Learning in the Making: Stop Motion Animation

Looking for something fun to make at home? Maker Ed’s “Learning in the Making: Live!” is a series of collected and curated resources around a topic for educators, families, and youth. We’re excited to share an episode about stop motion animation with BASF! In every episode, we are focusing on making with materials you have around the house. Here’s some inspiration to get you started!

Ever wonder how your favorite cartoon characters come to life? It is done through the process of animation. Stop motion is one style of animation, and it’s really simple! Instead of drawings, artists use objects to create their illustrations. For this episode, our guest host Bárbara Yarza will teach us the basic principles of stop motion animation as we explore our stories of self.

Follow along with us as we stream how to create an animation in two different ways.

To make your own animation, you will need:

  • Craft dowel (pencil, skewers, straw, wooden dowel)
  • Post-its or stack of index cards
  • Drawing utensils (pencil, pen, markers, colors)
  • Camera (or a phone — any device that takes pictures works)
  • Computer or tablet
  • Objects or materials that have meaning to you
  • Backdrop (paper, table, craft paper — any surface works)

Want to try making an animation with a smartphone? If you have an android phone check out PicPac, iPhone or iPad try LEGO Movie Maker.

COVID Safety

The Bay Area Science Festival will manage all in-person events with the health, safety and well-being of our staff, volunteers, hosts, exhibitors, and guests in mind. In response to COVID-19, we will be implementing public health requirements for all event hosts and attendees in accordance with local and state guidelines in order to celebrate science safely throughout the Bay Area. 

The Bay Area Science Festival encourages you to get vaccinated, wear a mask and practice social distancing. Be sure to check back for updated and more detailed COVID safety information prior to attending.

Thank You for Supporting BASF

We strive to make all Bay Area Science Festival events free, when possible. To produce the Festival, we must annually raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. Every donation helps us make this important work possible.

Girl looks through magnifying glass

Thank you for your generous support of the Bay Area Science Festival! As part of UCSF, SEP is a 501(c)3 non-profit. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Please let us know if your company participates in a matching gift program so that we can extend the benefit of your generosity.