Introduction to Puppet Making for Stop Motion is a beginner-friendly course that teaches the complete process of creating a functional puppet suitable for animation. Guided by puppet-maker and director Adeena Grubb, the class covers everything from initial character design to building a fully rigged figure that can be posed and animated on set.
Across a series of structured lessons, students learn to work with simple materials, build internal armatures, shape and pad the body, add clothing, create facial features, and finish the character with details that make it expressive and animation-ready.
What You Will Learn
1. Essential tools and workspace setup
An overview of basic equipment, materials, and safety tips needed to begin puppet construction.2. Character design and planning
How to develop a concept, plan proportions, and choose appropriate materials for your puppet’s style.3. Armature building
A complete walkthrough of creating a stable internal skeleton that supports posing, movement, and rigging.4. Foaming and shaping
Techniques for padding the armature with foam, refining body shapes, and preparing the puppet for outer layers.5. Skinning and costuming
How to add fabric “skin,” dress the puppet, and maintain flexibility for animation.6. Head construction and finishing touches
Building expressive facial features, adding hands, and preparing all elements for animation tests.7. Posing and simple animation
Basics of posing, test-shooting frames, and understanding how your newly built puppet moves.Why This Course Is Valuable for Stop-Motion Creators
- Ideal for beginners who want to build their first custom puppet
- Teaches every major stage of puppet creation
- Focuses on practical methods that don’t require expensive equipment
- Helps animators understand how to design characters that move well on camera
- Useful for indie filmmakers, students, hobby animators, and anyone transitioning from pre-made puppets to handmade builds
Course Details
- Instructor: Adeena Grubb
- Format: Online, self-paced video lessons
- Lessons: 15 instructional videos
- Additional Materials: 19 downloadable resources
- Total Duration: ~2 hours 45 minutes
- Level: Beginner
- Skills Gained: Character design, armature construction, foaming, skinning, puppet finishing, posing, and basic animation
