I can amimate....can you?
Yesterday I was volunteering at the Kudlian Animation workshop which was happening downstairs at Cornerhouse. James Long from Kudlian Software Ltd was showing a group of 15 individuals how to use I Can Animate, an easy-to-use programme to create stop-motion animation that Wallace and Gromit would be proud of.He brought along a bag full of wacky puppet creations and invited the group to make their own. Using a webcam, the software lets the user take a sequence of pictures which can be played back as a movie. Set the character up in front of the camera and move it a little bit before each photo is taken. Now when the sequence is played back the character will appear to move all by itself. This is the basis for stop-frame animation. The only limit is your imagination. It's also incredibly simple to export the finished film to YouTube or other computer programmes for post-production and editing. James also showed the group the brand new I Can Animate app which is available for iPhone and iPod Touch (the one with built-in camera). With it you can animate remotely, no wires and no computers needed. The project files can even be copied back onto your computer where you can continue to work on them.It's amazing how new technology is putting industry-standard tools in the hands of individuals. And with the power of the internet, you can show your films to millions of people.
Rob Birchall
Digital Reporter
@thisisobject
http://thisisobject.co.uk
