History of clay animation
Clay Animation isn't really a new technique at all. Who doesn't remember Gumby and Pokey? Technically, clay animation began a short time after the invention of a clay-like substance called plasticine. Plasticine was invented in 1897, and one of the first actual films to use clay was in 1902 using clay for lightning sculpting. This was one of the first steps for clay animation, but it took six more years to make a film that used clay animated sculptures. This happened in 1908 when A Sculptor's Welsh Rarebit Nightmare was released in February.
From that time period, many men and women did obscure work with clay animation. It just wasn't a very popular technique then. For almost 70 years, it remained that way. It wasn't until the mid to late '80's that this wonderful technique began to turn into the large-scale phenomenon that it is today. Perhaps one of the best and memorable things that happened in clay animation was Art Pokey's creation of Gumby. He was one of the first superstars to be made out of clay. Even now, people still can't seem to get enough of him. He is a true legend that just keeps reincarnating. He really makes up a large part of clay animation's history.
Now that there is so much technology available, clay animation has really been made much simpler to do and accomplish than it was in it's humble beginnings. You can see more about that on our "So . . ." page. We also recommend that you check out the rest of the pages in the Past, Present, and Future Section. There you'll find a lot more information all about clay animation.
Although the coverage is in great detail, it in no way makes up for the masterclass itself. There is a lot more to be gained from actually attending such educational workshops and learning first-hand from these veterans and benefit from their experiences during their long, illustrious careers.
Therefore, my heartfelt advice to all those who are serious about making careers in the field ofanimation, please do not miss such masterclasses and workshops. If you have the opportunity to learn from someone who has been in the field for a while and made a name for himself/herself, please make the most of it. You will learn much more than any school or institute can teach you.
When Clay bought pre-made comes nicely bagged and boxed deaired blocks. This is very convenant and easily stored but costs some money if you are producing using alot of clay.
Some clay objects come in premixed but in powered form. This is a better bargin if you have the time to mix it yourself as you usually get a better price per dollar and you don't have to pay to have moist clay shipped. The resulting clay will have the same properties as the premixed/prebagged clay but you have the advantage of price and controlling how moist the clay gets so it is the perfect wetness for your use.
Another option is to mix a clay object up according to a recipe. Many recipes can be found in books, internet source, schools, etc. The advantages of recipe mixing a clay from raw ingredients is also one of economics. It will likely be even cheaper to mix your own using raw ingredient. Plus you have the ability to add more of this or that to customize the clay to your needs.
There are some schools and centers to teach you the clay animation to improve the students brainstorm ideas and create story board and script for their movies. You can have a look to that website link Clay animation made easy to learn
Clay Animation isn't really a new technique at all. Who doesn't remember Gumby and Pokey? Technically, clay animation began a short time after the invention of a clay-like substance called plasticine. Plasticine was invented in 1897, and one of the first actual films to use clay was in 1902 using clay for lightning sculpting. This was one of the first steps for clay animation, but it took six more years to make a film that used clay animated sculptures. This happened in 1908 when A Sculptor's Welsh Rarebit Nightmare was released in February.
From that time period, many men and women did obscure work with clay animation. It just wasn't a very popular technique then. For almost 70 years, it remained that way. It wasn't until the mid to late '80's that this wonderful technique began to turn into the large-scale phenomenon that it is today. Perhaps one of the best and memorable things that happened in clay animation was Art Pokey's creation of Gumby. He was one of the first superstars to be made out of clay. Even now, people still can't seem to get enough of him. He is a true legend that just keeps reincarnating. He really makes up a large part of clay animation's history.
Now that there is so much technology available, clay animation has really been made much simpler to do and accomplish than it was in it's humble beginnings. You can see more about that on our "So . . ." page. We also recommend that you check out the rest of the pages in the Past, Present, and Future Section. There you'll find a lot more information all about clay animation.
Mixing Clay and Ingredients
Fired clay is the only material on earth that does not change with time. Throughout the ages cultures around the world have used clay for many purposes. Pottery was mainly for utilitarian purposes like storing grain or dried materials. The earliest pieces were shaped by hand from crude clay dug from the earth, and left to dry in the wind and sun to harden. This form of pottery was not useful for storing water, as the shape would eventually collapse when the liquid was absorbed into the clay. A clay lining smeared inside a basket of woven reeds was discovered to work better to carry liquids.
Heating of the clay pieces was the next evolvement in clay objects. Possibly this was discovered when heating a clay lined basket of food. Another theory is an accidental falling of a clay vessel into the fire. However it occurred the discovery that fire could make clay objects more permanent was when the art of ceramics was born.
Chemical changes occur in clay when it reaches 900°F or 500°C. The clay utensils after being heated or fired would keep their form when used to carry water or liquids. This first form of “firing” pottery was achieved by digging a hole, placing the clay object in it.
Pottery fired at “lower temperatures” is known as Earthenware, it still remains slightly porous and liquids will eventually come through the clay body. Earthenware was the first form of pottery. Clay bodies used can be either reddish in colour (like terracotta), tan or brown, or a gray to black colour. Different coloured slips were made by adding water to clay and mixing it together. This could be applied for decoration. Today using glazing techniques, earthenware can be made to hold liquids.
The next evolvement in ceramics was the discovery that by subjecting the clay piece to an even higher temperature the clay body became non porous. Clay will vitrify at about 2,900°F or 1,600°C. Clay bodies used for stoneware can be red, brown, gray, white or black. This type of pottery, known as Stoneware was used as early as 1400 BC in China, then Korea (57BC-935AD) and Japan during the 13th century.
