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Animation Workshop
ONLINE ANIMATION WORKSHOP || Character animation for feature films || with Thiago Calçado.
16hours
17 in stock ReserveONLINE ANIMATION WORKSHOP || Stop Motion Character || with Thiago Calçado.
DATE: 6, 7 & 8 June, 2025.
SCHEDULE: (Madrid Time)
Friday. 04:30pm to 07:30pm. Stop. 07:30pm to 08:00pm. 08:00pm to 11:00pm
Saturday.04:30pm to 07:30pm. Stop. 07:30pm to 08:00pm. 08:00pm to 11:00pm
Sunday.04:30pm to 07:30pm. Stop. 07:30pm to 08:00pm. 08:00pm to 11:00pm
DURATION: 18 hours PRICE: 200€ LANGUAGE: English. Online Plattform: Google Meet.
STOP MOTION CHARACTER ANIMATION WORKSHOP
DAY 1 – Understanding Your Puppet & Posing
INTRO
Brief introduction to your career and work
Why Stop-Motion? The medium is the message: What makes stop-motion unique compared to other animation techniques?
What makes feature film animation different from other formats?
PUPPET
Understanding different armatures (ball & socket vs. wire)
Handling & maintaining puppets for longevity
CHARACTER
Giving Your Puppet a Soul → Answering: Who? Why? How?
How personality affects movement & posing
LUNCH BREAK
POSE
Silhouette, weight, line of action
Understanding balance, center of gravity, and puppet drift
Storytelling through a single frame
EXERCISE
Participants create a series of still poses for different emotions/actions (e.g., sadness, excitement, surprise)
Group discussion & feedback
DAY 2 – Planning & Blocking Animation
DIRECTIONS
How to read & break down a brief (Who? Why? How?)
Understanding director’s intent
SHOWCASE
Open some of your personal animation files
Walkthrough of an animation pipeline for feature film
LUNCH BREAK
PLAN A SHOT
Get to know your set:
Camera & framing
Focus & lighting (shadows)
Rigging considerations
BLOCKING
How to create strong animation using key poses
Timing vs. Spacing in stop motion
EXERCISE
Shooting a short blocking pass (pose-to-pose animation test)
Group critique.
DAY 3 – Animating & Applying Principles
SHOWCASE
Film analysis: How top-tier stop motion films apply these principles
ANIMATE
Adding breakdowns & in-betweens for fluid movement
Live feedback as participants animate
LUNCH BREAK
CRITIQUE & WRAP-UP
Open Q&A: Participants show their work for feedback
Personal showreel reviews (if they wish)
Final discussion & wrap-up
____________________________________
SOFTWARES: Dragon Frame or Stop Motion Pro
PUPPET: Bring your own puppet made of wire, clay, silicone, ... Highly recommend STICKY BONES! (10% OFF CODE: thiagocalcado)
CAMERA: your own phone or any camera compatible with your software.
*Frequent questions:
What happens if I can´t see the classes live one day?
No problem. All classes are live but will also be recorded and posted on our platform. So you can see them whenever you want throughout the duration of the course. This means that if you cannot attend your class live at the stipulated time, you will be able to see them on the platform until the end of the course. These video-classes posted on the platform can be viewed unlimitedly during the duration of the course, but they cannot be copied or downloaded. Recorded class can also be viewed for 6 mounths once the course is over.
When can I see the classes I did not attend live?
24-hour access to the virtual platform where you can consult all the information or documentation of the course, access all the classes that have already been taught or the proposed exercises. When, where and at the rate you want.