HUE Animation Studio Makes Stop-Motion Easy for All Ages
We've been experimenting with making stop-motion movies for a while now, using various tools like our DSLR and iPads, but we recently got a review copy of the new HUE Animation Studio and it's changed our filmmaking world!
HUE Animation Studio is a complete kit that includes almost everything you and your kids need to create your own stop-motion movies, including a 720p USB camera, software for Windows or Mac, and a guidebook. You have to provide the imagination! Great sources for animation fun that you probably have on hand include LEGO minifigs, Playmobil figures, and other toys and action figures, modeling clay, and even drawings.
All you need to do is install the software, plug in the camera, and start animating. The neat HUE HD camera is mounted on a flexible gooseneck that allows you to aim it anywhere to get the perfect shots for your movie. It also has a built-in microphone, and it will function as a webcam, too.
The HUE Animation Studio software is simple and intuitive allows young filmmakers to get right to work. Simply set up your shot and press the space bar on your computer to take a picture. Set up the next shot, shoot another frame, and repeat as necessary. You can add easily add sound effects and music to your movies, and its frame editing tools let you draw in special effects or add backgrounds with the chroma key ("green screen") tool. There are some pretty sophisticated tools to play around with if you have the patience and inclination.
Here's a short little LEGO movie we made in a few minutes; it uses the drawing tools in HUE Animation Studio for special effects:
The 60-page book included with the kit, The HUE Book of Animation, offers more about technique and movie making ideas than it does instructions on how to use the software, but the HUE Animation website contains comprehensive instructions and lots of great tutorials. The software CD includes printable backgrounds to use in your movies, as well as sounds effects and example videos. Completed movies can be exported or uploaded right to YouTube.
Both my son and daughter have had lots of fun with the HUE Animation Studio. It's easy to use, convenient, and really allows you to launch right into creating your own stop-motion masterpieces. It's ideal for all ages, and perfect for home and classroom use. You can buy HUE Animation Studio