When tea was first imported to Europe from China in the early 17th century, each chest had a red stoneware pot with it. These pots were quickly copied throughout Europe in Germany, Netherlands and England. Today stoneware is used mainly by artist potters.
Porcelain was first made in China around 618-907AD. This clay body was made from Kaolin (a white china clay) and petuntse ( a feldspathic rock). The petuntse was ground to powder and mixed with the clay and fired to 2,650°F or 1,450°C. The petuntse would vitrify while the clay held the shape. Porcelain is smoother and finer clay and is usually white (with a slight blue or gray tinge) or translucent when fired. While experimenting with porcelain clay bodies in England during the 18th century, Josiah Spode II added bone ash (made by roasting and grinding cattle bones). This resulting clay body is known as bone china and has become the standard in English porcelain today.
Fired clay is the only material on earth that does not change with time. Throughout the ages cultures around the world have used clay for many purposes. Pottery was mainly for utilitarian purposes like storing grain or dried materials. The earliest pieces were shaped by hand from crude clay dug from the earth, and left to dry in the wind and sun to harden. This form of pottery was not useful for storing water, as the shape would eventually collapse when the liquid was absorbed into the clay. A clay lining smeared inside a basket of woven reeds was discovered to work better to carry liquids.
Heating of the clay pieces was the next evolvement in clay objects. Possibly this was discovered when heating a clay lined basket of food. Another theory is an accidental falling of a clay vessel into the fire. However it occurred the discovery that fire could make clay objects more permanent was when the art of ceramics was born.
Chemical changes occur in clay when it reaches 900°F or 500°C. The clay utensils after being heated or fired would keep their form when used to carry water or liquids. This first form of “firing” pottery was achieved by digging a hole, placing the clay object in it.
Pottery fired at “lower temperatures” is known as Earthenware, it still remains slightly porous and liquids will eventually come through the clay body. Earthenware was the first form of pottery. Clay bodies used can be either reddish in colour (like terracotta), tan or brown, or a gray to black colour. Different coloured slips were made by adding water to clay and mixing it together. This could be applied for decoration. Today using glazing techniques, earthenware can be made to hold liquids.
The next evolvement in ceramics was the discovery that by subjecting the clay piece to an even higher temperature the clay body became non porous. Clay will vitrify at about 2,900°F or 1,600°C. Clay bodies used for stoneware can be red, brown, gray, white or black. This type of pottery, known as Stoneware was used as early as 1400 BC in China, then Korea (57BC-935AD) and Japan during the 13th century.
When tea was first imported to Europe from China in the early 17th century, each chest had a red stoneware pot with it. These pots were quickly copied throughout Europe in Germany, Netherlands and England. Today stoneware is used mainly by artist potters.
Porcelain was first made in China around 618-907AD. This clay body was made from Kaolin (a white china clay) and petuntse ( a feldspathic rock). The petuntse was ground to powder and mixed with the clay and fired to 2,650°F or 1,450°C. The petuntse would vitrify while the clay held the shape. Porcelain is smoother and finer clay and is usually white (with a slight blue or gray tinge) or translucent when fired. While experimenting with porcelain clay bodies in England during the 18th century, Josiah Spode II added bone ash (made by roasting and grinding cattle bones). This resulting clay body is known as bone china and has become the standard in English porcelain today.
Although the coverage is in great detail, it in no way makes up for the masterclass itself. There is a lot more to be gained from actually attending such educational workshops and learning first-hand from these veterans and benefit from their experiences during their long, illustrious careers.
Therefore, my heartfelt advice to all those who are serious about making careers in the field ofanimation, please do not miss such masterclasses and workshops. If you have the opportunity to learn from someone who has been in the field for a while and made a name for himself/herself, please make the most of it. You will learn much more than any school or institute can teach you.
When i started animating i got some friends around and showed them all my animations and they all liked the worst qulity one: blib and blob(the first i ever made house building). It was because they were simple but still had character. Morph works because he is simple and you can relate to him. I made a character just like morph some time ago and animated him. It was fine but it had no character. I was on a bikeride just know and i worked out why. If you have a blob with only eyes the only way to show emotion is through the eyes. But when you have a man with arms and legs and all the rest all of it is used to show emotion. If he is sad his sholders sink, his back bends down, his eyes sink to the ground and his hands slowly sink as well. What i'm getting at is i was to inexperienced to do all of these at the same time so i devised a way to practice.
When Clay bought pre-made comes nicely bagged and boxed deaired blocks. This is very convenant and easily stored but costs some money if you are producing using alot of clay.
Some clay objects come in premixed but in powered form. This is a better bargin if you have the time to mix it yourself as you usually get a better price per dollar and you don't have to pay to have moist clay shipped. The resulting clay will have the same properties as the premixed/prebagged clay but you have the advantage of price and controlling how moist the clay gets so it is the perfect wetness for your use.
Another option is to mix a clay object up according to a recipe. Many recipes can be found in books, internet source, schools, etc. The advantages of recipe mixing a clay from raw ingredients is also one of economics. It will likely be even cheaper to mix your own using raw ingredient. Plus you have the ability to add more of this or that to customize the clay to your needs.
There are some schools and centers to teach you the clay animation to improve the students brainstorm ideas and create story board and script for their movies. You can have a look to that website link Clay animation made easy to learn
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