What is Stop Motion & How to Get Started

Are you wondering “What is stop motion?” Looking for advice on how it can increase your sales stat? Here’s the complete guide, so start today!

Claire Oswald

product marketing manager

June 13, 2023

If you’ve ever seen a Claymation film (Wallace and Gromit, anyone?) then you have already experienced stop motion animation, though maybe you didn’t know it.

Stop motion, one of the most popular ways to create social media content and product videos today, is an older technology. However, it’s getting new life in the e-commerce and marketing world, where you can use it to bring products to life like never before.

Eye-catching and memorable, it could be just the thing to catapult your biz to the next level. But … what is stop motion? Why is resurfacing and trending today? And do you really need it in your own business?

Today, we’re going to answer those questions and provide you with stop motion ideas that will bring customers flocking. Read on!

What Is Stop Motion?

Despite its name, stop motion animation is not animated in the classical sense. Rather, it’s a combination of photographs that gives the impression of movement where none actually exists.

Adobe explains it best: “Stop motion animation is an advanced flipbook-style form of animation. It involves photographing and then physically manipulating objects within your frame. As each frame is played in sequence, the technique creates the effect of an object moving itself.”

Overall, it’s a really neat trick – and can lend some serious magic to your product listings.

Why Is Stop Motion Animation a Thing?

Stop motion animation can make characters appear to move through a house or pet a dog … But what on earth does it have to do with you and your company?

The basic idea behind stop motion is that your products appear to move without anyone having to interact with them on camera. It brings the product front and center without the distraction of a person, allowing your prospects to insert themselves into the picture.

At its essence, stop motion lets you bring your products front and center, giving them the chance to shine without distraction. Here are some stop motion ideas to get you going.

Ideas to Use Stop Motion in Product Listings & on Social Media

Stop motion is one of the most versatile pieces of content, so let’s take a look at some of the most popular stop motion ideas.

Unboxing

Subscription boxes are becoming more popular by the second. If you have a subscription box business, there’s nothing more entertaining than an unboxing video. Many business owners choose to use stop motion to show potential customers what’s inside or past boxes.

Unpacking

Similar to unboxing, unpacking videos are a fabulous use of stop motion animation. This is a popular choice for companies that sell luggage or backpacks, allowing prospective buyers an up-close look at how the item works. This is also a great way to demonstrate special features such as:

• Hidden compartments
• Laptop pockets
• Adjustable straps or handles

Product Creation

Turn veggies into juice, knit a section of scarf, or assemble a simple piece of jewelry using stop motion. Customers love to see how the sausage gets made – especially that high-end plant-based sausage that tastes just like the real thing.

Human Interaction

Finally, many companies choose to use a model to show off their wares. If you want to show an interactive aspect of your offering – say, the way shampoo foams or how a colored pencil looks on paper – then the easiest way to do it is to have a real, live person model how it works.

What’s the Right Complexity for Stop Motion Animation?

Just how many photos do you need, and how long should your product video be, in order to bring your idea to life?

Most stop motion marketing pieces are between 4 and 60 photos. The former is what we’d call a GIF, a simple looping video that shows one basic feature. Longer videos are better for complex kits or other items with lots of parts.

At the end of the day, your product and instincts will determine what’s right for you.

Let soona Make Your Stop Motion Ideas Reality

If there’s a downside of stop motion animation, it’s this: it takes a lot of time and effort to create a good video. If you have all these skills yourself, wonderful! But if it’s the kind of project for which you could use a little help, we’ve got good news for you. soona is here to help with a variety of packages and price points to turn your product into a star.

Ready to transform your idea into a reality? Chat with us to learn more today!