★ How to Make Puppets for Stop-Motion Animation | Jointed Limbs and Clay Art Doll Figures â˜

Using wires and metal brackets in model making I have always been interested in model making and stopping
Action Animation, these two skillsin-hand.
This page focuses on starting from scratch, from simple numbers to high
Technology construction.
The puppets you create must be able to be manipulated into a variety of poses so that you can inject life into them and give them \"features \".
The versatility required for a puppet may be the biggest challenge when building a puppet.
Below you will find a list of materials and processes you can use, as well as some tutorials from experts.
I also included some tips for making art dolls as there are some crossover
Technically between craft, although the art doll is artistic, not functional, so can not be used to stopmotion.
This is because although the art dolls are often joint, the limbs are loose, so they lie naturally (
Usually fixed together at the joint with a rope).
I hope you find useful tutorials, videos and guides on this page :)
First, the body of the puppet is carved out of clay.
Then make a 2-with this-
Plaster mold.
The mold is filled with latex foam (
With armature of metal)
And be cured and become a good character.
The head is created separately (see below).
Photos and puppets by Sean Duran.
Model making and animation books are the best in my opinion
You can get round resources, and the options below are 5 of the best.
All of this is tutorials, tips and expert advice that you can read in your own time.
Almost all animated puppets have a metal \"armature\" that is actually the skeleton of the puppet.
They can be as basic as a single wire, or they can be made up of many metal joints and complex components.
The character of the puppet will then be built on this skeleton.
When shooting stops
The action is important that the puppet should be durable and maintain the posture between the \"frames\", so the joint is stiff (
Made of wires or balls-and-socket joints)is vital.
Another important question to consider is how puppets balance on the \"stage.
For example, if you are shooting a puppet walk, then the puppet must be balanced on one leg in many shots.
The usual practice is to use a tie.
Ups and Downs or magnets;
For more details, see the rest of this page.
If you need your puppet flight, there is a rigging system to purchase.
The time and skills you need to make a puppet depend mainly on the look you want;
Lifelike or cartoon, simple features or detailed carved faces, clay or latex. . . .
Of course, more complex design requires more technology and often more cost.
The planning phase is important in puppets.
So make sure you \'ve considered how to make all the parts first so you don\'t have problems later.
The craft can contain many skills, including a range of mold making techniques, as well as metal processing, engraving, painting details, sewing micro-garments and props, carpentry, set building, etc.
This is a very satisfying hobby and a great way out for creativity and imagination, it allows you to get a lot of tasting of different manufacturing techniques --
Small scale.
Of course, if the story of the animation is your main focus, then you can easily choose to make characters with basic materials such as wires, clay and even paper using only simple techniques.
Lots of diversity and choices here!
The heads and eyes are carved out with a grilled Super Sculpey, so they are solid.
The eyebrows are made with a soft Fimo, as are the eyelids and mouth.
These areas are soft so they can be animated (
Usually many mouths are created for each model in animation-
One for each expression
So the mouth switches between frames. )
The head is coated with acrylic resin.
Photos of Sean Duran and puppet heads.
Photos of Andrea Hale
Show puppets during the production phase: you can see the \"bones\" where epoxy putty is used for bones \". -
The easiest technique is to model it with clay/plasticine and then make it into a simple shape.
Animation using clay is called \"clay \". -
Armature is a metal \"skeleton\" used inside a puppet to keep its shape the same.
A simple armature can be created (plastic-covered)
Manipulate the wire into the shape of the puppet you are making (
A line of the leg, a line of the arm, etc-
Wrap the wires together at the connection)
Then add Plasticine/clay around the wire to build the model.
If the puppet is not thin, you can make the puppet with aluminum foil around the wire skeleton before the clay/Plasticine is all added. -
The more advanced armature can create two strands (usually 1/16\")
Twisted aluminum wire together (Increase strength)
Maybe with pre-
Metal skeleton components used in the structure, such as foot blocks and hip blocks, are also manufactured.
Alternatively, a hip/shoulder block can be built from scratch using epoxy.
Clay can be used for the body (and foil)
Or pad/upholstery foam or pad.
If foam is used, use scissors to shape the foam before adding clothes or liquid latex skin.
In addition to making clothes, you can also use another method called felting, in which clothes-
A similar design can be formed directly on the surface of the puppet using wool roving.
Felting can also be used to make some Teddy\'s puppet hair or even face. bear-like puppets.
Exposed areas such as hands and face can be made with wires and clay, silicone, latex and/or epoxy putty.
The head is created in wood or resin to be solid and non-movable, or carved in polymer clay (
Such as Sculpey or Fimo)
It was hard and firm to bake.
If you want parts of the face to be movable, such as eyebrows and mouths, the areas can be left with space, soft clay can be added to the hard-baked head section and finally carved. -
The kit can be used to make the stator, and the kit still includes twisted wires, but more components are used, including metal tubes and multiple drilling blocks.
Components can be pre-drilled or purchased by machinemade. -
A complete pre-
Homemade armature is available
No twisted wires are used, only solid metal rods and joints.
The hands will have individual movable fingers, and in general, these arms are stronger.
Typically, these skeletons are used with foam latex.
The puppet is first carved with clay and then 2-
Part of the plaster mold is constructed around the shape of the clay, which is used to replicate the shape in the latex (
With the skeleton embedded in LaTeX).
Foam latex is flexible, easy to operate, but rather expensive, and therefore is usually used only by professionals and serious amateurs.
