Introduction to Puppet Making for Stop Motion
A course by Adeena GrubbPuppet Maker and Animation Director
A course by Adeena Grubb, Puppet Maker and Animation Director
Discover the charming world of stop-motion puppet design and learn to build your own characters, from the initial design to the finished figurine
“There's a certain magic in seeing a character you've made from scratch come to life in the hands of a talented stop-motion animator.”
Adeena Grubb specializes in creating quirky puppets that often star in their own mini-movies. Known for her creepy, characterful protagonists, she shares her creations with over 50K followers on Instagram and has collaborated with clients including the BBC, Channel 4, Oxfam, and Greenpeace.
In this online course, Adeena teaches you the basics of making puppets for stop motion. Learn how to recreate a person you know or a character from your imagination in miniature form and give them personality through simple ** animation techniques**.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 19 downloads
Workspace and Tools
9 minutes, 36 seconds
Character Design
7 minutes, 34 seconds
Scale Drawing and Fabric Swatches
10 minutes, 0 seconds
Armature and Rigging Point 1
8 minutes, 28 seconds
Armature and Rigging Point 2
16 minutes, 23 seconds
Armature and Rigging Point 3
18 minutes, 11 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by getting to know puppet maker and animation director Adeena Grubb. Discover how she turned a childhood love for small toys into a career in puppet design, along with the influences that inspire her.
Dive into the materials needed for the course. Then create a mood board for your character design. Use the inspiration you’ve gathered to draw sketches of your puppet and decide on the fabrics you want to use.
Time to start making your puppet! Start with the skeleton before adding foam to form their body along with the fabric skin. Next, create the clothing for your character and add facial features to bring them to life.
Learn how to pose your puppet for photos. To wrap up the course, Adeena guides you through the process of creating a basic stop-motion animation with your handmade protagonist.
What is this course's project?
Create and animate your very own puppet based on a person or character of your choice.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in bringing to life unique characters for stop-motion animation.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is required.
In terms of materials, you will need:
⦁ Tools including pliers, scissors, and a scalpel ⦁ A needle, thread, and pins ⦁ Fabric ⦁ Upholstery foam ⦁ Superglue and a few other materials specified by the teacher in the course
Reviews
- jsnowPLUS1 month ago
Great course! It was interesting and fun- and best of all- made me want to do my own- like NOW! =]
- 1 month ago
Me encanta el curso. Pero tengo problemas en conseguir materiales. Me ha pasado en más cursos y así no se pueden hacer . Sino tengo los materiales o el profesor no facilita donde adquirirlos, no sirve de nada el curso. Al menos tenían que tener previsto conque otros sustituirlos y, no es así.
- 5 months ago
Very usefull
- 6 months ago
Muy interesante curso , ideal para stop motion, hermoso
- 6 months ago
Great course with a lot of helpful guidance on creating a puppet.
Since then, Adeena has created content for Samsung, the BBC, Channel 4, Burger King, Greenpeace, Oxfam, Childline, Metcalfes Popcorn, Quickbooks, Puffin, and Mars. She also shares her creations with over 50K followers on Instagram.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Tools, Character Design, and Sketching
- Workspace and Tools
- Character Design
- Scale Drawing and Fabric Swatches
- U3
Puppet Making
- Armature and Rigging Point 1
- Armature and Rigging Point 2
- Armature and Rigging Point 3
- Armature and Rigging Point 4
- Foaming the Puppet
- Adding the Skin Fabric
- Dressing the Puppet
- Head Details
- U4
Posing and Animation
- Posing for Pictures
- Basic Animation
- FP
Final project
- Introduction to Puppet Making for Stop Motion
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers step-by-step techniques for building expressive stop motion puppets and miniature sets, requiring no prior experience.
You’ll need basic materials like balsa wood, wire, milliput, foam, fabric, adhesives, sculpting tools, and craft supplies. The course provides a detailed materials list and alternatives.
You’ll learn to design, build, and animate your own expressive stop motion puppets, including character design, armature construction, sculpting faces, applying fabric skin, outfitting, and basic animation techniques.
No prior experience is required. The course is structured to guide complete beginners through every step of the puppet making and animation process.
The course teaches you to create character profiles, mood boards, and sketches, helping you plan proportions, personality traits, and unique features for your stop motion puppet.
Yes, you’ll learn to construct a durable wire and balsa wood armature, including marking bend points, attaching joints, and ensuring poseability for animation.
Yes, you’ll get step-by-step instructions on sculpting faces with milliput, adding bead eyes, painting pupils, and shaping ears, mouths, and eyebrows for expressive character animation.