3 Children + 1 Kit = A Whole Lot of Animation Fun!

Boy, was my oldest excited when we received a complete animation kit from Stopmotion Explosion to review.  From the moment he saw it, he began begging to use it, but it took a couple of days before I could find time to sit down with him without distraction to open up the package, upload the included software onto my computer, browse the book together, and plug in the camera so he and his siblings could explore and play.

When I did so, I was quite impressed with how complete the kit was.  It contained:
 

• a 720p HD video camera with internal microphone, manual focus, and clip
• a quick start guide
• a nearly 300-page Stopmotion Explosion book
• animation software (which came on CD, but there was also a website address where you could download it)

Honestly, the kit contained everything my children needed to get started with their creations except for a computer to use the camera and software with, props (Legos, figurines, and such to animate), and lighting.


Animation On Their Own

My three children had worked in a club last year under the tutelage of a much more computer-savvy homeschool mama than I am to create their first ever stop motion animations.  Since then, they have wanted to make more animated clips, but I have not been ready to invest the time nor the brainpower I would need to in order to figure out just how to help them to do that.  Enter our review of the Stopmotion Explosion Animation Kit and that problem was solved.  They didn't need Mommy to make animations with them.  With the kit, they could just get to it.

My three children truly had a ball creating their first stop motion videos with the kit.  They were ultra-focused and it was a true joy to hear them working, giggling, and creating together.

They were a bit frustrated, however, when we went to play back their animated clips and realized that the quality was not that great.  I am not sure if it was a lack of proper lighting, the quality of the camera that came with the kit, or a combo, but my children just could not produce crisp, clear videos even after I helped them play around with the focus on the camera. 

Mind you, I did not do much else than play a bit with the focus on the lens, though, because I had decided before the kit came into our home that stop motion movie making was going be their thing, not ours, all as a part of my own secret plan which is still coming to fruition.

"What plan?", you ask.

"A replace-one-habit-with-another plan", I answer.  "As well as a plan to get my oldest to take charge of independent reading, learning, and exploring with a purpose."

You see, when I took this review, I did so in hopes that my son's obsession with one of the two video games that we allow him to play - and with reading ever "mind candy" book he can get his hands on related to that game - might be replaced with a more personally creative passion for film animation.  My thought was that I would not mind him jonesing to use a computer so much during his choice times if the purpose for doing so was to create animated stories.  Likewise, I wanted to see how he could do with completely self-directed project learning.

So, I admit, I am not helping much at all with my children's foray's into stop motion animation.  I stay nearby to troubleshoot any large problems, but I am leaving it to my children to figure most things out on their own, or, rather, to use the very complete book that came with the kit, along with weblinks it directs to, in order to broaden their animation prowess.

Indeed, the book is quite complete.  My children just need to dig into it more to discover all the basics - and some beyond-basics - about:

1. How Movies Work
2. Animation Actors
3. Creating Stories
4. Building Sets
5. Cameras
6. Lighting
7. Composition
8. Animating
9. Flight
10. The Art of War
11. Sound
12. Video Editing
13. Files and Formats
14. Frame Conversion
15. Sharing Your Animations
16. Animating with DSLRs
17. What Next?

Most certainly as they read more and more of the book, their animations will get better and better.  Already, with what they have read and played around with, they are doing a bit better, and, let me attest, no Lego, saint peg doll, figurine, cotton ball, or other large object is "safe" from stop motion stardom in our home.  The children just get so creative.

Our Thoughts

Since the children used this product far more than me, I need to let them be the ones to offer final commentary.

My five-year-old says:

I like Stop Motion.  I don't know why, I just do.  First thing, I set up my guys and things.  Then, I choose what I want it to look like.  Then, I hit the button to take a picture.  Then, I move something a little bit and click.  I keep doing that.  Then, my brother helps me make it into a movie, but sometimes he loses it.  I want to make a million movies.

His assessment of what he feels and does is pretty much what I have witnessed, including his brother accidentally losing some of his animated creations, which I did attempt to retrieve from the cyber black hole they seemed to have slipped into, but had little success with. (As I said before, I am not a hugely computer savvy mom.)

