Pixilation is a specialized technique for animating people that promotes collaboration and peer group relations. A stationary camera records a posed human subject. Between captures, the subject moves to a new position. The process is slow and requires great patience and concentration. The Oscar-winning film Neighbours (1952) by Norman McLaren is credited with introducing the technique of Pixilation into the repertoire of animators.


Example of pixilation project where student and chair went for a ride.

Collaboration
Having students work together in teamwork. Essentially, collaboration promotes peer group relations in the interaction between students and gives them more responsibility for their own learning. Group work helps students build on social and decision-taking skills.


Tips:

  • Trial and error rules pixilation!

  • Camera should be steady for precise registration and continuity. Use camera movement sparingly. Have a camera set up in an environment that will have little background movement.

  • If shooting outdoors watch out for different exposures due to the lighting.

  • Controlling pace in pixilation can be difficult due to how it is created. Think back to the stop-motion project. To achieve a fast pixilation, a full 30fps could be used. To achieve a slower paced movement, use 10 or 15 fps (perhaps even 5 or 6, but this is often too choppy.)



 
 
 

© 2008 Karin Gunn. All rights reserved.
Last Updated: February 2008