Those who believe they need that big fancy high tech computer to create animation will never get started.
Owner/operator of Animation Express, Peter Stephenson says all you need is a computer that works, software and a consumer grade video camera or even a web cam.
That is just one thing Stephenson planned on teaching children who attended his workshops this past weekend.
Growing up in Port Joli and Port Mouton area, Stephenson craved to learn art and headed to an art school in Halifax.
Shortly after that he attended Concordia University in Montreal and then was given an opportunity to work on a stop motion kids show with a production company in Halifax called “Lunar Jim.”
Stephenson says animation was something he wanted to try out, so he relocated to Halifax with his wife and four kids.
Once back in Halifax, Stephenson started up his own Animation Studio last December and also provides animation workshops for kids.
He says he gets the kids to animate their own little toy, clay or paper cut outs under the camera.
The software on the computer takes a photo each time a child is ready to capture the next movement and when finished the software allows them to play back their work.
“Kids can learn the technology faster than adults give them credit for,“ Stephenson said.
He also teaches them different camera angles and how to draw story boards to better tell a story.
During the workshops Stephenson planned on discussing where animation came from and how it was invented, how to make animation with software, then the kids had an opportunity to practice.
After the kids complete their movie, the rest of the time he says would be spent producing a small movie and doing a quick compile and if there were time, they would add sound.
The workshops were held Feb. 17 and 18th at the Old Port Mouton Consolidated School located on Coastal Queens Place, 8100, Route 103.
Workshops ran from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for ages five to ten and 11 and up.
Stephenson thanked his sister, Kim Stephenson and Alice Verge for helping out.
For more information visit,
www.animationexpress.ca">www.animationexpress.ca">www.animationexpress.ca and Peter Stephenson can be contacted by email via the website.
ldelong@theadvance.ca
by Leanne Delong/The Advance 