 

My eight-year-old says:

I like it and feel like I can do it by myself.  I also like that you can make your own things and you do not really have to follow that many directions.  You have to do some things like plug in the camera, hit start, capture different images, and use a light, but you can use almost anything you like -- pieces of paper, puppets, Legos, stuffed toys...  I like to make longer stories, but they take forever to create.  I want to make more, and I also  want to figure out more stuff about it, like how to make the sound work.

Since my middle child is not a strong reader, if her big brother does not help her use the book to figure out audio soon, I will.  I know it's in the book, but I am hoping the kids can "discover" how to do it on their own. 

 

My ten-year-old says:

It's awesome. It's awesome. It's awesome.

I was excited when I saw it come in, but, then, when I made my first stop motion, the quality was not good.  I have never been able to make it that great, but it's still awesome that I can make a movie.  I don't care about quality.

I love making movies.  I made one about Lego Chima, one about Lego Star Wars, and one about Lego Minecraft.  I made more, too, on my own and with (my sister and brother).

I will make ones about other things, too, if the quality improves, and I will go online and read the book to find out more.  The book explains things, and I like that.

I think other kids would like Stopmotion Explosion, and I am going to keep using it.

So, I guess that about sums it up: In our experience so far, the quality of the camera is not superb, but it is A-okay for beginners and, together with the book, software, and a child's imagination, can begin to unlock focused creativity.

I am thrilled that my children have had the positive experience of creating their own stop motion videos with little to no help from grown ups and I look forward to what they will produce in the future.For families with children that want to try their hand at film animation and those that would like to make time for project-based learning, the Stopmotion Explosion Animation Kit, I think, would be a hit!  It truly has everything children need to get started.  My only cautions might be:

• Stop motion takes time.  It takes many photos to make a minute of animation and each of these photos must be staged and captured.  Then, f you want to get fancier than my kids have, you have to spend more time on lighting, set, sound, special effects, etc.  So, budget time!

• If you're a quality nut, you may want to upgrade the camera sooner rather than later.  As I said, the one that comes for the kit is perfectly serviceable, but it is not the highest quality out there.

These two points aside, I wholeheartedly recommend Stopmotion Explosion for hands-on fun creativity.  My children have spent hours so far enjoying our kit!

Learn More

Get social with Stopmotion Explosion on Facebook and Twitter.

Have fun watching the animations and reading thoughts from 50 Schoolhouse Review Crew who reviewed Stopmotion Explosion, some of whom, of course, produced far more advanced and entertaining animations than my children did.

 
    As hands off as I was with the children's first independent forays into stop motion animation, I learned something during this review, too: how to upload a video to Youtube.  So, if you have suggestions for the children for future animations you'd like to see them make, let us know.  If they take you up on your ideas, we'll post the videos for you to see.   

Scenes from a Children's Simon of Cyrene Play

Late this afternoon, my children were able to join others in a brief play that kicked off our parish collaborative's three-day Lenten mission.  The play was an original one beautifully written, directed, and narrated by a talented parishioner.

Since my children and I only heard about the opportunity to join after the initial rehearsal, we came to the church early today to get up to speed on what the kids would do.
 

Luke was a bit surprised when he was asked to stand in for Simon of Cyrene, who would be absent.

Jack piped up that he'd like to be Simon, but once he saw how big and heavy the cross was, he rescinded his comment.

 
So it was that we settled on roles and went to find some costumes to be the littlest Roman soldier:

 ... a woman in the crowd...

...and Simon of Cyrene.

 

The children and I had some laughs while getting their costumes on.

 Then, it was time to welcome people to Jerusalem.
 

Jack stood guard at the gate.

While Nina joyfully waited (even if Jerusalem at that time was hardly joyful.)

 

After everyone was seated, the wait came to an end.

The guard had to leave his post to go move Jesus along.

Not long after, amidst words from the narrator and song from the choir loft, Simon of Cyrene was pressed into service.
 

And so the play was performed with the author narrating it as the children simply acted out the narration and a man sung from the choir loft.

 
 

I would love to post some images of the whole cast in action, but as I did not get permission to do so from everyone, I can only post snapshots of my crew.  I hope you've enjoyed them and, perhaps, are inspired to do something similar at your own parish or co-op.

I'd love to hear about Lenten and Easter children plays you and yours have participated in.  Links to favorite scripts and resources are welcome, too.

When Children Play...

