Stop Motion Tutorial: Latex Puppet Making

[@ENTR0PY]

Dude, huge props to you for answering questions to this day on your 8 year old video.

[@MichaelParks]

Clay can be sculpted into any expression or mouth shape, while foam latex can bunch up and wrinkle in extreme positions, and is limited to the range of the rigging. But clay takes longer to animate, gets dirty, and can't have too much detail (a freckle will get squashed pretty quick). So it's both an esthetic and practical choice based on resources and visual style.

[@animatorxstudios100]

😂

[@minimovieshow2andtut]

You are the best person who makes clay figures on KZbin

[@klaytonsworld3195]

So good😃😃😃😃

[@leahreneeart1]

These tutorials are fantastic!! I'm diving head first into a big stop motion music video project, so finding your tutorials is like finding gold! Thanks!!

[@StopmoNick]

A good clear tutorial. Next time someone complains about my tutorials being way too quick, I can send them over here to look at yours! Cool chicken puppet and I really liked that walk at the beginning.

[@MichaelParks]

I suggest building up the body with cotton batting and foam, covering in cloth costume (buy doll clothes if you don't want to sew), and make the head out of baked sculpey. Maybe even the hands out of sculpey. Can't do expressions or finger changes, but a beginner would best work on animating basic movement for a while anyway. Can do replacement parts on the face as well.

[@showman139]

If it is ok can you answer a few questions?

[@MichaelParks]

@@showman139 Sure.

[@showman139]

@@MichaelParks what kind of paint did you mix with the latex? Would you recommend these products for those starting out? www.amazon.com/dp/B00ETAY8RI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JR7NFbBNPWV3D?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 www.amazon.com/dp/B00YQBYO1K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_iR7NFbT11CMCP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 If someone was starting out would there be a way for them to get their feet wet with storybuilding? Also since we are talking about animation what are the limits of making set props with foamboard (e.g. tree's, columns, cottages, and the like) ? Would you consider buying doll clothes from Amazon? If not where is your alternative? If you were making a full body puppet would you dab or paint the latex directly on the puppet? By full body I mean Anomalisa full body ya know? kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGLKkHetmKeIa5I Do you use talcum powder of some kind on your latex puppet to prolong its shelf life? Have you ever tried using magnets to hold the puppets in place as apposed to tie downs? If so is there a difference? Your insights would be invaluable.

[@laurenoellea]

What should I use if I want my character to look like a real person, I don't want to use clay. Please answer, please

[@MichaelParks]

If you mean you don't want to have your final character made of soft clay, you could use sculpy for the head and bake it. Then use replacement parts for the facial features. Rubber latex would work for a human character as well. Foam latex would be best if you can pull off that kind of puppet making.

[@GoliZeka]

You are the best person who makes anything, on KZbin!! Thanks a million. mr!

[@dovaquinn]

Thanks! its really helpful and nice that you take time from ur day to make these tutorials!! ♫♪

[@stopmotiontainment2477]

Can you give an estimate on how much it cost to make this one puppet?

[@jesusmartinezcruz3543]

2000000000 €

[@4luv3]

$100-$300 for one puppet.

[@voronOsphere]

This is better than college!!!! Thank you!!!!! Great character design, too!

[@sufferedenuf]

Consider bondo as it is polymer clay and unless you add hardener, it is great for shaping. For feet, consider melting old rubber bait worms. Microwave 18-20 seconds in a dedicated microwave oven. Then pour into the mold. Cheap and simple.

[@toonyfatninjas]

wow! i could already see just how much stuff is needed to create just 1 character. that can get costly very fast. 3D is so much more and highly effective to my needs and inexpensive. but this only difference is how you can touch your characters, interact with and feel on them in stop motion also the process seems like a lot of fun, as well as a lot of work to go threw.

