Introduction to Stop Motion: Create Animated Loops
A course by Victor HaegelinStop Motion Director
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
The Fundamentals
20 minutes, 19 seconds
Discovering the Tools and Rigs
11 minutes, 4 seconds
The Script and the Storyboard
9 minutes, 33 seconds
Decorating and Assembling the Elements 1
14 minutes, 18 seconds
Set-up
11 minutes, 40 seconds
Small Visual Effects 1
19 minutes, 41 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by meeting Victor Haegelin, who tells you all about his professional background, some defining moments in his career, and the directors who inspire him.
Dive right in to discovering the main principles of stop-motion animation. Victor then introduces you to the digital tools he uses and those necessary for creating characters, sets, and figures, before helping you get to grips with the Dragonframe software.
Now move on to the preparations for the shoot. First, think about how you want your set and write a storyboard before moving on to the research and documentation phase. See how to set everything up and how to position the camera according to the light.
It's time to start your shoot! Victor gives you some great tips on how to put all your elements in place and film them. Also look at how to add movement and speed effects in Dragonframe.
Once you've got your images, Victor teaches you how to polish everything in After Effects, before working on the sound design. Now your video is ready to be shared all over the world!
Recommended software & tools for this course
What 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.
Reviews
- 4 months ago
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
- 5 months ago
A very very cood course by Victor Haegelin!
Very Useful!
- 1 year ago
Exelente curso! Y muy inspirador!
- jlucleclercPLUS1 year ago
Super cours ! Aussi bon que toute la production d’animation de Victor… Bravo !
- 1 year ago
Curso muito bom!
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
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Introduction to Animation
- The Fundamentals
- Discovering the Tools and Rigs
- Figurines and Scenery
- The Dragonframe Software
- U3
Preproduction
- The Script and the Storyboard
- Documentation Phase
- Decorating and Assembling the Elements 1
- Decorating and Assembling the Elements 2
- Placement: Camera and Light Sources
- U4
Shooting
- Set-up
- Animating the Elements 1
- Animating the Elements 2
- Small Visual Effects 1
- Small Visual Effects 2
- Small Visual Effects 3
- Small Visual Effects 4
- U5
Rendering
- Masking Rods and Supports 1
- Masking Rods and Supports 2
- Masking Rods and Supports 3
- Sound Design and Online Sharing 1
- Sound Design and Online Sharing 2
- FP
Final project
- Introduction to Stop Motion: Create Animated Loops
What to expect from a Domestika course
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.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
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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.
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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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.