Stop Motion Puppet Fabrication

Program Overview

This intensive program, taught by experienced puppet fabricator Nikki Rice, provides comprehensive training in the art of designing, building, and animating puppets specifically for stop motion animation. Students will explore various materials, puppet styles, and industry techniques while crafting their own puppets. The hands-on nature of the course allows participants to develop practical skills in the field. This intensive may be taken independently or as an elective within a larger Film Foundations program.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Content: This program will teach students how to design, armature, and build a puppet capable of full stop motion animation.
• Structure: The course will cover the use of different materials, including wire, foam, liquid latex, epoxy resin, and acrylic paint.
It will also explore different puppet styles seen in films and TV, such as “Pinocchio,” “Wallace and Gromit,” “Ted Lasso Christmas Special,” and “Robot Chicken.”
• Course Schedule: The course runs from July 8th to July 31st, Monday and Wednesday, from 1 PM to 4 PM.
• Individual Modules: The course focuses on the design, armature, and build-up of a puppet.

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: The program will be taught by Nikki Rice, who will share her experience creating the Ted Lasso Christmas Special Puppets.
The course is hands-on, as students will be designing and building their own puppets.
• Faculty: Nikki Rice, the instructor, is a puppet fabricator with extensive experience in the stop motion industry.
She has worked on several television shows, commercials, and films. The instructor will be in touch with extra materials required.