The Art & Craft of Stop Motion Animation, from historical to current modern use ... including Retro & Classic Special FX ... miniatures, models, matte paintings, forced perspective tricks, in-camera effects, etc.
This is interesting.It serendipitously appeared online during my random web surfing. Artist & Animator, Lyndon J. Barrios. I have not previously heard of him. Apparently he has an eclectic background. He does work in CGI, also has done directorial duties on various projects. He recently was spotlighted in the (click >) New York Times. The article is not easily available.If you want to read the article,NY Times says you can sign in using your Facebook or Google account. I will post alternative informational sources about Lyndon, here at SMW & RetroFX 😎
Here is a video of Lyndon in an interview, this was back in 2014 on NBC's Today Show. This will introduce you to Lyndon about his unique art work.
Here is behind the scenes, more details, very recent (2024)
Here is an example, of one of his works, where the micro gum wrapper figures are stop motion animated. It is very stylized, kind of free-form organic aesthetics. Click on the Photo below to watch.
To my surprise, Lyndon directed an episode of The PJs many years ago in 2000! I also did some freelance work for Will Vinton Studios (1998-99) helping setup their armature department & designing the armatures for the stop motion characters. Here is Lyndon's episode that he directed.
UPDATE - I forgot to include this short animation by Lyndon ... called 'Prizefighter' (2020)
Lyndon has an eclectic resume, including his work in CGI animation. Below is the link to his Website.
Note - Any photos ... click once, then click again to enlarge or zoom in
Just released at select theaters in USA. Check movie listings such as Fandango, or other movie listing resources in your area or country. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, the price to see 'Stopmotion' is $18. for a ticket ... OUCH 😮. It has been a number of years since I actually went to a movie theater. Also, as you know, the Pandemic really hurt the movie theater business.
UPDATE - Stopmotion will be later available for online streamingMay 31 on Shudder which is a subscription platform. They offer a free trial. Phil Tippett's Mad God is also on Shudder. You can watch both then at your option, cancel the subscription.
Overview (no spoilers) ....
"Directed by Robert Morgan ... it is a blend of live-action and stop-motion elements. It falls within the horror-thriller genre, offering viewers a chilling experience that combines traditional filmmaking with the painstaking artistry of stop-motion animation The film’s premise revolves around Ella Blake, a talented stop-motion animator who becomes consumed by the grotesque world of her horrifying creations. As she delves deeper into her project, the line between life and art blurs in increasingly nightmarish ways"
Movie length is 93 minutes. I see that an Apple Macbook is what she (the animator) used. That is not a spoiler! You can clearly see it in this Trailer ....
My impression from the trailer ... it appears to have high production quality, with good horror-thriller filmmaking style. My only minor criticism might be about the movie title 'Stopmotion'. Perhaps gimmicky or a marketing ploy to get attention? Come on ... the animation technique is the name of the movie? They couldn't be more creative with the movie title? I could think of better alternatives such as, 'Puppet Nightmares'. or maybe 'Animator's Terror Dreams'
The director, Robert Morgan has been creating indie stop motions shorts for many years. To me, Robert's work has somewhat of a Brothers Quay, creepy style with that grungy &. rough aesthetics.. Here is one of his early stop motion shorts from 2001, that is not as grimy looking or shocking, but still has creepy vibes ... The Cat with Hands ....
Best viewed on your laptop or tablet. These are Instagram links and they attempt to force you to go to their site. To watch videos again, just reload / refresh this Stop Motion Works page.
This puppet poseable figure is modeled from the more recent version of The Batman (2022) as portrayed by actor Robert Pattinson (Bruce Wayne).
In the first clip here, you see the finished stop motion animation ....
Stop Motion animated by Lawrence Becker. I am not familiar with him but in the past, I have sometimes seen his other animated works. Apparently, Lawrence has much experience in the traditional animated arts & crafts ... 2D Animation & Stop Motion. Here is his Sampler Times website
These present day very realistic collectable poseable figures are astounding in the quality of execution ... the clothing, exterior suit & armor details, miniature accessory props, etc., especially the flawless exact replication of the human faces. I wonder if they scanned photos of the real actors, then made 3D molds and cast in a resin plastic. I have no idea as to what kind of armatures are inside these figures. I am taking a guess that the armatures are not made to withstand the rigorous environment of stop motion animation for many, many frames. The armatures may eventually give-out or fail. Collectable Figures are not necessarily made for Stop Motion. Collectors purchase these figures in which they occasionally change the poses for display purposes.
On February 1, 2024, Director & Animator in the specialty of Stop Motion ... Mark Gustafson passed away as a result of a sudden heart attack. He was only 64 years of age.
