ABOUT STOP-MO-STUDIO

Stop-Mo-Studio is, as you might have guessed, a stop-motion animation and motion graphics studio/agency based in Barcelona, Spain. Directed by a true stop-motion enthusiast with years of experience tinkering between frames, we’re here to bring your quirky stop-mo ideas to life.

Animating in the field we do, we have experience in a great diversity of mediums, from more complex creations using silicone components and armatures, to experimental light painting, claymation, and paper using a top-down table. Every project comes with a unique set of challenges and requirements, which turns them all into a stunning process of creative growth and learning.

Our work so far has included a collection of explainer videos for two sustainability management companies (TonneZero & Carbon Calculated) and an app for the hearing impaired – Spoke (by Metacove). Additionally, our most recent collaborative project, Make Do, has now been released for public viewing on YouTube after 2 years on the European festival circuit.

As we move into this next chapter of our stop-mo-story, we’re excited to dive head-first into the world of stop-motion advertising with ground-breaking clients who align with our values. Are you daring enough to reach out?

OUR VALUES

SUSTAINABILITY: You may have noticed a trend in our client base so far. At Stop-Mo-Studio, we are all about looking after our planet, and all the life it supports. We want to challenge people to lead conscious, sustainable lives. We have created ample work in the space of sustainability, and aim to find clients who in some way adhere to this value. This could mean supporting local artisans, organic farming and foods, alternative packaging, or those that give back to the community in some way. We are always on the hunt for independent individuals striving for positive change in whatever industry they may exist in. Additionally, we embody this value by working in the most sustainable fashion possible. Utilising discarded materials from the streets of Barcelona, we drastically reduce our consumption of new materials and upcycle what might otherwise have become part of a landfill. Whenever possible, we build using found/recycled materials.

 CREATIVITY: Stop-motion animation is an art form that is both beautiful and time-consuming. It presents a unique opportunity to manipulate the world around you, creating an illusion of life. It has the power to tackle challenging topics in a light-hearted way, and to bring to life anything you imagine to be so. For this reason, we believe that stop-motion animation holds a special place in the advertising world. It gives you the power to turn your product or concept into an emotional being, with its own thoughts and motivations. This gives it a sense of magic and wonder. There is inherently bizarre and impactful about seeing, for example, a detached hand leap into a bottle of beer. Creativity is the driving force of Stop-Mo-Studio. It is how discover how to present you in an unforgettable way, and how we pull it off.

COMMUNICATION: When it comes to any stop-motion animation, there are inevitably a series of challenges to solve. These range from deciding how to present a concept visually to more technical challenges like lighting complications or storyboard changes. We welcome these challenges and enjoy them as part of the process, but communication is key to keeping things flowing. When issues do arise, it’s important to be able to discuss them and find creative and sustainable solutions. Sometimes, a shot that seemed achievable in theory might turn out to be more challenging in reality. This is usually a blessing, in disguise, resulting in an unexpected solution that inherently enhances the quality of the final animation. We’re not afraid to change course should the need arise, and we’re always happy to hear your feedback so that we can produce the best possible work for you.

WHAT IS STOP-MOTION ANIMATION?

It is a truly special moment when an animator gets to step back from their miniature world, stretch their aching muscles and witness the sheer magic of their creation. Stop-motion animation is more than creating whimsical videos. It is a form of artistic magic that transcends reality, bridging the divide between imagination and the world around us. It is the art of breathing life into an inanimate object, giving it thoughts, feelings, motivation and personality. It is here where its magic truly lies.

Fantasmagorie (1908)

Before the days of Adobe, Maya, and all the other animation programs out there today, animation was achieved quite differently. Skipping over 1000’s of years of fascinating animation history, Émile Cohl’s Fantasmagorie (1908) is commonly accepted as the first-ever stop-motion or stop-frame animation film. In Fantasmagorie, Émile Cohl drew simple figures on a chalkboard and recorded them using a video camera. He allowed the camera to roll for a second, before stopping the recording. With the recording stopped, he walked back to his chalkboard, erased a line, and re-drew it in a new position. When played back on the video, it created the illusion that the characters on the chalkboard had somehow moved by themselves. This is where stop-motion gets its name. It is the movement of characters between the frames that, when played in sequence, come to life.

DRAGONFRAME

These days, the technology available to stop-motion animators is incredible, and always improving. At Stop-Mo-Studio, we operate with Dragonframe, which is the industry standard used by stop-mo giants such as Aardman and Laika. Dragonframe is a stop-motion animation software that enables you to tether a camera (in our case, a Canon 90D) to your computer to provide a live view of your animation. The program offers toggling and difference modes to assist animators in achieving smooth animation. Additionally, it allows you to shoot in RAW, with export resolutions of up to 4K.

STOP-FRAME ANIMATION

Each studio and animator has different techniques and preferences when it comes to stop-motion, but this boils down to personal preference, your intentions, and the resources you have available to you. Figuring out how to tackle a project is an exhilarating and puzzling journey, and the best part is that it’s always worth it when you see it come together.