Certified Animation Professional (CAP) Practice Test

Which of the following best describes Claymation?

1. Creating a physical book where each page has a drawing

2. Hand drawing each frame on specialized paper

3. Photographing still images while moving the camera

4. Utilizing stop-motion by moving clay subjects

The correct answer is: Utilizing stop-motion by moving clay subjects

The concept of Claymation fundamentally involves using stop-motion techniques to animate figures crafted from malleable materials, primarily clay. This method allows animators to create a series of frames, capturing the incremental changes made to the clay models between each shot. As the clay figures are adjusted slightly and photographed at each stage, they come to life when played back in sequence, producing fluid motion that is characteristic of this animation style. This process emphasizes the hands-on, tactile nature of the materials used, setting it apart from other animation techniques that may rely on drawings or digital methods. The other descriptions do not accurately represent Claymation. The first option involves creating a book with drawings, which pertains to static images rather than animated sequences. The second choice describes traditional hand-drawn animation, where each frame is illustrated rather than modeled, diverging significantly from the clay-based approach. The third option speaks to a technique involving camera movement rather than the meticulous frame-by-frame adjustments inherent in Claymation. Thus, the unique methodology of manipulating clay figures makes stop motion with clay subjects the defining characteristic of Claymation.