Mika Koskinen: 3rd year animation students working with puppets

Third year animation students are currently working on puppet animation. They are learning the fundamentals of classic puppet animation as well as how to build puppets and sets. This year there is are two groups which have created their story and written a screenplay. One of the stories is placed in an autumnal forest and the other in an art gallery. Currently the groups are finishing their sets and characters as shootings are supposed to start soon.

With the help of the well know Finnish puppet animator Antti Laakso students have worked with the story and characters. Antti has thought the key elements of a good puppet and what different things need to be considered when building a puppet. E.g. how puppet will move, how easily it can be animated, how are the different expressions shown etc. Colors, materials and lights are also very important when building a puppet as well as sets.

Students will work in two different groups. While learning the basics of puppet animation, students also learn the process of group work, how to work in a group and how to divide roles inside a group.

As shootings are scheduled to start in November and finished by the end of January should animations be ready in Spring 2015.