Introduction to Animation through Pixilation: From Live-Action to Video Editing

This intensive and dynamic workshop is designed as a direct continuation of the regular video content and video editing curriculum. Marta Miquel i Capell’s workshop takes advantage of this opportunity to introduce second-year students to the world of animation, perfectly covering this segment of the coursework.

The instructional format is structured as a fun, dynamic, and practical introduction to the principles of animation using the pixilation technique (a stop-motion animation method where living people act as frame-by-frame characters or objects). Through this process, students will connect animation creation with the core principles of video editing hands-on, gaining insight into the complete production workflow of a video project.

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

01 Introduction to Animation Principles: Developing a foundational understanding of the stop-motion technique and how individual frames combine to create the illusion of movement.

02 Mastering the Pixilation Technique: Exploring the creative potential of using the body, surrounding space, and live actors as elements of animated video content.
03 Integration with Video Editing: Enabling students to independently organize captured stop-motion footage, insert it onto a timeline, and complete the final video editing workflow.

PRACTICAL EXERCISE (PIXILATION IN MOTION)
Participants working in small groups will be tasked with conceptualizing and filming a short sequence using the pixilation technique. The emphasis is placed on experimentation, movement coordination, and understanding how editing individual photos/frames creates a fun and surreal animation within a real space.

REQUIRED MATERIALS
Since the exercise focuses on learning the principles of live kinematics/animation and the rapid assembly of footage during editing, the following equipment will be used:
– Smartphones or digital cameras for filming
– Tripods for frame stability
– Computers and software for video editing and assembling stop-motion sequences
– Simple classroom props for animation purposes