Storytelling through Animation – Workshop for Children

Storytelling

Animation appeals to the kids as it’s a kind of wish fulfilment…kids love Watching Cartoons and Creating A Cartoon on their own would definitely be a dream come true. The kids’ lack of social inhibitions and self consciousness helps them to churn out ideas instantly and execute them fearlessly.

The toon animation techniques and activities helped the kids to explore ideas that would be almost impossible in reality. Today the kids tried their hands at creating Zoetropes, a few more Phenakistoscopes and Thaumatorpes too. Their flawless lines and creativity left us speechless.

Ms. Tehzeeb also educated them about the First Animation Film with sound. The Little Artists were amused to see the Mickey Mouse film ‘ Steamboat Willie” the first film with sound. The sound was given while the film was being played at a theatre. They used drums and vessels to give sound effect.

The next activity that the kids embarked upon was to Make A Flip Book also called a Kineograph or referred to as the “thumb cinema”. Ms Tehzeeb explained that a  flip book or flick book is a book with a series of pictures that vary gradually from one page to the next, so that when the pages are turned rapidly, the pictures appear to animate by simulating motion or some other change. Flip books are often illustrated books for children, but may also be geared towards adults. But we were totally blown away with the little elementary graders coming up with creative ideas for the flip books they made themselves. They made flip books with a dot growing bigger, a disappearing image, a dancing line and a morphing image. The ‘dancing line’ flip book made them aware that they could ‘give life’ to a simple line..the very idea behind animation- bringing something inanimate to life. The various activities with the flip book helped them sharpen a lot of skills like being steady and constant when drawing, making small changes gradually. It also helped improve their hand- eye co-ordination. At the end of the wonderful session, they watched ‘ Flowers and Trees’ from the Walt Disney series “Silly Symphony” which was the first colour animation film.