Stop Motion Tutorial: Easy Hands!

Sugru isn't sponsoring this. I just like the stuff.
At last there is a way to make hands for your stop motion puppet without having to make a mold or deal with liquid latex or even clay. Okay, so a package of the stuff that includes all the needed colors is $16, so it's not cheap. But I think it's worth it considering how much faster the puppet-making and animation will go. It takes about an hour to make the hands (including making the wire fingers) and then 24 hours to set up. See what you think and let me know in the comments if you try out this method.
Please see my other tutorials on how to make the rest of the puppet puppet, including the armature and the clothes. I've also done tutorials on Lego animation, cut-outs, lip sync, facial animation, and other stop motion subjects: • Stop Motion Tutorials
Shopping for Puppet-Making:
Sugru: Amazon, Target
Clay (Van Aken, Sculpy III), armature wire, cotton batting to build up puppet: Arts/craft store like Hobby Lobby or amazon.com.
Armature kit: stopmotionstore.com
Puppet clothes (Barbie/Ken clothes: dept store, ebay, amazon.com
16-gauge aluminum armature wire (from an art store or Amazon, not the hardware store)
Epoxy putty (Hardware store)
Pre-wrap (Sporting good or drug store)
Cotton batting or foam (quilting supplies from craft or sewing store)
For the head, aluminum foil or wood ball (craft store)
Just about everything here can be found on Amazon if you don't have all these kinds of stores in your area. You can also get animation supplies from stopmotionstore.com.

[@foxcraft1732]

Plasticine hands are so annoying to animate, the metal always pokes through and it sticks to itself, so I developed a shortcut to avoid moulding and casting. I use sulphur free red plasticine, then paint a layer of lightly pigmented silicone over the top, the red underneath comes through ever so slightly and gives a tone variant which makes it look a bit more realistic. The hands come out looking really smooth. After the silicone has dried I sift some cornflour over it to take away the tackiness and shine. It works for me, just don’t make the silicone too thin, especially on the finger tips, turn it around once or twice as it is drying to let the silicone run into the crevices of the fingers you may need to brush it a bit to keep it from running and dripping , once it starts to get the consistency of melted cheese, don’t touch it again or you’ll get wrinkles. Also if you want to use the brush more than once, swish it around in turpentine or you’re brush will get gunked up with silicone.

[@mootroidXproductions]

Holy crap, I wish I'd known about this Sugru stuff sooner.

[@dhillydallyfilms5866]

Amazing tutorial as always, in fact, I really needed this right now :) the hands of my puppet keep tearing apart and the fingers are frequently falling off so this is a very inexpensive, convenient way of making good hands.

[@moqisong_animation]

very happy to see you make these videos! Hope I have chance to do these things!

[@ArttuTheCat]

Hello Michael Parks! I just want to say, that you are an excellent teacher in every stop motion animation tutorial videos. This is why i went the stop motion animation class, last year's january, in Tikkurila, Vantaa. I'm still studying this. And this year's october, i'm going to the comic book art class in Havukoski, Vantaa. It's time for me to learn some new career. I also got this inspiration from many animated TV shows, such as: - THE TRAP DOOR (which is also made as the Commodore 64 game) - SHAUN THE SHEEP - WALLACE & GROMIT Keep up the good work, Michael! 👍😺😸🐈📼🎸🐾

[@polyambicnonsimos]

I am so glad you're uploading again! been here since 2014 :D

[@stephenbracken]

Thanks for posting this Michael, Looks like great material for myself as a novice to experiment with without needing to make a mess.

[@nishantamedhi4089]

Thank you for these tutorials

[@patriciogonzalez5464]

this is amazing, many thanks! excellent videos, greetings from Chile!!!

[@marcellomaggiore2985]

this is the best channel, i follow it since i was 9 and i still love your videos, i think i watched this video more than 10 times, just because i like it so much

[@FancyPantsBionicle]

Thanks for making this video, Michael! I tried this out for a few of my puppets and really dig it! My go to is usually either clay or liquid latex, but this was a nice change of pace. The sugru hands were very easy to animate and overall held their poses very well. I also really liked how they still kind of have a nice clay look to them. My only couple of complaints were the packs they came in were a lot smaller than I expected (which is a little frustrating for the price), and I wasn't able to buy just the colors I wanted (I had to get a few packs with a bunch of extra colors). Also, it's a little tricky to make a tight fist. However aside from those, I really do dig this way of making hands!

