A New Game progress

Today we finished the eye and mouth cutouts and did some animation tests using Dragonframe.

 We started off by cutting out the Lulu and Zack eye and mouth shapes and sticking them onto the clay models.

We decided to test the lip and eye syncing and claymation for the living room scene using Dragonframe.

 Here's the resulting .gif file

 Here's what it looked like to set up Dragonframe (bonus me on the side)

We also did a walk cycle test with Lulu and nearly destroyed her legs in the process. Luckily she'll only be walking at the beginning of the claymation.

Here's Lulu walking (click the gif to get it to move again).

Stop-Motion review: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, Henry Selick)

 

 The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop-motion classic directed by Henry Selick and distributed by Buena Vista Pictures. The film follows the (mis)adventures of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of  Halloweentown; who suffers from burnout after planning Halloween year after year. Jack becomes inspired again when he falls through a portal into Christmastown, where Santa Claus and his elves are busily preparing for Christmas, and decides to take over Christmas as an act of goodwill. From the beginning, Jacks friend (and love interest) Sally knows that this cannot end well. Seeing as Jack didn't consult Santa on this development and he (and the residents of Halloweentown Jack talked into helping) have no idea how Christmas works; Sally ends up being right, Jacks plan falls through and Santa ends up in the clutches of the gambling sack of bugs, Oogie Boogie.

Even though this film was released 23 years ago, it is still an enjoyable watch. Now that I am making a stop-motion project myself, I have a new appreciation for how they managed to get the lighting for some of the scenes as well as some of the wind interactions with clothes, hair etc..