Stop Motion Tutorial: Build a Set! Part One

Interior stop motion set construction is covered in this tutorial as I build a miniature kitchen. The principles and techniques apply to just about any structural set need, as part one explores methods for planning a set, creating the structures, and painting. This is low-budget filmmaking with suggested alternatives for even smaller budgets. But we also look at creativity and style to make the best of whatever materials we have on hand.
Please see my other tutorials on how to make a puppet, Lego animation, cut-outs, lip sync, facial animation, and other stop motion subjects: • Stop Motion Tutorials
Just about everything I used to make the set featured in this video was purchased at Michael’s, an arts and craft store. Most of it can also be purchased on amazon. Some of the miniature props are doll toys available on eBay.

[@Pleasantries]

man, I've been having warped cardboard sets for over a year and NEVER thought to paint the other side. thanks so much!!!!

[@DeZayviun]

This helps a lot!I was trying to stop motion animating currently but sadly can’t afford dioramas as I’m only thirteen.This is really helpful,So thanks!

[@PenteadosBarbie_3]

Same!!

[@Eepop_stuffs]

Same with me broh.

[@switchmasterstopmotions]

Good luck

[@switchmasterstopmotions]

You can use cardboard

[@destinyamadasun4957]

Same here I’m planning to make this stop motion series called Jamie and friends but can’t really afford the stuff

[@DannyBirchTheAnimeLoverGamer]

Every stop motion show needs some sets like houses, shops, a city or town and many buildings.

[@TheAlienDonkey]

This was incredible direction and gave us a place to start with our set builds. You're an incredible source of info and inspiration!! 🙏

[@_ALICIA]

This helped a lot thx!

[@hoserlu]

All of Michael Park's videos are so helpful and fun to watch.

[@oilyrussianpipecleaner]

Call your friends. Michael Parks is back.

[@penguinboy247]

Great video! Thanks for the tip on painting both sides of the foam board. That's been a continuing issue for me in the past. Now I'm more confident in starting my set! Thanks!

[@comfyghosts6983]

I LOVE this channel. You are exactly what I'm looking for. Keep up the fantastic work!

[@megkelly11]

Thanks so much just started using foam board for sets and the hint to paint the back is surely a frustration saver.

[@Greo_Animation]

Thank you soo much for all these amazing tutorials. I always find them helpful and they are really easy to understand . I look forward to future videos!

[@theokrisna]

Keep em coming. Love all your vids

[@dominic--]

you're incredible, going to be watching these everyday!

[@pipecleaneruniverse5749]

Thanks, I've been trying to figure out how to build sets for my pipe cleaner characters and tried all sorts of things. Thanks for the idea of adding perspective of outside things to your sets.

[@djmoneysnak5288]

This was great! Love the budget friendly options!😄

[@FrogiaStopMotion]

Good luck with your stop-motion pictures and coloring

[@VonSolo5]

Beautiful work 💪🙌 so glad I found your channel.

[@silversonfilmsCJH]

Love ya videos. You really helped me with my dream job! Keep up the awesome work!!!

[@RanDAss]

your the best stopmotion tips guy right now and now with sets? OMG THANK so much It is hard at times to find a good stopmotion set tutorial omg once again thanks ^w^

[@showman139]

This is awesome.

[@jenniferscott2569]

Amazing video thank you !!

[@actionfigurestory3347]

You have the best stop motion tutorial videos.

[@sneezeqn696]

great tips michael!

[@Prishacraftstudio]

thank you sir for this detail work.👍👍👍

[@LudovicT.]

super helpful and super well explained. Thank you :)

[@Prattyandfood]

Thanks a lot for this amazing video! Very helpful :)

[@rubymoca]

Great idea! Foam board and some paint is so affordable.

[@virginiamonasterio9140]

This is so interesting thank you for sharing

[@finncash3448]

this is awesome! it really got my brain pumping!

[@aceplays3797]

Why dose this set remind me of don't huge me I'm scared? Is it just me?