[@jameshoward1842]

I have been looking for something to make my puppets hands with forever .thank you sooo much

[@jameshoward1842]

Yo wassup bro

[@jameshoward1842]

Thanks for likeing my comment

[@Zey-The-Mouse]

Hi, Michael, An excellent tutorial! :) my characters bodies over all are made from fimo clay sculpted and have wires put in to move all parts, also ive used cable wire as its flexible :)

[@sockfriendz]

you helped me a lot you're the best.

[@Len0ardYkcutop]

Thanks

[@Caitlyn532]

Wow thanks 🌟🌙🌙

[@malytheson]

Does the fingers STICK TOGETHER evry time ?

[@MichaelParks]

Once the stuff sets up/dries, I didn't have that problem.

[@freddygbaf7796]

Hi Michael Parks, I love watching your videos, it really helps. I was wondering if you could do a tutorial of how to make armor because I would like to make a character wearing armor.

[@user-hr5gk3pl5l]

Спасибо за русские субтитры! Это очень интересно и полезно для меня.(I am Russian)

[@klaudiomarks]

Parabéns,seus tutoriais tem me ajudado muito.obrigado

[@MichaelParks]

Fico feliz em ouvir isso. Eu uso a tradução automática para as legendas. Eles são bons?

[@klaudiomarks]

@@MichaelParks Sim dá pra entender o necessário.

[@mootroidXproductions]

Okay, so I've gotten my first tests with it finished up, and one of them tore very easily. It almost looks like your hands bend more easily than mine, but that seems unlikely. I think what happened is that the section that tore wasn't sculpted properly, and there was already an existing seam that became a weak point. I'll keep trying for sure, though- thanks so much for this discovery!

[@Zain_production]

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

[@puppetbert6136]

And for the epoxy putty, i found out that hotglue works just fine. I use it for my stop motion puppets now, though I'm not sure that it works for ball and socket joint armatures.

[@MichaelParks]

I can see how that would work to hold the wire together, but I prefer something harder for the feet. The harder epoxy also helps define the bones of the arm so the elbow bends at the right place. But there's still no getting around the fact that epoxy is expensive and unpleasant to work with.

[@puppetbert6136]

@@MichaelParks Yeah, but about the clay hands that turn into a latex like substance, if it works for the hands i assume it could be used for an entire body or at least for most of it. And for the head, if you want to use clay animation for the mouth but want something that doesn't lose it's shape, could it be possible to make some wire lips and then at the clay? What about foam, would it stick to it? Sorry for the question overload i'm just really curious about that stuff.

[@puppetbert6136]

Hey again, i actually had a suggestion for a tutorial, wich could be about how to make puppets or objects fall from different distances, environments (in water compared to mid-air for example) and the way they move while falling, because when i was watching a few stop motion films and movies, the falling animation looked quite a bit bad, and I'm not sure where to start for that. I might also order that sugru stuff, and if i do, I'll describe my best to how it works for my experience.

[@MichaelParks]

I think I know what you mean, and the most common problem is that things fall too slow, or the falling is hot in two's. Thanks for the idea. It would be good for one I'm thinking of doing that covers a bunch of animation tips.

[@thetrapdooruniverse6425]

Interesting. Could I make a spider's legs? The big spider from The Trapdoor. This could be the answer - over a twisted wire armature of course!

[@MichaelParks]

Yes, I think that would work since spider legs are thin. The thicker the Sugru is, the more it resists bending. But the additional armature wire should help with that as well.

[@thetrapdooruniverse6425]

@@MichaelParks Great. The possibilities with this substance are exciting. I could also make the wings of The Flyin' Wotsit Fingy but maybe not a thick tentacle!

[@shaunamcgrory1]

Why dont you upload more?Please respond.Great channel

[@MichaelParks]

Oh, just don't have the time. The lawn isn't going to mow itself (though animating that would make a good tutorial).

[@jaxsullivan2117]

60 very useful

[@belena.martinez4993]

i wonder: does It breaks after some time?

[@inhaledfarts4221]

How do you cut the square brass tubing that attaches to the body?

[@MichaelParks]

With a fine-tooth metal-cutting saw like this one: www.amazon.com/SAW-METAL-SHAPES-MfrPartNo-295/dp/B0006MZM3W/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=K%26S+Precision+Metal+Saw&qid=1626188627&sr=8-3

[@0097r]

Problem of this gel that become hard after 24h

[@kingexplosionmurder632]

💕💕I’ve your channel

[@anitadunham7178]

Can you make the rest of the the buildup out of the sugru clay?

