Stop Motion Tutorial: Making an Armature

Step-by-step instructions on how to make a wire armature for a stop motion puppet for around $15 in materials:

16-gauge aluminum armature wire (from an art store or Amazon, not the hardware store)
Epoxy putty (Hardware store)
T-nuts (#8-32) (Hardware store)
Wing nuts (#8-32) (Hardware store)
Bolts (#8-32) (Hardware store)
Washers (Hardware store)
Pre-wrap/athletic rap/sports rap (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)
Wipes (Epoxy putty gets messy) (Drug or grocery store)

[MichaelParks]

Here is your shopping list:

Aluminum armature wire (from an art store or Amazon, not the hardware store)
Epoxy putty
T-nuts (1/32)
Wing nuts (1/32)
Bolts (1/32)
Washers
Pre-wrap
Cotton batting or foam
Aluminum foil or wood ball (something for the head)
Wipes (Epoxy putty gets messy)

[Dylandevs]

I love the internet... I have interest in animation, but it always frustrates me because of how tedious it is... I still do music and music editing and sound editing and that is just as tedious to get everything right and precise, but seeing something like this amazes me... I probably would have been less frustrated when I was younger if there were videos like this when I was in middle school... There were written tutorials, but nothing compares to watching someone do it, then be able to have them comment on your question... Maybe I'll go back to dabbling with this, but my frustration is the bumping and how long it takes for everything... music has similar frustrations, but I guess i can do it better lol...

Great tutorials though! You're a master!

[paisleymarie]

This guy worked for pixart?

Awesome it's also fun when real animators come to youtube to teach us newbs

[creepergamers]

At first I was going to say something like “I CAN’T AFFORD THIS!!” but then you said $15 armature

[StopmoNick]

Great tutorial! Next time someone complains that my tutorials go by too fast, I can send them to yours. I use latex, you use clay, but the armatures inside are very similar, and you take the time to explain it better.

[wellgrilledtoast]

I'm trying to get into an animation school next year and even though they mainly teach 3D and 2D, I really want to get specialized into stop motion puppets later on.
I've been trying to make those for now 2 years and never thought about looking up how to make them instead of doing it my way (it kinda worked but wasn't so good). Now I can finally see why I was struggling on so many things ! (the hands, feet…)
Thank you so much!

[screamingskull]

Great tutorial Michael! I agree with you about the aluminum armature wire. I once ordered large bulk rolls of aluminum wire from a supplier but found that there's some kind of coating on the official "armature" wire that is sold at art stores that makes it more durable.

[POVCAST_YT]

Hi Michael! I used your videos throughout lockdown to stray from standard filmmaking and attempt stop motion as a complete beginner and I love it. I have a teaser for my first stop motion short film on my channel using your techniques. Sketchy at times but I am happy to have started the artform.

[MichaelParks]

Shopping suggestions now in About description above.

[SeekingTheMagical]

Thanks for putting the additional explainer text on the screen--it's very helpful! Also, thanks for showing how much the epoxy needs to be mixed and the tip for when it starts to get warm. That is so good to know!

[MichaelParks]

Glad to hear the videos are helpful to you. Stopmonick demonstrates a good approach, too, and I'm sure there are even more good ways to build up a puppet. Would love to see your animation!

[LeoTV]

The most helpful tutorial so far I've found. Thnak you, kind sir! :D

[Sandra-hcvo]

"If your budget is in more the $15 dollar range then this tutorial is for you." I died. so funny and true XD

[JahRay]

I made my first armature not too long ago using this tutorial and It turned out great 👍
I didn't have epoxy putty, so I used polymorph plastic instead. Not as easy to work with, but did the job. I'll be picking up some epoxy for the next one.

[jboairbrush]

what is the really thin wire you use for the hands?? what gauge or where can I find it?

[MichaelParks]

I've used the method for animals and it works fine. You can put tie-downs in the front paws as well for quadruped walks.

[Laura-dmnt]

Just bought all the props, so excited !

[gwendolynbell]

I search a lot of videos to help my son create these and this is by far the BEST video that I found that explains so complete and easy!1 Thank you

[boxymetalworks]

Thank you for this video. I used it to make my first armature.

[MichaelParks]

For rubber latex fingers, so they can grip. But for clay hands I generally don't use wire because it invariably pokes through the clay, and clay fingers hold their pose and even some objects without wire. I just use wire in clay fingers if the character has to hold something the clay can't support, and even then I will often use a loop of wire attaching the object to the wrist and letting the fingers wrap around the object without wire.