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

But don't you see a visual difference between 3D modeled props and those that exist, molded or sculpted miniatures? It seems to me there's a huge difference in the final look and feel. Sure, 3D modeling is fast and cheap. But I don't consider them to be the same at all. It appears too that stop motion is making something of a comeback.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Wow! Nice work! Very cool looking chiquen!😎👍

[@MichaelParks]

I haven't tried that, but I imagine that wouldn't stop the latex from sticking. If no mold or candle release is handy, cooking oil can work as well, though it softens the final latex a bit. Come to think of it, that may be a desirable result.

[@FerdySmith]

16:01 poor bird is being suffocated...

[@ScuffManson99]

thank you so much for this! saved my project!

[@ler5299]

First timer. Very excited to try this.

[@MichaelParks]

I use Sculpture House Hydrocal plaster and Mold Builder rubber latex.

[@BlackArroToons]

Nice work here creating a puppet. Many steps here until completion. Cool animation too. Thanks for showing it.

[@K0smicKiwi]

thank you so much! this is the best tutorial ive seen for this! ☆

[@K0smicKiwi]

plus, do you have to do the second layer of plaster on the feet ?? or is it just for detail on the bottom ?

[@Spinocroc123]

Hey! Some Quick questions: First,what rubber cement does?can it be replaced by something else or I can even not use it at all? Second,if I don't want my puppet to be a stop motion puppet,what changes I need to do so I could,for example,use rods? BTW thank you for the helpful tutorial!

[@MichaelParks]

The rubber cement holds the foam strips down so they don't unravel while putting the costume on or while animating. A little white glue would also work, or tuck in the ends. If it's going to be a rod puppet, I think the main change would be to have loose joints, and to probably make it bigger. Bones could be wooden dowels connected with hooks.

[@Spinocroc123]

thanks

[@algoconlavida]

I'm seeing your videos since 2 hours ago and I thought "Ohh this men is so dedicated to explain every detail in this tecnique".... and then I saw your name, look in google and I found, who you really are. Thank so much for your videos, helps a lot , and more when someone wants learn "something easy" as some people say but doesn't know where. Regards from Lima, PE.

[@ballardfrogman]

Great video, i mix pros aide with my acrylics before mixing with latex because this prevents it from separating from the latex and flaking off. 50/50 ratio pros aide/paint

[@SquishCool]

Micheal parks, you have talent.

[@paulhowell6430]

Great work Michael.

[@PaulGalvez]

Men Respect! thats a lot of work

[@RandomActsofAnimation]

Wow what a great job! Very nicely done sir.

[@DocLock]

WONDERFUL JOB with this video! Thank you! Took me back to my youth and now makes me want to do this stuff again. Awesome! :)

[@calumgoetz3718]

Your an amazing sculptor!!

[@ARMDangus]

Thanks! I live in Australia so I will have to but the latex online but other than that I will make a latex head very soon. Thanks again!

[@jameshanveyakageekyraptors1118]

I found if you search on eBay for stop motion armature parts there are armature components for super cheap in comparison that are being sold by a seller called moreEZmore i think. If one is willing to make the armature themselves from the base components it would be a reeeally great way to save money. Just throwing that out there if any people like me aren't rich enough to buy whole kits. This is great because the kits can cost 300 dollars and up, not everyone has that kind of money

[@Roadietodamascus]

I love your channel this stuff is so cool! I think o just found my new hobby!

[@darrelltiencken2194]

Wow that is a lot of work!

[@CajunCraftastrophe]

I always learn SO much from watching your channel, Michael. I'm slowly making my way through your backlog of videos like a curious archeologist. : ) Thanks!

[@WZfading]

if you don't like it don't comment this is an awesome vidioe

[@Malcolm-c5b]

i really feel the 80s Thomas the Tank Engine technique of drilling the movement holes directly into the pupils is best

[@okkk63]

wow....your tutorial taught me so much about the puppet making process....thanks a lot for sharing ;)

[@ellamedalyer4735]

Hey! I 'd really love to see a tutorial on movable eyes for puppets, such as the ones seen here :)

[@CreatorOblivion]

This is an awesome tutorial, thank you so much

[@cretaceousthehunted9669]

Nice video! I’m planning on making my own stop motion dinosaur puppets.

