Animation2024

An Animator

Stop motion in cut paper. An animator draws a fish, and the drawing comes to life.

Stop motion Paper and card cut-outs, shot frame by frame

Art direction Set, character and props built by hand for the piece

1m45s At 25 frames per second, in 1920x1080

Sound Original sound design, cut to the picture

The piece

From the drawing to the creature

The story is told without a single word: an animator draws a fish, the drawing leaves the paper, and the paper becomes water again.

Animation frame: the animator in a hat, sitting at the desk, drawing — The animator, cut from paper, at the card desk.

Animation frame: the fish drawn on paper, inside an inked tank — The drawing on paper, still just line work.

Animation frame: the fish now cut out, suspended over the drawn tank — The fish leaves the plane of the drawing and falls into the water, which is also a drawing.

Direction

Everything built, nothing generated

Problem

An animation piece made to show skill risks being a technical exercise with nothing to say.

Decision

We chose matter over software. Card, paper, cutting and light, with the camera recording each position. The imperfection is on show, and that's what gives it character.

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How it was made

Why stop motion in paper

Because texture can't be imitated. The grain of the card, the irregular cut of the paper and the real shadow of each piece give a presence that a digital animation would have to fake.

It also forces you to decide before shooting. With no layers to fix later, each shot has to be resolved upfront.

From storyboard to render

The piece was planned in a storyboard, built in paper and card, shot frame by frame, and cut with original sound design.

Next project Alma Douro App and UX design

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