Stop-motion animation offers kids a chance to develop creative, technical, and problem-solving skills, but the high barrier to entry—due to disjointed tools and the varying interests and skill levels required—makes it challenging for many to engage with the craft.
understanding the world of stop-motion
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Indie Animators
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Northwestern Animation Student
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DePaul Animation Instructors
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Elementary School Art Educators
These conversations highlighted that stop-motion’s hands-on, immersive process gives the creator a unique sense of control and creativity, which is particularly appealing for children who often don’t have as much agency in their day-to-day decisions. Two key insights from these conversations formed the basis for a kid-centric stop-motion product.
insight 1: vary interests and skill levels required
Stop-motion requires diverse skills, from story ideation to fabrication and filmmaking, making it a powerful learning tool. However, it risks kids disengaging when they face a challenge or skipping critical steps if they lose interest.
“When [kids] see something that looks bad, they can tell... but they're also willing to not care about that just to be kids. I try to talk to them about rigging and stuff... some kids really get that, and some kids, it's the last thing on their mind. So that's why it's not the easiest thing to teach.” - Katie P., 5th Grade Art Teacher at FW Parker Elementary School
insight 2: disjointed tools
The tools currently available for kids to create end-to-end stop-motion projects are not comprehensive. Story creation, character building, set design, and the tools for recording and editing are all separate. This disjointed approach makes it easier for kids to disengage, get overwhelmed, or avoid certain steps in the process.
OBSERVED resources provided to elementary-aged kids at a stop-motion workshop hosted at the glenview library in glenview, IL
design objectives
CRAFT a product that teaches kids THE TECHNICALITIES OF stop-motion and storytelling, while supporting different skill levels and maintaining their creative freedom
the product
A complete stop-motion animation kit with integrated physical and digital tools, built around a foundational story that kids can customize as they wish.
kit features
Story KickoffBegins with the foundational story, giving kids a clear starting point.
Story Builder Breaks down the story into scenes and offers options for characters, props, and customization, helping kids plan and set up their animation.
Flip Stage Provides the physical space where the scenes are staged, all magnetized for easy placement of characters and props they’ve chosen.
Magni-Stands Enables easy setup and positioning of characters and props within the staging area.
Flexi-Rig Introduces more dynamic movement for characters, enhancing creativity as kids start to animate.
Paper Puppets App In-app animation guidance curated to each story pack.
the process
understanding the world of stop-motion
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kids who chatted with me about stop-motion
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iteration on prototypes
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usability studies
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immersion at an animation studio
Showing kids the prototypes was crucial in understanding how intuitive and engaging the new format of creating would be. It helped assess how kids would respond to the more "constrained" approach of a kit.
immersion
understanding the technical nuances of stop-motion animation from animators at workshed animation
"Everything needs to be super firm and secure in stop motion so that the background doesn’t start moving on accident." - Chad, Animator at Workshed Animation
Observing the animators at Workshed revealed the critical importance of precise positioning for characters, props, and backgrounds in stop-motion. This insight emphasized the need for a system that guides kids in mapping out and placing elements accurately, ensuring they can set up each shot in a way that would lead to a stable end result.
usability studies
“I think the options are nice. It’s like when you’re painting: if you just give me 3 colors I can just start painting versus if you give me all the colors I wouldn’t know where to start.” - Zach, 5th Grade Art Teacher at FW Parker Elementary School
working through an early iteration of the prototype with a student from fw parker elementary school.
The kit approach to stop-motion was embraced by kids, as they saw it as a launchpad for their creativity. For Paper Puppets, the key is to balance providing enough guidance to keep kids engaged throughout the project, regardless of their skill level or interests, while allowing them the freedom to be creative at any point.
It's like offering a coloring book page—giving them a structured starting point but not restricting them to stay within the lines if they choose to explore further.
viability
Once the initial infrastructure has been established, Paper Puppets has the potential to expand with brand partnerships and collaborations.
collaborate with storytellers
Paper Puppets has the opportunity to keep kids engaged with the artform of storytelling and animation through well-loved stories as the foundation.
partnerships with consumer products
We can provide exposure to the Paper Puppets product through sampler packs that are delivered through already purchased products like cereal boxes.
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