Last week, after Nina received her First Holy Communion, she was beaming. The boys were excited for her, too.  So, once Mass had concluded, our family party had ended, and night was falling - with me ready for bed - sleep was nowhere in sight for my little ones.  They were just too wound up from the day!

Thus it was that, as I rested on the couch, Luke decided to begin training Jack as an altar boy.  Together, the kids took their children's broom and unscrewed the brush.  Then, they fetched an old cross and some yarn to rig a cross for Jack to carry into "the church"...
 

 

They also took stools, parts of our mini-Mass kit, candles and other bits and pieces to set up an altar in the living room.  Beneath it, Luke placed some toys and books, which I later discovered were to be props for his family-friendly homily.
 

 
As the boys began their procession to the altar, Nina welcomed the parishioners (me, on the couch "pew") and sang the opening hymn.

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Jack and Luke bowed and, then, began Mass, with Luke doing the readings since they had no lector.  Because Luke knew Pentecost was coming up, he self-selected some related readings from his copy of the The Action Bible.

 

Nina sang the Psalms with joy and, then, Luke read the gospel from the book that Nina had been given at choir practice earlier this year so she could practice reading at home with it. 

While Luke proclaimed the Word, his altar server Jack remained rapt and his cantor Nina was so prayerful.  Just beautiful!

 

After the gospel, Luke gave a homily in which he used books and toys as props to keep his "family Mass audience" (me) interested.  (Our pastor has done this on occasion and, obviously, it  has captured Luke's attention!) 

Then, Nina collected offerings in a basket and double-timed it back to the altar area to sing while Jack brought up the gifts.

 

 
"Priest" Luke then consecrated the gifts while Jack eagerly rang the "altar bells" (keys).  While leading the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Luke prompted Jack to come over so Luke could wash his hands and also asked Jack to bring water over so Luke could mix it with the "wine" (juice).

Of course, then came the apex of Mass: communion with the "Body of Christ" (crackers and, um, hot dog slices)...

... and the "Blood" (juice mixed with water in one cup and chocolate Silk mixed with water in another)...

Nina sang hymns after "receiving communion".
 

 
Then, Luke drew "Mass" to a close and made announcements, which included reminding folks of blood pressure checks in the St. Joseph Center, thanking people who had helped at the recent First Communions, announcing upcoming events and more...

Finally, as Luke charged everyone to "Go and make disciples of all nations!" and Nina began the closing hymn, Jack eagerly began a premature bow to lead the final procession.

At this point, Luke, realized there was no organist and paused from "priesthood" to accompany Nina as she sang the closing hymn.

Once "Mass" concluded, Jack did his final altar server duty.  He, took the snuffer that Nina had previously rigged out of a paper cup, tape and a long toothpick, to snuff out the altar candles while leaving the sanctuary candle burning.

Children play what they know and what they are interested in.  For mine, that includes playing Mass.

What play have your children been developing on their own?

What You Might Leave Outside to Inspire Creativity and Fun

Loose parts!

Natural objects.  Random plastic ones.  Anything without a defined play purpose or even objects that have typical uses, but that can be used for other things.  That is what I like to keep on hand in our yard, and, oh, the creativity, imagination and fun that unfolds!

Just the other day, yet another example of loose parts at play developed right outside my front door.

The kids were in the front yard as I prepared a picnic meal.  When I walked out to lay the food on a blanket, I found the pathway blocked by "a boat".  It seems "the ship" (our home) was sinking and the children were trying to rescue all that they might need to survive.  Imaginations, muscles and cooperation had been at play and the scene was unfolding with fun!

It brought such joy to my heart to witness how sunshine, sibling relationships and simple loose parts came together to inspire the "work of childhood" -- play!

And, since you are never too old to play, I joined the children in their imagination.  I dodged floating and sinking debris and found my way to an "island" (our picnic blanket).   Eventually, I let my almost-sinking shipmates know I had gotten to an island where we could await rescue and had been able to prepare a meager meal to keep our energy up... if they could just make it to the island eventually made their way over to the "island".

They did, and our adventure continued.


Such simple, wonderful fun inspired by loose parts!

What do you keep outside at-the-ready to inspire imagination and creativity?

5 Picks for Exploring Rumpelstiltskin

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Last night, as I was collecting another laundry basketful of books that were due at the library, I found myself smiling at how one free program can inspire hours and hours of fun and learning.

