Stop Motion University is a fairly new organization built with the sole purpose of educating anyone anywhere in the world in the art of stop motion animation. The site was launched in the Fall of 2018 with its initial offerings of private lessons by professional stop motion animators. Stop Motion University is now gearing up to offer world class certification courses in animation, prop building, and performance for animation. The first round of 100% online courses focus on absolute beginners interested in stop motion animation or those individuals who have played with the art form but are in need of refining their skills to become better at the art.
All students can use their choice of equipment or software that they have at hand to take the courses such as smart phones, tablets, or computers, to free beginners software to professional versions. The choice is theirs and this offers flexibility both in both cost and convenance. John Ikuma the Director of Stop Motion University has said “I want to create a school and a program that is not just enriching and fun but also affordable and accessible to anyone that is interested in learning animation”. The following are the current offerings by Stop Motion University.
Foundations of Stop Motion – Tier 1 Course: The first course in the series is called Foundations of Stop Motion Course – Tier 1 and offers a certificate upon completion in the Foundations of Stop Motion – Tier 1 Level. This course is a 3 month course focused on the core elements of stop motion animation and the skills and techniques necessary to bring inanimate objects to life. The course will focus on Setups (down shooters, table top animation, lighting, software, cameras & mobile devices), Types of Stop Motion (Clay Animation, Pixelation, Cutout Animation, Found Object Animation, Brick Films). The course is 100% online offering video instruction, example animation, quizzes and personal project assignments, group discussions, and final project. The Tier 1 course is the first in a 3 Tier course system built to turn beginners into fully capable artists in 9 months. Each Tier costs $150 and will allow students the versatility to participate in the class exercises at their leisure anywhere in the world. Students will have access to a mentor/instructor who will be there to answer their questions through the course. The course is Pre-Enrolling at a discounted price of $100 until the April 2019 Start Date.
Pre-Enrollment $100 until April 2019: https://stopmotionuniversity.com/product/beginners-stop-motion-tier-1-course-pre-enrollment-starts-april-2019/
ABC Course: The second course being offered is for Kids and Parents titled the ABC (Animation Beginners Course). This course is similar in structure to the Foundations of Stop Motion course but with a longer amount of time allowed for completion of the course (6 month). Also, this course doesn’t offer graded tests or quizzes but offers the opportunity to earn the certificate of completion in the course by submitting a final project. The ABC course is setup to allow kids (5 to 15 years of age) to participate in a fun and expressive art activity with their parents. Like the Foundations of Stop Motion – Tier 1 course students can expect to learn Setups (down shooters, table top animation, lighting, software, cameras & mobile devices), Types of Stop Motion (Clay Animation, Pixelation, Cutout Animation, Found Object Animation, Brick Films). Students will have access to a mentor/instructor who will be there to answer their questions through the course. This course is also $150 to signup and reserve your seat. The course is Pre-Enrolling at a discounted price of $100 until the April 2019 Start Date.
Pre-Enrollment $100 until April 2019: https://stopmotionuniversity.com/product/abcs-of-animation-course-for-kids-parents-pre-enrollment/
Private Lessons: Stop Motion University is offering world class private and group instruction by some amazing professional instructors. Interested students, groups, or schools can book both online private lessons or group lessons with professional animators, puppet and prop builders, and VFX Artists who’s experience and knowledge gives an unparalleled access to the often top secret world of stop motion animation production. Learn from some of the best in the industry. Current Instructors are Nikki Rice Malik (Puppet Building), Melissa Shepard (Animation), Barry Purves (Animation), and John Ikuma (Animation, Puppet/Props/Sets, VFX). Many more instructors are planned for the future. All private lessons currently are being offered online but one on one, group, school, and event lessons can be arranged by contacting Stop Motion University on their Contacts Page directly. Contact
Private Lessons Offered: https://stopmotionuniversity.com/shop/
Future Programs and Website: Currently Stop Motion University is in the process of building a new website that will launch sometime in February 2019. The new site will feature both Private Lessons, Certificate Courses, Instruction Video Lessons, and An Online Chat Forum. Future programs and lessons in Animation, Puppet Building, Prop and Set Building, Visual Effects, Storyboarding, and Production are all on the planned course offerings for the future. All perspective students can use the current website to Pre-Enroll in the current offerings or signup for Private Lessons.
Learn more at stopmotionuniversity.com