Not much I can personally say about Mark but his close friends and co-workers can obviously elaborate much more about him. I casually knew him back in 1998 when I was hired by Will Vinton Studios in Portland, Oregon USA, and I initially helped the studio with setting up their armature department and doing some basic armature construction and training of the small 4 person armature crew.. This was for the very first season of the,'The PJs'. When I did see Mark in the hallways or meeting rooms of Vinton Studios, talking & discussions with others ... Mark had a most relaxed personality and a low key, dry sense of humor.
Mark Gustafson mostly known in the the the Portland, Oregon USA which has now become a center of stop motion creation. Mark finally getting some international & public recognition on his last film which was a blockbuster hit. Both Guillermo del Toro and Mark were co-directors of 'Pinocchio' (2022) which earned some awards including an Oscar for best animated feature ... a real rarity for the Stop Motion Craft.
Note - Any photos, 'click twice', then again 'one click', to zoom in or for larger image.
There are many AI generators out there, and now, free one's which I used here. My opinion of it ... "Meh" 😕. To me, it does NOT feel 'creative' ... you know, just typing 'words'. Like many Artists, Craftspeople, and Makers, we all have the PASSION to WORK with our HANDS to create & build with the Real & Tactile.
Maybe AI ... to spark some ideas but I am not sure. I gave AI something that is 'technical' and of course, 'it' does not understand the actual technical & mechanical workings of a stop motion armature.
____________________
This is the prompt / text I typed ... "A stop motion jointed armature for an octopus creature". Apparently, Mr. AI cannot determine how many tentacles to use. See below, photos 1 to 4.
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2)
3)
4)
For Photos 5 to 8 below, this is what I wrote, "A stop motion jointed armature for an octopus creature having 8 tentacles". I specifically requested eight tentacles but as you can see, in some of the photos, Mr. AI is still confused
Note - Any photos, click, then again, for larger image. Also, the video player option at Full Screen
As your know, the few big stop motion features of today are loaded with CGI post production digital manipulation and enhancements. Stop motion is copying the same as 'live action' movies ... a plethora of computer mouse clicked cgi and digital compositing.
The following two videos were authored by Danish filmmaker, Jonas Ussing, who has done work as a Special FX Supervisor. He is on Instagram & Linked-in but he just started his YouTube channel. He does not seem to take a specific position. Jonas presents a phenomenon with regarding to marketing some mainstream movies that are NOT the superhero on monster-verse variety which are obviously heavy with CGI. He gives examples like 'Top Gun: Maverick', Napoleon, 1917 (WW1), and others.
It appears some studios are de-emphasizing (minimizing) the CGI and suggesting their features use much 'Practical FX'. You have to watch the actors and movie reps LIE about NO CGI.
You should also read the many comments to Part 1 and Part 2 ... very interesting. A few CGI artist take offense of the studio's 'No CGI' marketing. This promotion ploy is not exactly 'new'. I recall some of the Star Wars prequels/sequels where they throw in some minor Practical FX shots and then BRAG about it, but the VFX are still, predominately computer CGI and heavy with digital compositing.
Here was my comment on Jonas's The Rabbit Hole YouTube channel, Part 2 :
"The host here Jonas,
says 'Journalism Media' is supposedly saying 'No CGI', as though it is
their fault pushing this notion. It makes no sense blaming the media.
Why would they just blatantly lie about 'no CGI'? Those 'no CGI' talking
points / directives must be coming from the corporate STUDIO Marketing.
Why
are some of the major studios, DIMINISHING the CGI aspects? Personally,
I think general audiences may just be getting weary of the more obvious
CGI special effects ... overdone, beaten to the ground, becoming
stale, etc. Studios perhaps feeling this negativity that the public may
have about CGI.
It is blatantly obvious how the actors, movie
directors, the Special FX directors, following the Studio marketing
script, are parsing their words and doing hypocritical double-talking,
saying ... 'No CGI' but make exceptions for many scenes that are almost
100 percent CGI"
Note - Any photos, click, then again, for larger image. Also, the video player option at Full Screen
This hour long documentary is an overview about Art Clokey, the creator of the 'Gumby' stop motion clay character. In the documentary, some well known 'in the animation biz' names commenting about Art. As for myself, I interacted with Art back in 1987-1988, working as a stop motion animator, for 'The New Adventures of Gumby',TV animation series.
Art Clokey's experiences were somewhat, a 'roller coaster ride' as part of the evolution of Gumby, especially his personal life. Very interesting and much nostalgic times when it covers the social counter-culture period of the 'Hippie' phenomenon, in which Art got into 'it' and explored other non-mainstream alternative life style.
GUMBASIA (1953) Art Clokey
MANDALA (1977) Art Clokey
Art Clokey born 1921, passed away in 2010 at 88 years of age.
Art Clokey's son, Joe Clokey took over the Gumby estate, brand, & marketing. After Joe's unfortunate death in 2018, Fox Entertainment acquired the Gumby franchise in 2022.The acquisition includes all characters from the Gumby universe, with plans for new series on various platforms.
