Here at Morrison Academy Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Stop Motion Pro is used to ignite imaginations through animation. Our school is fairly small with only 200 students from Kindergarten to 9th Grade. In our middle school we offer several animation courses ranging from basic skills to advanced composition and independent study. 

As our animation program has developed over the last few years, we have experimented with a range of animation styles and techniques. These include object manipulation (Stikfas figures and legos), object morphing with modeling clay, line drawing (flip books and whiteboards), and time lapse.

Teachers are taking notice of the films being made in animation classes! Students are beginning to use Stop Motion Pro to complete assignments for other classes. The more we create through animation, the more complex and exciting the projects become.

Our staff and students are noticing that making animated projects do more than just generate fascinating videos. Valuable skills sets are developed as the students work towards putting their ideas into motion. These skills include:

- Team Work - how to work together to get the job done
- Problem Solving - finding new ways to get around obstacles during animation
- Time Management - there are only so many class periods to finish aproject, students must use time wisely to get everything done
- Math - how many frames it will take to get an object to perform an action, which leads to analyzing angles and distances
- Physics - making animated objects look as though they are moving according to Physical Laws
- Graphic Arts - creating backgrounds and finalizing projects through video editing
- Music - choosing prerecorded music or creating music to score animations
- Sound Effects - how to add appropriate sounds with the correct timing to an animation
- Story Telling - how to use camera angles, lighting, sound, and background scenery to convey an idea
- Creativity - having those "Aha!" moments when ideas take shape through animated frames 

Later this year, we will be starting our first film festival to highlight student work. We anticipate a bright future with animation at MAK as our creative potential is realized. Thank you Stop Motion Pro for providing such excellent software, support, and idea sharing through your website!


Mark Griffin
Technology Facilitator
Morrison Academy Kaohsiung