[@iguanae2461]

Hello, I am currently studying stop motion, and this tutorial has helped me quite a bit, is there differences between different types of latex, do you even need to use latex to make something like this? Asking for future purposes

[@MichaelParks]

This tutorial is about using rubber latex, which you can get at a craft store and is relatively easy to use, but is kind of stiff. Then there is foam latex, which is a lot more involved but is soft and moves more like skin and muscle. I haven't tried silicone yet, but that's a good option, too.

[@MattAbraxas]

Thanks Michael. Really enjoying your channel

[@paologiuffrida6983]

Excelent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank u so much for posting this tutorial!

[@mootroidXproductions]

Hey- is there anything I can do to make the liquid latex less tacky? I've made a pair of hands using the buildup technique but they've got a really unpleasant texture.

[@MichaelParks]

I tried that method once and also didn't like the results either. If I were to try it again, I think I would try dabbing latex onto the hands AFTER all the build-up dips in order to add a textured layer. It may not be all that skin-like, but at least it wouldn't look like rubber. Or maybe adding extremely fine powder to some rubber and brushing it on? You could test those before trying it on hands. Would be great to hear if you find something that works.

[@MichaelParks]

I don't think the level of animation skill would be an issue in choosing between clay or latex or something else, but rather the time and resources you have to create the thing. A latex head is actually easier to animate than clay because you're not re-sculpting every frame.

[@SidAhmedMeddah]

C'est tout ce que je voulais savoir . Merci . Très bien expliqué.

[@jameswheeleranimations2023]

Great video I always wondered how latex could be used to make puppets

[@ThisOLmaan]

yeah Van Akens is one of the best, i melt it and add Beeswax, also can use paraffin wax , can make a mold of a figure you use often, I just melt it and use it mixed just has a firmer hold, in case one adds to much wax can work it with mineral oil . But I like this method think I'll make certain parts outta rubber silicone, or Latex, its just silicone rubber a more flexible.

[@ARMDangus]

Wow! This video really helped me with some questions that I had about mold making etc. Are the latex faces only for advanced animators or anyone?

[@leapoulain2559]

Amazing video thank you ! And such cool puppet love it so much

[@jazzimation]

Thanks for this video Michael. Really great advice and I am looking forward to applying this technique. Cheers

[@hman2912]

awesome tutorial. Thanks dude.

[@JHONNY-TVCasts]

Excelente hermano saludos desde la república dominicana wuaoooo excelente video me gustaría conocer más sobre este asunto Excelente sigues ha sí

[@teaacustardcream2868]

Excellent tutorial thank you

[@Thecreator301]

This is really great video

[@MichaelParks]

Craft stores like Michael's, some art supply stores, Taps Plastic, and amazon.com. Looks like you can get just about everything through amazon.

[@euniceappling7912]

Awesome..thank you

[@LlamaBoyProductions]

This is so incredible! i really want to try making a latex puppet in the future!

[@Dinoman217]

Looks like Harryhausen's work!

[@venusproductions234]

I use to watch these videos in 4th grade i’m now in 8th grade!!

[@tal-betalpuppettheatre3772]

Very nice tutorial.

[@wingitprod]

Add a little windex to the plaster to eliminate the air bubbles.

[@silverblue73]

A great tutorial, thank you for this!

[@sjftube]

We brushed 7 layers..et it dry for about an hour or until the color changed..and now we have taken the two halves and brushed the last layer on each..and it is now together and drying....

[@MichaelParks]

I use acrylic paint with a bit of rubber latex added to prevent chipping.

[@luisromeri2672]

+Michael Parks - You have to upload more videos like this, this is really wonderful!!

[@mondegreen]

This was so helpful. Thank you!

