpt faces, and design props for their movies.
Problem-solving
Test, fail, test, succeed. In stop-motion, it is very easy to make mistakes. Maybe their character keeps falling over, or their bird is flying too fast! Through these mistakes, students learn how to add clay, reposition wire or take more pictures of their bird in flight. Problems are inevitable but so are solutions!
Student Work
Charlie and Jason’s Animation
Eleanor’s Animation
Example Lessons
Here are sample lesson plans from a stop-motion course at Barrett’s Studio
Difficulty
3/5
How To Make a Clay Character
Create your own movable clay character in this lesson! Using wire, tinfoil, and clay, students will be able to make a character that can walk, fly, wave, or dance. Whether it’s a human or a dragon, it’s guaranteed to make an amazing animation!
Materials Needed:
- Plasticine Clay
- Wire
- Tin Foil
- Scissors
Difficulty
5/5
Clay Talking Animation
Discover the many mouth shapes needed to create a sentence! In this lesson plan, students will learn the various mouth shapes corresponding with their sound and make their character talk!
Materials Needed:
- Clay
- Sculpting tools
- Camera
- Stop-motion Studio App
Our Stop-Motion Animation Classes
Available Classes
Stop-Motion Animation classes being offered in Needham, Ma!
Private Lessons
Stop-Motion Animation private lessons and classes in Metrowest Boston.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages can take Stop-Motion Animation?
We offer classes and private lessons to kids ages 5-15!
Where do you offer in-person classes?
Our in-person classes are location in Needham, Massachusetts! But we also coordinate with parents to create in-person classes at their home in the Metrowest Boston area.
Yes, we do!
While it is recommended to have a computer, our teachers can bring their computer with them to an in-home lesson.
*A computer is required for virtual lessons.
Do we need to buy materials and supplies?
All materials and supplies are provided by the teacher. We also coordinate with parents if a computer and/or camera needs to be provided.
How long do classes or private lessons last?
Most of our in-person classes are one hour long but private lessons can be planned to fit the amount of time needed for the student.
Sign up to learn more!
Get first access to class registration, future events, special discounts, and more!
Phone Number
Subscribe
You have been successfully Subscribed!
Oops! Something went wrong, please try again.
Barrett's Studio 