Combination of Classic Stop-Motion with Rendered 3D Elements – Establishment of a Workflow

Abstract

In stop-motion productions, the depiction of physical forces or the destruction of props, such as fluid motion, gravity, fire, or structural collapse, traditionally requires either irreversible damage to the miniature assets or the use of elaborate mechanical constructions. As a non-destructive alternative, this thesis explores the integration of three-dimensional (3D) computer-generated imagery into stop-motion sets. The central challenge lies in ensuring that the digital elements are not only visually compatible but indistinguishable from their physically recorded counterparts. Achieving this requires that 3D-rendered objects mimic both the appearance and the behaviour of materials and props as they would manifest within a miniature set. While contemporary 3D software packages provide dedicated solutions for stylized rendering approaches (e.g., toon shading for hand-drawn aesthetics), they currently lack specialized modes or shaders tailored to the emulation of stop-motion aesthetics. In this thesis, various methods and approaches are explored to digitize and digitally destruct stop-motion objects while preserving the look and feel of physically produced stop-motion. The result of this investigation is a structured guideline that enables practitioners to replicate this aesthetic with relative ease and consistency.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English
Supervisor	Jürgen Hagler (Supervisor)