[@randommadeleine6162]

Take your figure to toys r us RIP IN THE CHAT

[@nate5051]

?

[@Haydendesou]

Fun fact you can’t

[@MichaelParks]

24 frames per second, and I prefer shooting one frame per move (called shooting in ones), though two frames per move (twos) looks good, too.

[@MichaelHurdleStudio]

Well done sir. How did you make that ball joint puppet? Do you have a video on that?

[@MichaelParks]

Making metal ball-and-socket armatures requires some serious machining skills, so I just buy kits. There's a link in the description.

[@Sonnyayfulness]

Amazing video. Thank you so much! What type of paint do you use to mix with the rubber latex?

[@MichaelParks]

Haven't tried silicone for a puppet. Have used it for mold-making, and I think it would be too stiff.

[@chassa7266]

Amazing!

[@kylieescheib4627]

Thats so cool

[@kairus1]

great tutorial! what about silicone ? can one use silicone does it last forever instead of latex?

[@wilfred580]

Great video! You're really good at this! *Subscribed

[@franswiggidy]

Great tutorial! I think I may have to try this!

[@georgemartinez1720]

Awsome results

[@MichaelParks]

They're doll eyes, so I guess they'd come from a doll-making supplier. Mine were given to me and I don't know where they got them.

[@artsculpture1024]

amazing steps, great video!

[@AamirF]

lovely!

[@scpictures24]

where can you get that latex stuff?

[@dpokorna5]

absolutely wonderful ♥

[@oonadoodles]

How long did this take you, out of curiosity? This looks like a really fun process, and I love the result. (I just have a stop-motion animation project with a due date, and want to compress this process in a certain time frame). This is a very inspiring and cool video by the way! You made it very clear!

[@MichaelParks]

+MsClumsyAssassin Glad you like the video. I don't remember exactly how long it took to make this. Time stamps on photos shows two weeks, but I don't think that was all I was working on. I think it would take four or five days of solid work.

[@DROLETRON]

Michael, what kind of mold release did you use for latex to plaster mold?

[@StopMotionSFX]

Very nice.

[@jayakumarseenivasan]

thank you so much for the tutorial....

[@BionicleSaurus]

Great job, man! You're awesome. :)

[@agr0ckets67]

could i use a soft clay or even play dough to fill the seams?

[@MichaelParks]

I've tried soft clay, and that works, but colored clay can discolor the rubber. I suspect play dough would dye the rubber even more.

[@RandomlySwagified]

Where do you get the eyeballs from? They look so cool.

[@CynthiaGall]

Thank you! That was very helpful :)

[@JRroom]

omg look so fun and great looking!

[@SomeCommonAnimator]

1.Do you have to use mold release? 2. Does it help the hydrocal from sticking? Thank you so much

[@MichaelParks]

You really truly have to use some kind of mold release. When I've been on an especially tight budget, I've used cooking oil, but taking the important extra step of dabbing up even the slightest pool of oil, which can spoil the texture and consistency of the rubber.

[@smsb5849]

Hey that’s the same like bob the builder!

[@gabyfranco7732]

Can latex be usted in human-like figures? Or is the texture inappropriate? BTW, I love your videos. You're my animation hero!

[@MichaelParks]

If you're making a mold, the texture will be whatever you give the original sculpture. So it is good for human figures. You can add the skin tone to the latex so you don't have to paint it, which could result in brush strokes.

[@lambdaweaponscache5394]

Is Roma clay tougher than super sculpy?

[@lthree85sby]

Good job

[@selmaurbinaart]

Do you have to apply mold release before you add layers of latex? Also, can you use dish soap as a release?

[@MichaelParks]

I don't think dish soap would work, but if you're looking for a solution in your kitchen, vegetable oil works. I have found it slightly softens the outermost layers of latex, but I didn't find that to be a problem.

[@MichaelParks]

Did use wire, but glued it to wooden head with epoxy. Didn't hold perfectly well. Would indeed have been better to drill holes.