Barry Purves is an English animator, director and writer of puppet animation television and cinema and theatre designer and director, primarily for the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse in Manchester. Known as one of Britain's most celebrated animators on account of his six short films, each of which has been nominated for numerous international awards (including Academy Award and British Academy Film Awards nominations), he has also directed and animated for several television programs and over seventy advertisements, title sequences and animated insert sequences.

Teaches beginner animation students the essential skills for producing great stop-motion animation

Chapter 1: What is Stop-Motion?
The Beginnings
The Illusion of Movement
Physicality
A Continuous Performance
Special Effects
Wholly Animated Films
Project 1: Find Your Style
Chapter 2: Focusing the Idea
Stories and Themes
Approaching the Story
A Change of Perspective
Out of the Mouths of... Talking Umbrellas?
Atmosphere and Substance
Economics
Project 2: What's the Story?
Chapter 3: The Puppets
Telling the Story with Puppets
The Physical Puppet
Telling Characteristics
Stylised Movement
Replacements
3D Printing
Eyes
Hands
Puppet Size
Clay
Other Techniques
Project 3: Find Your Leading Man (or mouse)
Chapter 4: Preparations
Working with Others
Sets
Costume
Colour
Project 4: Set the Scene
Chapter 5: Chapter Tools and Techniques
Practicalities
The Camera
Apps and other Low-Cost Options
Lighting
Sound
Dialogue
Special Effects
Editing
Project 5: Setting Up and Getting Started
Chapter 5: Movement and Performance
Animating on the Set
Lively Movement
Helping the Movement
Performance
Project 6: Make it Read!
Conclusion; A Brief History of Stop-Motion; Picture Credits; Acknowledgements