Two of the hardest types of films to make are Stop - Motion and Animation films. Stop - Motion being the art of using a camera to capture the action, while using some sort of static character to provide the action. Animation uses hand drawn, or computer generated characters and voice over artists to create a film.

Animation

Animation really is an artform. Of course it takes artists, but it also takes a lot of patience; at least to create a feature length film. Taking much longer than most live action films to film; most animated films take at least a year or longer just in the production stage.

Animated films like "The Little Mermaid" and "Snow White" were mostly hand drawn. Made years before computer technology wasn't where it is now; artists would sit for hours drawing out cells; or scenes of the film. Each cell had to be almost exactly like the one before it, every character must look identical to the first page before it; with the exception of very minute movements in the character or surrounding area.

In order to give the appearance of movement, the artist must draw the character moving. Using very small differences in how they draw, each completed picture, when added to the next will 'move' like a live action film. If the images aren't almost exact, it will look jerky when put in motion. It can take upwards of 100 cells, or seperate pictures to create one minute of film.

Computers have made creating animated movies a lot easier and quicker. It still takes careful consideration and patience; but it shouldn't take as long as hand drawing. Using constructed templates of characters, usually in transparent or see through form; an artist creates the movement of the character usually before filling in the look of the character. The character of Golam was created by using the actor, and attaching little sensors to his body and having him walk, or jump or crouch. The computer records his movements and recreates them. The artist then adds the visual effect of the character overtop, merging the two to create a very fluid and believeable character.

Usually with animation, you will have several artists working on the same film; but different aspects. You will have several for each of the main characters, background artists and secondary characters. Then you will have editors who put it all together.

Stop Motion

Stop motion films are just what they say, stop motion. It's a form of animation, but using either clay, figures, or even other objects like cups, legos or whatever your imagination decides.

It takes a static camera, it has to be kept as motionless as possible. A digital camera works best, as they can take still pictures quite easily without losing an integrity to the image. Film cameras will work as well, it will just take a bit more effort to capture as clear am image than from a digital camera.

The character can be anything you can easily move around your scene. Cups and lamps things like that, are easy to use, as you are just placing them in slightly different places than they were the previous image. With stop motion, if you don't want the film to be too jerky, you have to be really careful how you place the character. If you move it too far ahead of where it was, it will look like it just appeared there with no central movement at all.

With other figures, like clay or dolls that are poseable; it makes the stop motion film more interesting but somewhat more difficult. You must move the arms and legs and head in such minute movements that it looks like a smooth transition. Unless you wish the film to have a more jerky look, which is possible, it will take an incredible amount of time and patience.

Making sure the background is exactly the same is important too, because it won't look smooth if there is a television in the background and it keeps changing to different shows in the space of a minute.

Once the film is shot, it's easy to complete the film by using an editor on the computer. Shortening scenes and adding dialogue or music and merging all shots together to make a smooth film.

When doing stop motion, it's best to have a higher speed shutter on the camera, especially if it's not a digital camera. Since you must make a film out of still pictures, the camera if a film one, needs to have a fast shutter. Regular digital cameras will work fine, so you don't necessarily need a digital camcorder.

These films do take a lot of patience and some skill to make, but they can be fun and entertaining. You can even get the kids involved if they enjoy projects like this.