Stop Motion Tutorial: Lip Sync

An in-depth look at preparing for and shooting lip sync for a stop motion animation character using replacement mouths, as well as clay animation. Includes methods of using reference, reading tracks, principles of working with dialogue, and techniques of stop motion and clay animation.

Please see my other tutorials on how to make a puppet, sticker mouth lip sync, facial animation, and other stop motion subjects.

Software: Dragonframe. iStopmotion (Mac and mobile) is a good frame-capturing app for the price. I understand MonkeyJam is a good free option for Windows. Stop Motion Studio is a good mobile app. If you have a favorite stop motion app, please tell us about it in the comments.

Camera: I'm using a DSLR. But if you're not there yet, a good option is a camcorder that can run a live video signal to your computer. The principles discussed in this video will also apply to animation recorded with a mobile device.

Shopping for Puppet-Making:
Clay (Van Aken, Sculpy III), armature wire, cotton batting to build up puppet: Arts/craft store like Hobby Lobby or amazon.com.

Armature kit: stopmotionstore.com

Puppet clothes (Barbie/Ken clothes: dept store, ebay, amazon.com
16-gauge aluminum armature wire (from an art store or Amazon, not the hardware store)

Epoxy putty (Hardware store)

Pre-wrap (Sporting good or drug store)

Cotton batting or foam (quilting supplies from craft or sewing store)

For the head, aluminum foil or wood ball (craft store)

Just about everything here can be found on Amazon if you don't have all these kinds of stores in your area. You can also get animation supplies from stopmotionstore.com.