Flexible Polyurethane cold
Foam products are easier to use than foam latex, but they are not their ownskinning (i. e.
The surface produced is not smooth)-
Therefore, the skin can be made separately using liquid latex and attached to the foam body.
Silicone rubber is also possible. -
Custom products can be ordered, but they are very expensive and are available for almost exclusively professional use.
There are also complex hinged heads. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: In puppet making, the foot of the puppet is temporarily attached to the \"floor\" of the stage with a magnet or tiedowns.
This keeps the puppets in the right position when you adjust their limbs. Tie-
It is not too expensive to use nuts and bolts;
Insert the nut in each foot of the puppet, then bolt through a hole on the stage \"floor\" and enter the nut in the foot of the puppet.
Tip: When casting hard objects (
Such as puppet head)
Make the mold with soft material-
Such as silicone.
When you make a soft object (e. g. from latex)
Make the mold with hard material-
Like plaster.
List of common materials and options-Plastic (
Flexible beads)
Or metal guns --Foam (
Upholstery/polyurethane type or foam called plastic foam)-Fur/mohair-
Wire/wire mesh-Wood-
Polymer clay -
Super scalipe, scalipe, Fimo and Cernit-
Before using this clay, it must be conditioned/heated by kneading.
Running it over and over again through an Italian noodle machine does help solve this problem, as it is very tiring and time consuming to just use your hands.
When you finish the engraving of polymer clay, it will bake at low temperature in the oven and harden into plastic
Like consistency-Epoxy Putty -
Plumber\'s epoxy, Magic styling, Aves Apoxie styling, Apoxie Clay, Milli input, Devcon, etc.
The epoxy resin is divided into two parts and must be completely kneaded together before a chemical reaction can begin, resulting in their hardening.
It\'s best to wear gloves when kneading.
Epoxy putty works if you only need a short working time, but if you need a longer time then choose to use polymer clay. -Plasticine (an oil-
Foundation clay of constant hard)-
For example, Van Aken, Claytoons, type Chavant-
Usually used only for parts that need constant manipulation of puppets, such as hands and faces. -
Aluminium foil-
Wool coarse yarn for needle felt outside the puppetStyrofoam-Liquid Latex (
Give puppet skin)-Foam Latex (
For puppet body)
Need to bake in the mold to form the desired shape.
Foam latex is divided into 4 parts;
The bottom of the latex, the cement agent, the maintenance agent and the foaming agent all need to be mixed together, poured and baked.
You need an oven and food mixer that is purely for foam latex (
Can not be used for food). -K&S (
Square brass pipes of different sizes-
It strengthens the wires to make \"Bones \")-Aluminum wire-
Nuts and Boltsfor tie-
For example, DownsEnamel paint-Acrylic paint-Plaster (
Mainly used for mold manufacturing)-
A very popular product is super based on plaster-30\'-
Fabric for clothes-
If you are building an armature with a wide variety of joints, rods and plates
Rare earth/rare earth magnets-
Very powerful and very expensive magnet for fixing the feet of the puppet (steel)stage. -Resin -
This is cast into a mold (cold -
No heat involved)
Produce solid shapes like feet
Resin can also be used as mold material when making silicone or foam castings (
Remember, you\'re using a solid mold.
Manufacture of resin for casting flexible/flexible parts and flexible molds for casting solid parts (such as silicone). -Silicone -
It can be cold cast like resin, but the final casting is smooth, elastic and rubber.
You can create a range of shades when mixing silicone.
Additional tips and information :-
The head can be made of hard materials such as polymer clay (
Super Scully Fimo)
Or wood, or cast with resin. -
Armatures can be covered with clay, fabric, latex, foam or silicone
Or a combination of methods.
If foam or latex is used, you can use acrylic paint and medical adhesive (such as pro-Aide.
Nothing is glued to the silicone so it can\'t be painted
Instead, colors are created during mixing by adding shades.
Basic knowledge of 4 different armaturehere puppet making each stage rarely has different materials and techniques
Try several different ways and stick to what you like best.
This needle carving technique that shapes the body is a substitute for traditional engraving and casting, thus bypassing many production steps.
For the puppets in this photo, the batting is wrapped around the wire skeleton before applying the filler to the top.
Nylon pantyhose was used outside to maintain the position of hitting and filling.
Photos and puppets of permanent plums.
Art doll tutoralsalthough although art dolls are usually not suitable for display, I think it is interesting to look at the techniques used in this art craft, because a lot of techniques can also be used for animation models (
Such as eyes, hair, face how to do).
These hands have a wire skeleton and then entangle the embroidery thread around the wire to create the subtle shape of the hands and fingers.
Then dip your hand with latex (
This is flexible and therefore allows the hand/finger to move).
Pictures and hands of Clara\'s animated world.
These hands have a twisted wire skeleton base for \"Bones\" and (flexible)
Latex in the middle space.
Then immerse the whole hand in the latex several times.
Pictures and puppets of Clara\'s animated world.
There are a lot of materials available for puppet making products and tools to make models and puppets
Some are specialized, while others are general crafts, but can be easily used for any modeling purpose: the twisted wire holder adds a hard curing putty where it does not need to be bent during Animation.
Strong magnets are embedded in the feet so they don\'t fall (
There is a hidden steel plate on the floor of the sleeve)
, Then carve Plasticine on top of putty and wire.
Finally, the clothes and yarn are sewn together and attached to the puppet.
Photos and puppets by Emma McIntosh.