During this simulated work, I participated in a stop-motion animation project. Since the project is still in its early stages and filming hasn’t started yet, my main contributions have been in character design and puppet making.
The Year 2 student first presented my teammates and me with character sketches and an animatic, explaining that at this stage, the focus is on finalizing character designs, brainstorming scenes, and creating puppets. Based on his sketches, I worked on the character color schemes.
For the first character, who is the antagonist, I used a cool-toned palette dominated by purple to emphasize his evil nature and strength. For the second and third characters, I referenced their mantis-inspired designs and primarily used green as their main color.
Then, based on the character proportions we decided, we started making the puppets. After creating the basic armatures with wire, we used foam to build up the characters’ muscles. This step was particularly challenging for me since I’m not very skilled at handcrafting.
Currently, we haven’t decided what materials to use for the characters’ skin and outer shells. However, since the animation involves a lot of combat scenes, we’re considering using metallic paint for the skin to enhance the look.
Aside from character creation, we also explored scene design and gathered references. In the end, we decided to use a cut-paper technique to create a layered background with depth.
Through this collaboration, I realized how important it is to ask questions in a timely manner. If you feel even the slightest confusion about any instructions or suggestions from your teammates, don’t hesitate—clarify it with them immediately. This can greatly reduce unnecessary work and improve the team’s overall efficiency.
I also came to understand the importance of project management in animation production. Creating a schedule for the project helps the team check their progress at each stage, ensuring that everything stays on track and moves forward smoothly.
Overall, this is my first time working on a stop-motion project. While it has been challenging, it’s also more interesting than I expected. This experience has given me the opportunity to improve my teamwork and communication skills, as well as explore materials I’ve never worked with before. Exploring the application of new materials in animation has greatly broadened my perspective. In the future, if I have the chance, I’d love to incorporate these materials into my own animation projects.
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