[@MichaelParks]

I think Sugru would be too stiff for the rest of the body. Much as I like it for hands, it is sometimes difficult to form a tight fist. So I think an arm would not bend and stay bent. It would also be very expensive. I would go with silicone.

[@latincreativos]

Hola puedes poner el link de esa van aken sculpy no la encuentro en Amazon cuando se seca queda como goma no se parte ?

[@MichaelParks]

Esta es la arcilla que no se seca: www.amazon.com/Van-Aken-Plastalina-Modeling-Clay/dp/B0019QZMQG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=TR39AOMJ18BJ&keywords=van%2Baken%2Bplastalina&qid=1699570372&sprefix=van%2Bak%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-1&th=1

[@jaxisticspace4919]

I have one statement and a question 1. I think in the beginning you did the hand wrongs I personally would have foam on it and then painted layers instead of dipping it 2 . can you paint with silicone?

[@gothnerd887]

Can you do a cybernetic arm?

[@grandviewworkshop5846]

I’m pretty impressed with how this came out overall. I am considering ordering this, but do you know if it would work well on an animation puppet’s head? Say you build a wire framework like with your early chicken puppet’s head. I would think it would, and it would save time sculpting a head with this glue around a “skeleton” vs with liquid latex.

[@MichaelParks]

It does seem like it should work. It's just a question of whether or not the sugru would put too much resistance on the mouth wire. Also if paint will stick to it. Straight paint would no doubt crack, so it would need to be mixed with a bit of latex, but then its a question of how sugru will soak in enough of the paint to hold it to the surface.

[@ThisOLmaan]

@@MichaelParks :: i was just going to ask about the painting, the content sugur, I been trying to test hands with non-hardening clay, and it's not an easy task, its doable, but will 2x- 3x you at ur work, if ur doing stop motion, but thanks to ur idea i had no idea this was able to flex, bend . Ans clay baked well for what type of stop motion I want to make would not do. This Sugur, will make it really easy, better, but will need to make lots of hands and will have to be fleashy color unless make it to look like black glovves.

[@ilikeo4710]

Te G

[@soulowl7930]

@@MichaelParks could you add paint into the sugru to change it to the color you need rather than mixture the different colors with the sugru itself?

[@MichaelParks]

@@soulowl7930 I haven't tried it, but I don't think it would work. Sugru seems too gummy to be able to have a liquid mixed into it.

[@ryderknapp41]

do you think this stuff would work for joints on the arm or leg

[@MichaelParks]

It would hold them together, but not with a solid, bone-like hold. I think Sugru is too expensive to use for that, and would rather use hot glue if flexible joints are ok for the armature.

[@puppetbert6136]

Yes, i had a question for the music sync episode. If all you need to know is the right beats from the exposure sheet, then can't you just download one from the internet with the song name? This way you could spare more time and you don't need to know how to read between music frames. Also i have been looking for latex hands for a reeaaally long time, and know i found just the right thing. Thank you.

[@MichaelParks]

Seems to me that you have to analyze the music to choose which beats to hit. Some are accented more than others, and there is often a tempo change so it won't be consistent through the whole song. Is there a way to download a song that has the timing of the beats worked out for you?

[@puppetbert6136]

@@MichaelParks Probably, but if let's suppose it didn't matter what beats you want your character to move to, couldn't you just animate it to the right parts?

[@MichaelParks]

@@puppetbert6136 If the beats don't matter, then you just add the music in the final edit.

[@puppetbert6136]

@@MichaelParks Well do you know where could find ready ones?

[@MichaelParks]

@@puppetbert6136 Do you mean music with the tracks already read? No, I don't know of anyone who offers that.

[@ThisOLmaan]

how were you able to work it without being all sticky to ur fingers? i tried molding a wheel replacement for my microwave tray and could not mold it to a wheel cuz it would stick too much on fingers and could not get the shape to stay. Wanted to make some hands like ur's here but how am i going to do that if it's gonna be stuck on my fingers?

[@MichaelParks]

I can see how making something perfectly round and very small would be tricky with that stuff. I didn't have much trouble with it being sticking. It would happen somewhat when pressing and squeezing it, but would come under control when smoothing it out and pressing lightly in the final sculpting stage.

[@ThisOLmaan]

Michael Parks: what Aperture wire would you advise for making hands with Surur? giving i would like the wire to last long as possible B4 the wire breaks.

[@MichaelParks]

Sorry to say I've lost the packaging and lost the memory of the wire gage. Just really thin, probably 24-36 gauge. But doubled up.

