Group of younger animators making film about the town of galashiels - 2008

Animation is a vast art form covering many techniques and subject matters. From model animation (Wallace and Gromit, Ray Harryhausen’s “Clash of the Titans”) to drawn cartoons, (The Simpsons, Buggs Bunny) computer animation (Pixars “Finding Nemo”, Dreamworks “Shrek”)  and experimental film (Norman McLaren’s short films for the Post Office) Animation is usually humorous but  often satirical (such as 2DTV) and also moving or educational (“A is for Autism”,  “Charley Says” child safety adverts from the 1970’s)

Animators rarely work alone; they’re  usually part of a team of creative people including directors, writers, actors and musicians. Although much animation seen by the public is made by professional studios, animation can be a very simple process, achievable by people of all ages and abilities. Animation is not only a very familiar and accessible form of entertainment, it can be, and has been a way to communicate simple or very complex ideas, dealing with social issues, emotions or purely abstract expression.

Animation workshops vary in length from short introductions, to making epic, story based films. Our workshop leaders are full time professional animators and teach the whole process of making a film, from writing and storyboarding, through to design and animation techniques. Workshops are arranged through festivals, schools and arts organisations, and more recently available to the public in our adult training or school holiday sessions in Edinburgh.

In case you're not clear what happens at Red Kite's workshops, have a look at the animation showreel below, which contains clips from lots of different workshops. Most of these animations were done by young people from 7 to 18 years old, often for the first time! Click the play button to start.

Various workshops - Showreel

Various workshop animations

“The animation DVD has worked really well with the new intake of pupils. We used it in classes to generate a discussion forum for the new S1 to comment on their expectations of High School etc. The staff and the pupils have both appreciated the skill and commitment which was put into its production. It's a resource which we will be able to use for a good few years I should expect”.
Jim Maxwell -  Principal Teacher of English at North Berwick High School


"The children are absolutely desperate to start their next animation project and got so much out of the experience".
Lynne Lewis, teacher, Athelstaneford Primary School   

"This is wonderful indeed! Thank you so much for all your hard work, it was fantastic to have you involved and we would love to work with you again in the future. I am very interested in African animation and would definitely want to continue incorporating it into the programme and host linked events".
Lizelle Bisschoff, Director of Africa in Motion Film Festival


"Thanks for today - Lily had a great time at the workshop and was 'inspired' - thanks to you and Red Kite!"
Parent - Edinburgh (Out of the Blue Easter workshop 2009)


"I think this is the best thing I ever done and it was great fun".
Pupil from Pollokshields Primary School

"Our animation workshop went well this pm and on looking in on it I enjoyed watching one of the screens being done by two very happy small boys -  the rabbit killed the gangster and then was shot himself after slipping up in a puddle and they decided to draw on lots of blood and then bounced a ball thro from one side and out the other - what imagination!  The best bit was that they really enjoyed themselves, laughing as only children can".
Caroline R. Letton - Area Librarian - Galashiels Library

Go here to see full details of various workshops and comments by the people at them

Workshops vary greatly in length, from short 2 hour introductions, to long 1 or 2 week projects. Animation can of course take a long time, but we try to teach faster techniques so that the participants can develop in other areas also.

Making a short animated film can involve many creative processes. Heres a simple example of the process:

• Brainstorming and discussing ideas for a story
• Designing characters and backgrounds
• Write the speech
• Storyboard (drawing a quick comic of the main events in the film)
• Build characters and other artwork (drawn or model)
• Light the scene and set up the camera
• Animate the movement, frame by frame
• Edit any mistakes and add pauses and repeats (looping)
• Record speech, sound effects and music
• Edit it all together and arrange a show
• Be very happy and definitely make another one!
  

Most of our workshops are filmed using our own cameras and laptops with animation software. Pictures are filmed through a DV camcorder and stored on the laptops where they are joined as sequences and played back instantly. Dialogue and sound effects can be recorded onto minidisk and added to the animation straight away or later. Longer workshops are put onto DVD and can be used for public screenings or even entered for film festivals.

There's usually something for everyone and you don't need to be able to draw to make great films.

To view examples of lots of films made at our workshops, go to the Films page.