Easy animation FX

I was checking through my Youtube video messages the other day (as you do) and came across one that referred to a video I had made some time ago. The video was about how you can make videos with even minimal equipment and as an example of what can be done, I had included a clip of a very simple stop-motion animation that I had made with my grandchildren, and depicted a wooden toy train running down a wooden track and colliding with a wooden bridge creating a big explosion.

The message sender wanted to know how I had created the animated explosion - was it difficult? Well, in fact, creating simple special effects with stop-motion animations is actually very easy. Stop-motion animations are basically a sequence of still images (usually taken with a digital still camera), that are strung together to create the impression of movement.

Because they are still images, it is a simple matter to individually open them in a photo-editor, and literally paint the effects you require directly onto the photos, and this was exactly how I created the explosions in the video. Working through the images one-by-one I painted a blast, followed by a cloud of steam, then smoke, which eventually dispersed into nothing. When run together, they gave a pretty good impression of a cartoon-like explosion.

In the video, I also give a basic overview of how to make a stop-motion animated video. It is incredibly easy (if a little time-consuming), to do. If all you have is a digital still camera, and Windows Movie maker, then you have all you need to begin making your own Youtube videos - Why not give it a try?

Basic stuff...

If you saw the last Meejah video, you may remember that at the end I said that I would be doing one on how to make things appear, and disappear using Windows Movie Maker (or any other video editor for that matter).

I know there will be many of you out there that already know how to do this and will regard it as basic stuff, but of course, not everyone knows how to do this. There was a time when I ( and you) didn't know how to do it, and I can still remember the delight I felt when I stumbled on how it was done (and how easy it was to do). I used it - inappropriately - in every video I made for ages - just 'cos I could.


So there will be many people out there who are brand-spanking-new to the world of video editing, to whom this will come as a revelation and it is for them that I will be making the video.

I will move on to more sophisticated techniques and tricks as time moves on, but I will start with the basics so that in the future I will have a reference library of video's to point to when people ask "How do I..."?

So, if you don't know how to do this basic (but very useful) effect (FX), then stay tuned to the Meejah channel 'cos it's coming in the next vid, and if you do know how to do it, stay tuned as well because things will get increasing interesting as time goes on.

By the way, If I don't see you before... Merry Christmas and a Happy new year - and keep making those videos.

p.s. - Just for fun, here's a video Xmas message from my Alter Ego - Elfed Welshbloke

More Free (licence free) Music

Just another quick note about the licence-free music that I'm putting up on the Meejah site ( www.meejah.co.uk)
There are a number of different styles of music that you can download there - You can find them, appropriately enough, under the "Free music" tab.

The music files are all "Youtube safe" which means that you can use them without upsetting Youtube and having your videos pulled for musical copright issues.

The example in the video below is called "Epic" and it's an example of the "Filmic" style As I say there's plenty more at the Meejah website ( www.meejah.co.uk), so get over there and take a look.

Enjoy  :)