[@coneskid2]

probably of the wacky and colorful things on the set

[@miniconan5]

spongeo it’s kinda like ep 5

[@itsallaboutcomputersandit7925]

Me too

[@evansanyona7411]

Thanks bro really helpful 👌

[@cyboyentertainment92]

Can't wait for part 2

[@alondragalicia8047]

can't wait for part 2

[@Cornboy-hz9lv]

Amazing videos my favorite channel for stopmotion

[@valbravo4366]

Muchas gracias llegaste de nuevo a subir videos justo cuando empiezo mi tesisi de grado de un corto de animación

[@kucingjadian5901]

@michaelparks been waitin for this.. thnx so muc 👍

[@kara3524]

So helpful!

[@shlothstudiofilms7520]

Yesss, I’m making a movie, and this has really helped.👍

[@horrordvddevil333]

I really enjoy your animation tutorials They're really helpful and inspiring Michael parks thank you for these amazing videos.

[@georgemartinez1720]

Great tutorial

[@NickBara1009]

hey la verdad excelente video lo disfrute ansioso de el proximo video me retiro les mando besis gracias

[@awatarasakawiraaji2040]

The return of the king

[@puppetbert6136]

Thanks, now I'm all set.

[@UPorige]

Muito legal 😁😃😃😃 muito bem feito 🤩

[@doybarbado1497]

Thanks sensei

[@dubois666xxx]

really good¡¡

[@aax4441]

Thank you!

[@puppetbert6136]

Woohoo new video

[@ocritico635]

Parabéns 👏 más que trabalhão que dá hem.

[@handi9bit530]

Super

[@puppetbert6136]

How about using tie downs to secure furniture? I tried this out and it seems to work fine.

[@johnmurdock2825]

Thanks the hardest part sometimes is making a good set

[@johnny2263]

Dude you haven’t uploaded in a while it’s been like 4 months and you finally uploaded

[@balamuruganbalamurugan8742]

Thank you to idea

[@Zack-nd8ef]

Can you do a video or some advice on how to hide tie downs when animating.

[@MichaelParks]

It will be covered in part 2. I use a bit of tape that is painted the same color as the floor.

[@matthewgrove9704]

You mention tie-downs. I understand the idea, but how to you not see the tie-down hole on the floor of your set? Thanks for continuing to upload helpful videos. They are really great.

[@MichaelParks]

I use pieces of masking tape that is painted the same color as the floor. After a while, it is necessary to fill in the wholes with patching material and repaint. It's a lot of work, I know, but it's how it's done at the studios I've worked at. Some use magnets, but I haven't tried that.

[@SomeCommonAnimator]

Could you make a tutorial about making more complicated sets. I’m thinking about making city. Please respond

[@RhamylMacasa]

I USED CARDBOARD FOR BY BACKROUND FORMY NEW CLAY ANIMATION

[@saucygibbonstudios6127]

What set up do you advise for a stop motion work space? any tips on work space? table shape? thickness? table legs? I am looking to remodel a room into my first studio

[@MichaelParks]

I suggest a plywood top of 1/2"-3/4" with a 2x4 frame and legs, with additional reinforcement on the legs to prevent every bit of wobbling. Size and shape has to do with space available, noting that you need space all around the table for lights, supports, and your own access to every part of the set.

[@nichbungas1058]

Hey michael can you teach how to make a complete chracter and how to make eyes but with oyt stickers and how to make armature but more upgrded

[@ankitdxgamer4162]

Bro please tell me more about claymation

[@oneframe1032]

How long does it take to make the set? I envy your skill in creating a delicate set. I tried to make a stop motion shooting set. But it wasn't cooler than I thought. I have to look at your video and think again.

[@MichaelParks]

This took a couple weeks as a side project. Most of my sets are just one painted wall with a few props or pieces of furniture. Maybe just start with that.

[@oneframe1032]

I made the props in my channel myself. But I'm not good at painting like you do. I will have to remake small items. Thank you. :-)

[@iravinpatadia]

To paint a foam board, what type of color should be used? And specific kind or just the color we use to paint our houses?

[@MichaelParks]

Inexpensive acrylic paint for crafts is fine.

[@_ALICIA]

I’ve always found this hard

[@Eepop_stuffs]

I'm going for something like a shed or... Pink. Pink isn't usually a sorta theme, but... Barbie. Not real Barbie, but, a Barbie sculpted by me Shed for my snufboi.

