The Basics of Stop Motion Animation: Camera Angles and Movement
Stop-motion animation is a simple but demanding way of making animated films. By gradually moving objects against a backdrop — taking photos at each stage — you can create the illusion of continuous motion to tell your story.
Despite being an animation technique, stop motion uses known film techniques similar to the ones used in feature films. Using the right movement and angle that best serves your story will help you make each shot as effective as possible.
In this article, we’ll break down the different camera angles and movements that you can use to improve your stop motion film.
CAMERA ANGLES
Camera angles are helpful in determining the location where the camera is placed to take a shot. The position of the camera in relation to the subjects can affect how the viewer perceives the scene.
High-Angle Shot
This shot is achieved by pointing the camera down at your subject. Doing this allows you to give off a feeling of inferiority, or “looking down” on your subject. A high-angle shot usually ranges from a shallow angle just above eye level or directly above a subject.
Overhead Shot or Bird’s-eye View
This angle is done by placing your camera above and looking down on your subject. These are typically shot from 90 degrees above, providing a perspective on a scene. Anything less than 90 degrees is considered a high-angle shot.
Eye Level Shot
This is when your subject is at eye level, resulting in a neutral perspective (not superior or inferior) and mimicking how we see people in real life.
Low-Angle Shot
You accomplish this shot by framing the subject from below the level of their eyes. Low-angle shots often emphasize power dynamics between characters, perfect for signaling superiority or eliciting feelings of fear and dread.
Shoulder Level Shot
This shot can be achieved by placing the camera as high as your subject’s shoulders. Shoulder-level shots are actually much more standard than eye-level shots, which can make your actor seem shorter than reality.
Knee Level Shot
This is accomplished by positioning your camera at a height that is about as low as your subject’s knees. Using this can invoke a character’s superiority. The effect would be like making a ground-level shot, but not as extreme.
Ground Level Shot
You can do a ground-level shot by shooting a scene with the camera’s height on ground level with your subject. Similar to the knee level shot, this camera angle is used to feature a character walking without revealing their face.
The Cowboy Shot or Hip Level Shot
This shot is achieved when your camera is roughly waist high. Cowboy or Hip-level shots are often useful when one subject is seated while the other stands.
Dutch Angle or Dutch Tilt Shot
The Dutch Angle or Dutch Tilt shot is when the camera is slanted to one side. This causes a sense of disorientation as the horizon line is tilted. In shot is usually done to show a de-stabilized mental state or to increase the tension of a scene.
CAMERA MOVEMENTS
Camera movement is a film technique used to create a change in frame or perspective through the movement of the camera. Camera movements still apply to Stop Motion. However, the difference is, you will shift the camera movements frame by frame at the same time the puppets are animated to create the desired effect.
Static
A static shot is the most basic form of camera movement where you lock a camera to a fixed position, typically with a tripod, and cause no movement at all.
Truck
Here’s a camera movement in which the entire camera moves left or right along a track. This is often used when performing shots with a moving subject. A truck shot is most effective when used with a fluid motion track to avoid shaky shooting conditions.
Push-In
You can achieve a push-in by moving the camera closer to a subject at a steady pace. Using this movement draws the audience’s attention to specific details on the scene.
Pull-Out
A Pull-Out shot is a smooth camera movement where you move the camera away from a subject. In effect, the subject grows smaller while simultaneously revealing more details about the surrounding area.
Pedestal
A pedestal shot involves moving the camera vertically regarding the subject, as opposed to the camera’s angle tilting. This is best used when shooting tall characters or subjects.
Tracking Shot
A tracking shot physically moves the camera through the scene for an extended amount of time. This camera movement often follows a moving subject, though they can be used to simply show off a scene.
Roll
A camera roll is a rotational camera movement that rotates the camera over its side on its long axis. This can give a dizzying and unnatural effect meant to disorient the audience or create uneasiness.
Arc shot
An Arc Shot is accomplished by moving the camera around the subject in an arc pattern. This camera movement is commonly used to add energy to a shot in which characters have minimal actions.
