Introduction to Stop Motion: Create Animated Loops
A course by Victor Haegelin , Stop Motion Director
Learn how to create an animated stop motion sequence from scratch with Dragonframe, from the initial storyboard to the finished film
Are you a fan of miniature worlds and movies like Wallace and Gromit, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Isle of Dogs? Ever wanted to learn the ins and outs of stop-motion? Then this course by Victor Haegelin is the one for you.
The good news is that you can do it with very little! A bit of humor, a few easy-to-find objects, two animation programs, and Victor takes care of the rest. After following all the steps of his creative process, you'll be able to give the illusion of movement in a fixed setting and will have created an animated loop in stop-motion. A whole miniature universe is yours to be discovered!
What will you learn in this online course?
23 lessons & 22 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (68)
- 2,842 students
- 23 lessons (5h 1m)
- 22 additional resources (5 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: French
- French · Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
Adobe After Effects
DragonframeWhat is this course's project?
Create a skateboarding-themed animated loop in stop-motion.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is open to everyone, although a background in animation would be a plus.
Requirements and materials
To take this course, you need a camera (or webcam), a computer with Dragonframe and After Effects, and an object to animate.
For the set, you need easy-to-find materials such as cardboard, glue, a shoebox, and even a cauliflower! You can find a complete list in the course content.
New to Adobe After Effects? In that case, we recommend taking Domestika Basics courses to learn how to use the software: Introduction to After Effects.
Reviews
Victor Haegelin
A course by Victor Haegelin
Victor Haegelin is an animation director specializing in stop motion. He likes to work in short formats and has directed videos for Orelsan, Caravan Palace, Wax Tailor, and Breakbot.
In addition to producing his own films, Captain 3D and Le curieux dîner de Noë, he has worked for a wide variety of clients, including large corporations (McDonald's, Orange, Fiat, YouTube, Disney, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Renault, and Red Bull) and the luxury goods sector (Chanel and Louis Vuitton).
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Introduction to Animation
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The Fundamentals
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Discovering the Tools and Rigs
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Figurines and Scenery
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The Dragonframe Software
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U3
Preproduction
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The Script and the Storyboard
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Documentation Phase
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Decorating and Assembling the Elements 1
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Decorating and Assembling the Elements 2
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Placement: Camera and Light Sources
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U4
Shooting
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Set-up
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Animating the Elements 1
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Animating the Elements 2
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Small Visual Effects 1
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Small Visual Effects 2
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Small Visual Effects 3
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Small Visual Effects 4
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U5
Rendering
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Masking Rods and Supports 1
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Masking Rods and Supports 2
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Masking Rods and Supports 3
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Sound Design and Online Sharing 1
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Sound Design and Online Sharing 2
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FP
Final project
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Introduction to Stop Motion: Create Animated Loops
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
This course explains stop motion animation, a technique where each frame is captured individually to create movement. It’s aimed at people with some prior experience in animation or audiovisual work who want to deepen their frame-by-frame skills.
This is an intermediate-level course. It’s recommended that you have basic knowledge of animation, video, or photography to comfortably follow the lessons and exercises.
You’ll need a camera (or smartphone), tripod, modeling clay or objects to animate, a computer, software like Dragonframe and After Effects, plus some basic craft tools to build sets and rigs.
You’ll learn pixilation, clay animation, creating loops, using rigs, controlling lighting, storyboarding, set building, and postproduction techniques to achieve smooth, professional animations.
Yes, the course covers making animated ads and creating loops tailored for Instagram and social media, including advice on format and optimized exporting.
You’ll learn how to clean up footage, remove rigs, adjust pacing, add audio/visual effects, and export animations optimized for various digital platforms.
The course details how to handcraft sets, miniature skate ramps, homemade rigs, and props using simple materials to enhance your frame-by-frame animations.
Adobe After Effects
Dragonframe
mi occupo di videomaking e non è la prima volta che mi cimento con la stop motion. eppure trovo questo corso illuminante, simpatico e divertente. Victor sa rendere piacevole e sempre stimolante l'apprendimento
A very very cood course by Victor Haegelin!
Very Useful!
Exelente curso! Y muy inspirador!
Super cours ! Aussi bon que toute la production d’animation de Victor… Bravo !
Curso muito bom!