[@ThisOLmaan]

@@MichaelParks : isaw this video and considered using the sugur but found it was very hard 4 me to work with, but now i don't know if Ur familiar with that CosClay thas flexible if it bends and stays in place i yet haven't tried, but look into it come in various colors now and they deliver Proto = Fast, now that i mentioned I'll give it a try, with soom Small Wire Armature hand, see if it bends and keeps it from springing up.

[@MichaelParks]

@@ThisOLmaan CosClay does look like a good alternative for hands as well as other things, and would be work a try.

[@richardryder5385]

Hi - I see in the video you used two yellow and one white and some red - was that enough to make both hands or just one hand? and is there a way to buy just those colors to save money?

[@MichaelParks]

That was for both hands. I currently don't see a way buy those individual colors (I see they make brown now). It would be a worthwhile experiment to get white and add oil paint or some kind of dye to get an exact color.

[@kafftum1413]

Hello Micheal, I have a question; I am making some clay stop motion dolls with wire armatures, I covered most of the skeleton with aluminum foil and I put clay over it, and left most of the joints oper, like legs and arms, etc. I had a few road blocks...I couldn't really move the neck and the torso either, and the legs from the armature were getting loose over time. It wasn't until I learned about sugru where I thought of solutions. Since I haven't baked the dolls yet, and I'm going to use sugru for the hands and neck, (Crucial question)should I replace the arms and legs with sugru, putting it over the armature limbs so they're completely bendable? Or should I keep the limbs as they are, and cover the bendable open parts with sugru? And should I make a waistline bendable with sugru or, or should I leave it open since it'll be covered with clothes? Thank you for making these videos, they are extremely helpful and educational, and I really appreciate all that you do

[@MichaelParks]

Sorry I missed them, and I'm sure a response is too late. I would be interested in the results of whatever approach you took, but if I were advising you in time I would say that sugru is too stiff for body joints. I don't think the joints would hold their shape the way you want if they were covered in sugru.

[@jasminhessami1702]

can I use this glue for make the puppet's head?

[@MichaelParks]

I think so. I haven't seen that done yet, but someone has to be first. To make it worth it, you'd need parts of it rigged, like the mouth and maybe even brows. It would take some experimenting to work out how thin the glue has to be.

[@SomeCommonAnimator]

Hey Michael, can you make a whole puppet out of sugru instead of using rubber latex. I’m trying to make a penguin for a stop motion pilot

[@MichaelParks]

I think it would be too stiff. These fingers actually have trouble making the firm fist, so I think a whole body would be heavy and not flexible enough.

[@SomeCommonAnimator]

@@MichaelParks thanks and could I ask you one more question

[@SomeCommonAnimator]

What’s your best recommendation for molding

[@MichaelParks]

@@SomeCommonAnimator Do you mean making a mold? The best plaster to use is Hydrocal (available on amazon). But if I were making a penguin, I would try doing it with a cotton build-up over an armature and then sew fuzzy black and white material over it. Then adjust the cotton, adding here and removing there, to tighten and shape.

[@ytwetethx]

Michael Parks Can you do the entire body using this material not the head but the neck shoulders stomach abs back arms?

[@MichaelParks]

No, it's too stiff. The neck, arms and legs wouldn't hold the poses. Even for hands, Sugru isn't soft enough to get a tight fist.

[@ytwetethx]

@@MichaelParks What do you recommend clay or latex hands?

[@ytwetethx]

@@MichaelParks If that material isn’t very good for the hands then what do you recommend clay or latex?

[@MichaelParks]

@@ytwetethx To be clear, I think it's good for hands unless you need a really tight fist, otherwise, I prefer to use clay because you can shape the joints of the fingers into a fist. Latex is a lot easier to animate, but they are kinda like curled sausages when make into a fist.

[@luisamagdalenajuarez8195]

Dónde puedo conseguir esa masilla??

[@MichaelParks]

I get it from amazon.com

[@luisamagdalenajuarez8195]

@@MichaelParks graciaaasss

[@iniakimorra]

Which clay is this?

[@MichaelParks]

Sugru for the hands. Van Aken Plasticine and Sculpy for the rest.

[@iniakimorra]

@@MichaelParks thank u

[@Nugz4Life]

Michael, my characters are black!

[@MichaelParks]

It comes in brown, as well as other colors to mix in for more variations.

[@francescoanimations2459]

JUST MIX SILICON AND CORNSTARCH SUGRU IS JUST PROTO PUTTY

[@ReevansElectro]

Is it really necessary to portray violence between people in your productions?