View this puppet test HERE

Want to get a start in stop-motion animation but don't know where to begin?  Here is a simple puppet that I built when I was first interested in stop-motion.

Not how simple the design is.  There are no complicated costumes that need to be animation.  There is no face to rely on facial expressions (I'm forced to act with the body).  There are limited extraneous elements - I can play around with the hat, or use the mustache for humor (or even speaking).

The underlying structure of the puppet is simple.  Twisted wire is shaped to match the design and then slow-drying clay is used to create the head and 'bones' on the limbs.

Soft bits, like the hands and mustache are built up with cotton and painted over with liquid latex.  The costume is also crudely attached - I used a quick stitch up the back of the puppet because I knew I would be showcasing his front.  There are also magents embedded into the feet to hold the puppet down (attracting magnets are placed underneath the set to hold him down).

When the puppet is complete, I built a crude set to match.  Some old floor boards and a pillow case worked for a 'stage'.  I use lamps from around the house to light the scene.  I used some free software and an inexpensive webcam to shoot the frames.

I spent about a week total of free time building this puppet and was ready to shoot some animation!