Why animation
Animation is movie magic! Loved by children and adults alike, its potential for teaching, learning and inspiring a life-long love of the arts is vast. It is an incredible medium to explore creativity, almost without limitations.
Its great accessibility through people's love of animation and technological advances makes it a perfect medium for all ages and subject matter. Not only does it incorporate the many life skills found through drama and music work such as team working, thinking skills and problem solving, but it combines these with teaching new media skills so essential for the workforce of tomorrow.
Vicky Hope Walker, Anim8ed Project Coordinator (Freelance)
Handmade animation
There are many amazing ways to animate and experimenting with different techniques can be a rich and rewarding experience. As computers are one of the first things people think about for animation, it might seem surprising that the easiest and perhaps most successful ways to make animation with children and young people is through handmade techniques. Most of the animated films for Anim8ed were made using cut-out animation. You can learn about cut-out animation and other techniques in the video tutorials and case studies.
Handmade animation is accessible and fun! The creation process encourages different approaches to art, craft and design, including those that involve working individually and in groups. It encompasses drawn and model animation, cut-outs, sand, paint on glass, pixilation; in short anything that lends itself to image manipulation. Through tactile processes, people can experiment with the visual elements of pattern, texture, colour, line, tone, shape, form and space. It develops control of tools and techniques for drawing, painting, collage and sculpture, exploring a range of materials, allowing participants to explore and play without undue restraints. Most satisfying of all, animation techniques are easily grasped when posing and moving physical objects.
