The Production Process of the Stop Motion Animation: Dear Bear : Analysis of story, characters and set

The purpose of this thesis was to explore the production process of stop motion animation through an artistic research method, in order to create new understanding of the process from the perspective of a novice. Focusing on story, character and set design, the thesis explored the production process of the animation, Dear Bear, in congruence with historical and theoretical background research. The first part of this thesis focused on identifying the facets of the emerging artistic research method. In this part other parallel research methods are also explored, resulting in a personal methodology to match the subject. The second part of this thesis focused on necessary background knowledge. What is stop motion, what kinds of stop motion are there, as well as an investigation of its history. In the third part the production process of Dear Bear is explored from the perspective of story, character and set design. In order to create a successful production all three elements have to work together, and care and attention have to be paid to each one for the others to succeed. For an amateur without the vast budget of a feature film, limitations must be realized and compromises must be made. However, despite the tediousness of the art form, and the many hurdles, the process of creating stop motion animation is what truly appeals to those who enjoy it.Link to Dear Bear: https://vimeo.com/9274981