The Impact of Technology Development on Stop - Motion and an Animator’s Work
Authors: Postek - Mioduszewska, A. and Postek-Mioduszewska, A.
Conference: Leeds Beckett University - Creative Technology
Abstract:Cinematography is a complex and profitable business that varies in genres and styles. This Thesis refers to the classical form of animation called stop-motion and it focuses on possible improvements in terms of higher efficiency of film production.
Despite the benefits of the use of digital cameras, computers and advanced techniques the animation of the puppets is the same time-consuming and expensive. This problem had an impact on the selection of the topic and aim of this research, which is to investigate; how the use of robots could improve the production of stop-motion. Since adjusting of a robot to an animator’s workflow sounds challenging it is also pragmatic. Forecasts for the future set inevitable AI and robots domination in various sectors of modern life which made this topic even more essential to investigate.
Due to the nature of the Master's Dissertation and the topic “The Impact of Technology Development on Stop-Motion and an Animator’s Work” researchers are limited to just one aspect – examining the possible application of Staubli Industrial Robot and investigating potential benefits for stop-motion. However, the setting of the background included a brief description of other existing solutions such as cinemabots (robots used for motion control of the cameras) or rigs systems, or animatronics, they are not the main plot of this research.
The results of the research proved that Robots could be useful in an animator’s workflow in various ways. For example, to move objects such as a car driving along the assigned path while the robot’s behaviour is programmed to control the path and the camera’s shutter. The robot can be instructed to move the camera and to activate a shutter attaining great results. It can be used as a rig to support a puppet or even to move a puppet. However, there are also limitations such as the programming skills of an animator or the size of the robot or even designing an exact gripper. On the other hand, there are also solutions suggested as an outcome of the research such as adapting an interface similar to the one used by Cinemabots with Mark Roberts’s Flair Software featuring a full complement of animation up to 32 axes motions to mark the path simply by drawing it instead of writing a complex algorithm than the work with a robot would be an advantage not a limitation for an animator.
Source: Manual