WWE stop motion animations are created using WWE action figures and making them come alive through post production. Using the figures will not create smooth animations like "Celebrity Deathmatch" but you can still create impressive short videos. The process takes a lot of time, but with the right production effort, you can duplicate a real WWE show. Gather together your favorite WWE toys and accessories to create the stop motion animation and make them come to life.
Instructions
Set-Up
1. Set the digital camera up on a tripod. Each shot needs to match the same settings as the last shot, so a tripod will keep the camera stable and create matching pictures.
2. Create the WWE arena. Use as many elements as possible including the ring, announcer's table and entrance stage. Use extra action figures as the surrounding audience for the taping.
3. Take a few test shots. Set up a wrestler in the center of the ring. Take a picture, slightly move the wrestler and take another picture. Repeat this until you have five pictures taken. Use the "Playback" function on the camera to see each picture. Quickly scroll through them to see the animation play out.
4. Plan out the match you want to tape. The more wrestlers you use, the more complicated the match will become. Write down a bullet-point list of moves that you want to do.
5. Draw out a simple storyboard to visualize each scene from the match outline. See where the camera show, estimate how many pictures to take and plan any added special effects.
Production
6. Animate the entrance of the wrestlers. Frame the shot with the feet out of the photo so that the movements do not look awkward. For wrestlers like Alberto Del Rio, animate him in a rolling car for a better visual effect. Capture three different angles of the entrance for more editing choices in post-production.
7. Capture footage of crowd reactions. Take a picture of a group of action figures; adjust them all slightly and take another picture. Repeat this for 20 to 30 pictures to have a steady crowd movement shot that you can cut to.
8. Set-up two ring announcers and capture reaction shots and general footage of them talking. Move their heads slightly between shots to indicate talking.
9. Move the wrestlers around the ring using slight movements. Standard WWE action figures feature movement points on the shoulder, elbow and wrist. Use all three together for a fluid life-like animation. Use a folded piece of duct tape on their feet to secure them to ring.
10. Attach fishing line to the wrestler for high flying moves. The line is barely visible on the camera and will allow you to hold the wrestler mid-air without your arm or hand in the show. Be aware of shadows that you could create.
Post-Production
11. Upload all of the captured photos onto a computer. Organize each scene into its own folder for easy editing.
12. Import a scene into a video editing software application. Drag and drop each photo into the "Video Timeline." Render the complete video to create a video file with the photos strung together.
13. Use a "Speed Effect" to speed up the rendered file and create the sped-up animation.
14. Edit the scenes together. Feature lots of quick cuts between the action, crowds, announcers and other angles. This will keep the viewer's attention. Make sure the action flows correctly and the match makes sense.
15. Add in sound effects and music to finalize the video. You could place a WWE logo in the bottom corner and run a looping crowd noise reaction to make it more realistic.
Tags: action figures, another picture, another picture Repeat, each scene, picture Repeat