Stick Figure Animation Still In Demand
by Kelly Richardson
kelly.richardson@animationschoolreview.com
AnimationSchoolReview.com Columnist
Once upon a time, stick figure animation was all the rage on television and in the movies. With the promulgation of computer technology animation moved on to the photo-realistic imagery you see today. However, stick figure animation is alive and well on the Internet. Innovative web sites have brought back this old art form in new ways.
Stick figure animations are exactly that: human characters represented by simple straight lines that resemble sticks. Now this might not sound all that creative but stick figure animation has advanced tremendously as a cultural art form. Stick figures remain a popular method of advertising as well as a cost efficient way for photo-realistic animators to create complex scenes without expensive finished products. Here are some web sites that glorify the stick figure animation concept and will give you a new appreciation of this aging technique.
Stick Figure Animation on the Web
- Stick Page. This web site, dubbed Giant in the Playground, boasts an impressive collection of stick figure cartoons and animation shorts as well as all the latest news in the stick figure animation arts.
- Hall Pass. Hall Pass is an open submission page that allows you to submit your own personal stick figure animation concepts and vote on the ones that are the best.
- Stick Figure Deaths. This part of the dmoz Open Directory Project has links to a variety of stick figure animation violence. Although not suitable for all audiences, this page has shortcuts to cutting edge feature shorts and cartoons.
Stick figure animation pros have several methods for taking their designs from the paper to the Internet. And the prevalence of user friendly software applications has made stick figure animation an enduring art form.
From the Drawing Board to the Web
- Flash Animation. Because stick figure animation is created with vector images rather than bitmaps most designers choose to create sequences in Macromedia Flash.
- Power Point. The slide capabilities of Power Point allow you to create stills that flow in a movie once position together without breaks.
- Advanced Techniques. By changing styles of movement and facial expressions, stick figure animation provides ample opportunity for intricate action.
If you love doodling stick figures on a cocktail napkin, you should know that with effective training there’s still a viable Web market for your talent.
Sources
dmoz Open Directory Project
Giant in the Playground
Hallpass
About the Author
Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.
Posted on January 19, 2007 at 11:25 AM
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