Stop Motion and Puppet Making work and work experience

From research and contacting stop motion animators and puppet makers such as Russell Peet (Cumbria), Anna Ginsburg (Edinburgh), Claire Lamond (Edinburgh), Rachael Olga Lloyd (London), Holi Ilex (Cumbria), Bob Lee and others I have learnt I may have a better chance of gaining experience buy contacting independent animators and giving a hand with their projects. This may be because I haven't heard back from many Stop Motion studios.

Animation networks in The Netherlands

http://www.animatetheworld.eu/en/ - Animation company providing a wide variety of animation including stop motion.

http://www.artworksamsterdam.nl/ - Arts network based in Amsterdam and showcasing work, including animation, from around Europe.

http://www.klikamsterdam.nl/ - Animation Festival

http://www.haff.nl/en/ - Animated Film Festival

http://www.postpanic.com/ -dutch animation studio

Stop Motion Animation in The Netherlands

http://www.nielshoebers.nl/

Niels Hoebers is a dutch stop motion animator
I enjoy this film in particular as it explores imagination and his use of puppetry is incredible. At one point exposing the full armature, breaking the barrier between audience and creator.



Walter, a dialogue with the imagination from Niels Hoebers on Vimeo.

Stop motion puppets UK

One independent animator Russell Peet has made a film 'Up and Over' using armatures and facial robotics which I find incredibly interesting. He used adjustable facial mechanisms to enable him to create very subtle expressions and movements within the face. It's an expensive alternative to using replacement mouths but I think for this kind of animation (subtle, no speech) it's very effective. 

By using a fill skeleton covered in latex he was able to create elderly hands and skin as the material creased appropriately.

Animation in Cumbria

Russell Peet works and is from Cumbria. I'm also from Cumbria and have recently found the film and animation network up north exciting. An animation festival 'Animated Eden' had a trial event this year which went incredibly well. There have also been new film events and competitions appearing, two of which I'm attending this December. All events have had a great reception and both filmmakers and audience members are enjoying it which is promising. I feel it has taken a while for filmmakers in the north to be able showcase their work but new events seem to be going very well. Initially the north didn't seem to be the place for animators and filmmakers but I'm beginning to think differently and can't wait to get involved in improving accessibility for both filmmakers and audience. 

Links - 

Cumbria short film competition 

http://www.animatededen.com/

Animation and film nights in Carlisle 

Northern Exposure Short Film Competition 

BFI film course now brought to Barrow Cookes Studios

Polish Stop Motion Animation - Piotr Ludwik

Piotr Ludwik is a polish stop motion animator who works for a Polish animation company - se-ma-for -   a film he animated called 'On/Off' used a beautiful stop motion puppet.

The trailer is here

        

I can't find sourced information but I can only assume the puppet has been made using a full armature skeleton as the character moves, walks, and uses his arms throughout the film very smoothly. 

Polish Stop Motion Animation - Ladislas Starevich

Ladislas Starevich - Polish/Russian Stop Motion Animator who worked early 1900's

He animated insects to create very surreal short films. In this case his puppets weren't made using armatures or wire skeletons as he used dead insects. Apparently one reviewer believed he used live trained insects. His film, 'The Camera Man's Revenge' is known as his most acclaimed.

I find his method of using dead animals incredibly interesting as it would be seen as immoral if done today. It seems logical to use dead insects as you already have the armature within it in a way... I just wonder how easy it was to animate the animals compared to building a contemporary puppet.