Create a Stop Motion Video Using Clay
Make a short clay stop motion video by sculpting characters, arranging scenes, photographing small movements frame by frame, then editing into a smooth animated clip.
Step-by-step guide to create a stop motion video using clay
Step 1
Choose a short clear story idea that can happen in a few actions like "ball rolls" or "hero greets friend."
Step 2
Draw 3 to 6 tiny sketches showing each scene in your story.
Step 3
Decide which characters and props you will make from your sketches.
Step 4
Sculpt your characters from the modeling clay.
Step 5
Make simple clay props like a ball a cup or a tiny sign.
Step 6
Push toothpicks or small wire inside characters for support and to help pose them.
Step 7
Attach colored paper to the base to make a background using tape or glue.
Step 8
Place your characters and props on the base in the starting scene pose.
Step 9
Set a camera or phone on a tripod or a stable stack of books so it points at the scene.
Step 10
Turn on a lamp or bright light and aim it so the scene is evenly lit without strong shadows.
Step 11
Take frame by frame photos by moving your characters a tiny bit between each photo until you finish the whole story.
Step 12
Import your photos into a stop motion app or video editor on your device.
Step 13
Set the playback speed to about 10 to 15 frames per second and preview your animation.
Step 14
Export the finished video and upload it to DIY.org to share your creation.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have modeling clay, toothpicks, or a tripod?
If you don't have modeling clay, use play‑dough or air‑dry clay for the 'Sculpt your characters' step, substitute wooden skewers or unfolded paperclips for the 'Push toothpicks or small wire inside characters' support, and stead y your phone with a stack of books or tape it to a heavy mug as the 'tripod' alternative when you 'Set a camera or phone on a tripod or a stable stack of books'.
My characters keep falling over or photos are blurry — what should I check?
Make sure you firmly 'Push toothpicks or small wire inside characters' and anchor them to the base with a little tape, secure the camera on your 'tripod or stack of books', and add more light from the 'lamp' so the 'Take frame by frame photos' step uses faster shutter times to avoid blur.
How can I change the project for younger kids or older kids?
For younger kids choose a very simple story like 'ball rolls', make bigger moves and only 3 sketches so fewer photos are needed, while older kids can create wire armatures when they 'Sculpt your characters', add detailed 'props', take many small increments during 'frame by frame photos', and fine‑tune timing in the stop motion app before setting 'playback speed'.
How can we make the stop motion video more impressive or personal?
Enhance it by decorating or painting the 'colored paper' background, recording voice or music and adding it when you 'Import your photos into a stop motion app', use onion‑skin/exposure features for smoother motion, and include a title card before you 'Export the finished video and upload it to DIY.org'.
Watch videos on how to create a stop motion video using clay
Easy Stop Motion Animation: Step by Step for Beginners
4 Videos
Easy Stop Motion Animation: Step by Step for Beginners
Claymation Basics | Stop Motion
How to Create a Clay Character | Stop Motion
How to Make a Claymation Character | Easy Stop Motion Tutorial
Facts about stop-motion animation for kids
🐑 Aardman Animations (the studio behind Wallace & Gromit) began small and became famous for charming, funny clay characters.
🧱 Clay animation (often called Claymation) uses non-drying modeling clay like Plasticine so characters can be reshaped frame after frame.
🤖 Modern studios such as Laika combine 3D-printed faces with traditional stop-motion puppets to get super-detailed expressions.
🎬 Stop-motion animation has been used by filmmakers since the early 1900s — it's one of the oldest animation techniques!
📷 To make smooth motion you usually photograph 12–24 frames per second — so 2 seconds at 12 fps needs 24 photos!
How do you make a clay stop motion video?
What materials do I need to create a stop motion clay video?
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