Lego Stop-Motion

[nacho]

My son (age 8) spent considerable time making a stop-motion animation "movie" this summer. Actually, he wanted to go to stop-motion camp (yes, it exists), and I explained that we could do that better at home (you know, because the idea of melding photography and expensive software I don't know how to use was just TOO up-my-alley).

So after setting up lots of equipment and many intense afternoons later, he wrote a script, shot 1200 pictures, and we recorded all the dialogue. I've been providing IT and post-production support The story is like you'd imagine, an 8-year-old's fever dream crammed into 120 seconds of choppy chaotic glory. Enjoy the insanity!


https://youtu.be/5go6JJch6J4

 

[K-Tiger]

Y'all did a fine job, and as far as I've seen, it was no more insane than the average Mixel short.

 

[Videoviper]

Better than Bey!

Great job!

 

[nacho]

Thanks gentlemen!

We did have a good time making it. The look of excitement on his face as each step progressed was priceless.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

Heh. How much influence did you have in the music and sound effects? Benny Hill? Transformers? Sanford and Son?

 

[nacho]

Alex had the final say, but I made suggestions

I got as many effects from actual Mixel shorts as possible. Got a few from vintage Warner Bros cartoons. And when the nixels merged, he and I both assumed it would be a TF effect (he likes G1 TF toons also). He was incredibly adamant about the loud drumbeats during the credits. I finally found a score that suited him, and he picked the exact 12 second window to use. He's never seen S&S, but we just needed something at the end with a different tone than the action sequence, and I offered that as a choice.

He picked out all the voices too. I downloaded some voice-changing software with a ton of presents, so he enjoyed trying to get the right one for each character. Also, it was fun trying to pick out music/sounds that fit the already existing footage. Overall, that was really easy compared to composing/shooting the frames.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

You should see if he's interested in doing some Joe or TF stop motion with ya.

 

[nacho]

I learned a lot that I could use toward that end, one of the reasons I was interested in doing this. Alex would do a TF one in a heartbeat. He's not into Joe yet, but maybe one day. He did take an interest in my cheap COD megabloks this weekend, so maybe he's coming around.

 

[WVMojo]

That was pretty awesome Nacho. Tell your son he did a great job. Going to show this to my 8 year old twins.

 

[nacho]

Thanks! When I get home, I'll post a behind-the-scenes pick.

I thought of doing some outtakes, but they'd have been longer than the actual "movie". That and I really wanted it to be his project, not mine. I was just the technical assistant.... because he's eight.

 

[NSA]

I didn't understand one bit of that, but it was well done!

 

[nacho]

Haha, yeah, can't blame you there. If I didn't have him to tell me, I'd have no clue either.

Mixels are lego's way of selling 35 pieces for $5. Weird little monster characters, each part of a 3-character themed team, and only certain ones can *successfully* cross-mix using a little square called a cupit (sp?). Nixels are evil/annoying. That's the extent of my knowledge.

 

[K-Tiger]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixels

They're a good way to get LEGO pieces.

 

[nacho]

Here's his setup. Nothing fancy, but it works.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

Neato!

What kinda lighting is sammied in there?

 

[nacho]

I don't recall the brand (I'll check when I get home). Each of those lights takes two 75W equiv daylight bulbs IIRC, and the front is just a big translucent white diffuser. It's old, circa 2007. It's part of a cheap portable ebay photo studio kit I bought for ~$100. We use those lights all the time for taking pictures of smaller stuff. They work great for photographing small children too.

 

[nacho]

Eddie, the model of lights are Lowel Ego, and they take two 100W equiv daylight bulbs each.

Lowel Ego Digital Imaging Fluorescent Light (120VAC) E1-10 B&H!

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

Thanks nacho. Those look pretty nice. Great white, soft light.

What's that back board made of? Plastic of some sort I assume...?

 

[nacho]

Yes, it's a polymer material designed by NASA for use in light reflecting solar applications....

Ok, it's green construction paper.