Stop-frame Animation

What is stop-frame animation?

Stop-frame animation is when a film or video camera is used to take just one frame at a time, then the subject is moved a little, then another shot is taken... and so on...

Can you give examples?

Claymation is the most popular example - animations like Creature Comforts, Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run. Eastern European animators are the masters of a very different style. Animators like Jan Svanmajer have been animating living entities for decades.

So what style does Sien Total Media do?

We follow the grand Eastern European tradition of animating people / actors and objects and have been doing so for more than 15 years now. It is a style now very rare in the UK - and all the more treasured because of it.

Our work is varied - ranging from
An entirely stop-frame animated pop video entitled 'Dribble' acted out by the band members of Tiger Lillies
A stop-frame animation and combined live action film called 'Death of Hate'
Experimental abstract art animations like 'Rhythm', 'Machine', 'Prometheus Theatre of the Arcane'
and much more - too many to list here.

Our animations have been broadcast on Channel Four, the BBC and MTV. Most have been shot on 16mm film using a tried and trusted Bolex camera kit.

What about time-lapse photography?

As well as stop-frame animation we have produced much time-lapse footage shot from such varied locations as a high-rise roof, the upper deck of an open top double decker bus, the back of a motorbike and more. Some of this work is listed amongt our Video and Film work.

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