Yes, Dreamtale Puppets and our local library did it again!  

This time, not with a gentle study of Jack and the Beanstalk, but with Rumpelstiltskin.

Now, I admit, Rumpelstiltskin is not my favorite fairytale.  For, in it, a girl promises her first born child to strange little man who does magic in order to save her life and, then, the girl marries the very man who had threatened to kill her -- a greedy king.  Indeed, the story seems filled with more vice than virtue.  

However, it is a "classic" and, thus, invites some exploration.

Explore we did.

First with an introduction to the plot through one picture book.

Then through viewing Dreamtale Puppets creative tabletop retelling of the story...

...and enjoying a post-performance opportunity to get up close and personal with all the puppets.

And, finally, through reading other versions of the story and coming up with our own dramatic play retellings.

The five picture books we chose to explore the story were:



Duffy and the Devil takes a popular play from 19th century Cornwall, which was inspired by the classic tale of Rumpelstiltskin, and puts it into picture book form with fun pen and wash illustrations and an ending that one does not expect (and that made my children laugh!)  True to the time period when this version of tale was dramatized throughout England, the Rumpelstiltskin-like character is portrayed as a devil and there are witches in the story as well.  However, there is very little that is scary about the book since the illustrations are so light-hearted.  I'd say the book is worth a gander for its unique twist if nothing else.

Gorgeous oil paintings in a medieval setting create a feast for children's (and adults' ) eyes in the Caldecott Honor Book Rumpelstiltskin.  The text of the books is well-written and stays true to the 1819 Grimm's version of this classic tale by having Rumpelstiltskin fly off on a wooden spoon at the end.  It was my favorite version of the book to read to my children.


Rumpelstiltskin: The Graphic Novel was Luke's favorite version of the classic tale, becausse it is written in comic-book style with bright, captivating (if trendy) illustrations and plenty of speech bubbles.  

I, personally, found the book less thrilling than he did.  However, I did appreciate the fact that the author tried to smooth out some of the less virtue-filled characteristics of the girl and the king in his retelling.  For, in this version of the classic tale, the girl promises to pay Rumpelstiltskin's price should she ever become queen, but does not know that price is her first-born, and the king keeps Rumpelstiltskin in his palace not due to greed, but due to love.  Plus, the girl shows determination and cleverness as she discovers Rumpelstiltskin's name in order to save her firstborn - a daughter.  The book also contains a glossary, a brief history of the classic tale, discussion questions and writing prompts, making it a good one for academic settings -- but only ones with children who do not frighten easily.  For, to be honest, the character of Rumpelstiltskin in this version is drawn to be quite ominous.


Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter gives a new, happily-ever-after twist to the old Rumpelstiltskin tale.  In it, the girl and the little odd man named Rumpelstiltskin escape the greedy king, get married and have a daughter, only to have the king capture their daughter years later, requiring her to appease his greedy ways.  The daughter, in turn, devises waya to help the poor people living in the king's countryside while also helping the king overcome his greed.  Of course, everyone (except maybe the king's guards with their gnashing teeth who are dismissed near the end of the story) lives happily ever after.

The illustrations in this version are delightful.  The storyline is fresh.  Overall, the plot redeems the vice-ridden classic tale with a strong, virtuou female character and good winning overcoming evil in the king.  I just wish there were not slang phrases in the text, such as "here's the deal" and "that jerk".



The Story of Rumpelstiltskin (Usborne First Stories):  This quick-and-easy book is a basic retelling of the classic tale with simple text and charming illustrations.  Like many other Usborne early readers, each page of The Story of Rumpelstiltskin has a short, large-font line of text at the top of the page, which young readers can likely attack on their own.  Then, it has a large, engaging illustration with two lines of smaller- (but still large-) font text below it.  These final two lines are slightly more challenging to read and can be read by a parent (or by a child who is progressing a bit more with reading).  The book is a quick and easy read with a cute, non-menacing looking Rumpelstiltskin.

Now, I know there are many, many more Rumpelstiltskin-inspired picture books out there. My children and I just moved onto different topics and themes before diving into them.  I'd love to hear about your favorites though in case we revisit this classic tale in the future.

What versions of Rumpelstiltskin do you like the best?  How do you approach classic tales with less-than-redeeming plots?