Intro to
Stop Motion Course

Q: What Does This Course Cost?

The Introduction to Stop Motion short course costs R3,900. If you've previously completed a short course through The Animation School, you qualify for a 10% discount.

Level Up Your Skills in Just Weeks!
Our Short Courses are one of the most popular ways to dive into the world of animation. Whether you’re sharpening your skills, exploring a new passion, or preparing for a future in the creative industry, our short courses are designed to inspire and equip you with practical and interactive training.

COHORT 1 · SATURDAY, 19 SEP – 24 OCT
COHORT 2 · SATURDAY, 31 OCT – 5 DEC

Min. class size applies — If Cohort 1 doesn't fill, you'll move to Cohort 2 at no extra cost.

09h00 - 12h00
Cost: R4,200

About THE Course

Registration Form

Programme

What’s Covered in the
Intro to Stop Motion Course

Learn the skills involved in stop motion movie production through hands-on exercises. Over six weeks, you’ll storyboard, shoot, and edit a short stop-motion animation—all using your smartphone.

Stop Motion Overview

Discover the rich history of stop motion animation and review iconic examples of stop motion to observe its evolution. Learn about different media and techniques, including claymation and shadow puppets.

Animation Principles

Get to know the 12 principles of animation and how they apply to stop motion. This course focuses on core principles like squash and stretch, timing and spacing, ease in and ease out, and arcs.

Planning and Preparation

Good stop motion starts with planning. This course teaches you how to storyboard and thumbnail scenes to bring structure and clarity to your animation workflow.

Puppets and Support Rigs

Design and build simple stop motion puppets using clay and wire. Learn how support rigs help keep characters stable during complex or mid-air movements.

Shooting Setups

Experiment with different shooting styles (top-down and side-on) to bring your story to life. Learn how background, lighting, and camera setup impact the look and feel of your stop-motion animation.

Basic Compositing

Learn basic post-production techniques to polish your animation. You’ll edit out wire rigs, add title cards, and prepare your claymation scene for export.

Why study at The Animation School?

Gain In-Demand Skills From the #1 Animation School in Africa

Ranked among the top 11 animation schools worldwide in 2025, we offer a practical, industry-driven curriculum that makes our graduates highly sought-after. Our students consistently win top awards both locally and internationally, and 80–90% of graduates go on to work for leading animation studios worldwide.

Q&A

Do You Have Questions About the Intro to Stop Motion Course?

Find answers to common questions about the Introduction to Stop Motion short course.

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Will I Get a Certificate?

Yes. Students who attend all sessions and complete the required exercises will receive a certificate of attendance from The Animation School. A formal assessment is not included as part of the course.

Who Is This Stop Motion Animation Course for?

This course is for anyone curious about stop motion, whether you're a high school learner (Grade 8–12), a diploma student or graduate, a creative professional, or just eager to try something new. No experience is required, only a willingness to experiment.

What Does This Course Cost?

The Introduction to Stop Motion short course costs R4,200. If you’ve previously completed a short course through The Animation School, you qualify for a 10% discount.

Do You Offer Financial Assistance?

There are currently no bursaries available for short courses.

What Animation Software Will I Use in This Course?

This course uses Stop Motion Studio, a free stop-motion animation app. You can download Stop Motion Studio from the App Store or Google Play Store.

A pro version of the Stop Motion Studio app with extra features is also available as a once-off purchase for R120. This is entirely optional—the free version is sufficient for this course.

What Will I Need for This Course?

In addition to the Stop Motion Studio app, you’ll need a smartphone and a
stable internet connection to join video calls.

You’ll also need some wire and modelling clay to create simple puppets. Stop motion animators tend to use oil-based plasticine modelling clay such as Plastilina because it remains pliable for a long time. Aluminium wire is preferred for creating puppet armatures and rigs because it’s strong, flexible, and holds its shape well.

You may also want a sturdy stand or tripod to hold your smartphone camera in position while you shoot scenes, although many students use items like books to prop up their phones.

What Is the Format of This Course?

The Introduction to Stop Motion course is delivered entirely online over the course of six weeks. Live classes take place on Thursdays from 17:30 to 19:30 and are taught by experienced animation facilitators.

In addition to these weekly online classes, you’ll need to spend around three hours per week watching lectures and completing practical exercises on your own.

The next cohort starts 7 June 2025.

How Do I Join the Intro to Stop Motion Course?

Simply complete the registration form at the top of this page, submit it, and make the necessary payment.

What if I Want to Study Animation Full-Time?

If you’re serious about pursuing a career in animation, consider applying for
our Diploma in Digital Animation. It’s a full-time, three-year qualification that
prepares you for work in the animation industry through hands-on training,
studio production experience, and professional development. Many
students use the Introduction to Stop Motion course as a first step before
committing to full-time study.

Ready to Discover the Magic of Stop Motion? Register Today

Complete the registration form and pay the registration fee

Join the next class starting on 7 June 2025

Intro to Stop Motion Course