[@ReveliaJ]

so sorry, how did you get the walls to stay steady?? Pieces of wood go where?? Im making a stopmotion animation for school and your video already is really helpful, Thanks in advance

[@MichaelParks]

Each wall is framed with 1"x2"s so they can be screwed down onto the floor of the set. They can also be screwed to each other, though I found duct tape would keep them secure as well. When I have just one wall, I still find that screwing it down works fine, but some additional support from L-brackets or a back support would be good, too.

[@ReveliaJ]

@@MichaelParks Thank you for your explanation!!

[@EntroBert]

So do I paint the back of the board or the front first?

[@MichaelParks]

I have found that it doesn't matter.

[@Spinocroc123]

Have you ever attempted at using 3D printers for stop motion puppets and sets? or that would be too expensive and ineffective?

[@MaximilianonMars]

I'm working on that myself, using printers and 3D software to design parts. I bought assets that I liked from CGtraders to save time modelling and sculpting custom things. There is a bit of a learning curve for printing, but it's a lot of fun once you learn the basic rules. Check my channel for a clear Gospel presentation reuploaded from a trustworthy pastor. You can be 100% certain you're going to heaven when you die because salvation is the free gift of God, we absolutely cannot earn it with our "good" works. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John:5:13 King James Version

[@theokrisna]

@@MaximilianonMars well, that escalates quickly

[@MichaelParks]

I haven't tried it myself yet, but I've worked on projects that use 3D printed assets, and it looks like a good method if you can afford it.

[@StephinRoyYT]

Can you please tell me how much that foam sheet cost?

[@MichaelParks]

$3 at Michael's

[@safpoling583]

Hello i have suscribe and Like

[@puppetbert6136]

But wouldn't you have to hot glue the furniture parts? When I tried animating a few times they would constantly jiggle around, and if I do glue them firmly together, then I would have to find a way to take them off later without causing too much damage....

[@MichaelParks]

To glue plastic or wood furniture down, I put a small piece of tape on both the furniture and the floor or wall (both out of view of the camera) and put the glue on the tape. The glue holds the furniture in place while the tape protects the surfaces.

[@puppetbert6136]

Good idea, but what kind of tape should I use? Does masking tape work well?

[@MichaelParks]

@@puppetbert6136 When I can find it, I use residue-free duct tape, which for some reason I can only find at Target. Gaffer tape is best, available on amazon. I wouldn't trust making tape to hold, but it would be better than nothing.

[@georgemartinez1720]

What paint do you used what Brand

[@MichaelParks]

I just get inexpensive Acrylic like Craftsmart or whatever is on sale at the craft store.

[@Zain_production]

can you make s dinosaur attack animation i need to that on my animation

[@warmecanic]

try not to cut your finger off 3 doritos later: Oh, I´ God, I´m dying

[@momandevon2]

How to make a stop motion cars

[@manthankalekararts2]

How to do animation on DSLR

[@MichaelParks]

You run a USB video feet to a computer, which captures the frames using an app like Dragonframe.

[@jonathangross2905]

Hello, thanks for this very useful video. I am just starting to make realistic and higher budget claymations after years of silly ones that did not have a complex set. If anyone would like to see my work, I would appreciate that and any feedback.

[@advaitaneesh3603]

From how many years are you in youtube

[@MichaelParks]

Since 2009, with the first tutorial in 2011. Admittedly some of those early ones could use a redo.

[@advaitaneesh3603]

@@MichaelParks I started 2days ago

[@advaitaneesh3603]

I have watched your every video sir

[@Josephiah24]

2:14 is that blood?

[@MichaelParks]

Just paint. I make it a point to clean up all the blood.

[@GintamaEnjoyer_1]

И снова здравствуйте! Michael Parks Жаль, что этому видео нельзя поставить больше одного лайка, а то я бы поставил сразу 10! Милости прошу заценить и мой канал

[@infinityseagull3752]

Is that Jerma???

[@angelinafroening454]

my phone is not charging for some reason

[@DannyBirchTheAnimeLoverGamer]

Be sure to be very careful when you're working at the studio.

[@deks5380]

is that plasticine ??

[@MichaelParks]

Just the guy's head. The props are made of Sculpey.

[@animalplushworld100]

100 comment

[@ahiroIneshike]

I first