"We don’t know about you, but we always feel like we’re witnessing magic happen when we watch stop motion animation, the process of filming objects slowly over time to give the illusion that they’re actually moving of their own accord. There are many apps available that help you create your own animations on a regular computer – iStopMotion for the Mac by Boinx Software being one of the best. But there’s always the inconvenience of having to use a bulky computer to get the job done. Thankfully, Boinx have completely redesigned their app and ported it to the iPad, dropping many complex features and, in the process, made the whole experience easier, cheaper, and more approachable than ever before.

The interface is incredibly simple. The gallery contains a short demo animation, but tap on the + button to create your own. You can choose to work with either the front or back cameras, or connect to an iPhone or iPod touch to take photos remotely from those devices instead, thanks to the free iStopCamera companion app. You’ll end up with much better quality shots that way, especially if you own an iPhone 4 or 4S."

Tap! verdict
“Simple enough to get you started in seconds, iStop Motion for iPad is a versatile app for beginners as well as lovers of this filmmaking style.” 4 Stars

Thanks for the awesome review, Tap! And just so you know, you're not alone - we think stop motion animation is magical, too!

Read Tap!'s full review of iStopMotion for iPad!

“Exhumed from the earth…forged from a lump of clay…vitrified into stone… This summer, one mug will realize his true potential.”

In this Artismia Original Production, Bowman handcrafted Face Mugs take to the arena in SpartaCup. The promotional video for Bowman Pottery, shot in a movie trailer style, was made using Boinx Software’s iStopMotion for iPad, with the help of a few other apps on the iPad. Frames were taken using the iStopMotion Remote Camera on an iPhone 4S.

The entire production – from sculpting the mugs to conceptualization to finished product – was created by Brandon Bowman, who has been working with his father for years to craft pottery by hand at Artismia, Home of the Bowman Pottery, in Louisville, Ohio. Their one-of-a-kind wheel-thrown Face Mugs each feature a unique expression that is sure to inspire creativity in anyone who lays eyes on them – which is exactly what happened to Brandon.

“When my father and I sit down to create the mugs, each one takes on its own characteristics. Sometimes we even see certain actors or characters in each one – think Robert De Niro and his exaggerated facial expressions. I’ll squinch my face and lower the corners of my mouth while saying, ‘You talking to me?’” jokes Brandon. He adds, “We try to put a certain expression into the face of each mug we create, and with that I saw something in the mug that made me think of the gladiator Spartacus. With a name like Spartacus it was as simple as swapping the S for a P, giving me the new name, SpartaCup. From there the imagination was ignited and the already burning flame became an inferno of thoughts and concepts that fanned the flames of creativity.”

As is true with any artist, only bringing his ideas to fruition could quench the flames of Brandon’s creativity. The icing on the cake (or should we say the glaze on the pottery?) came when he discovered iStopMotion for iPad, which liberated him and his work from the computer. And with a slew of effects and soundtrack apps working in synergy with iStopMotion for iPad, the possibilities for Brandon and SpartaCup were virtually endless.

“I have long been a fan of Boinx Software. My father and I have expressed our creativity in many ways using iStopMotion on our Macs,” says Brandon. “iStopMotion for iPad has allowed the convenience and freedom of mobility that I have always wanted. Being able to create the sets and characters in my studio AND shoot the animation in the same location is a wonderful thing. The UI of the app is also very user friendly and fun to use, and the features included in the app are outstanding. For example, the ability to make small adjustments, easily add, delete and duplicate frames, jump from scene to scene, and easily export with multiple options is awesome – the app is loaded. To top it all off, the ability to use an iPhone or iPod as a remote camera made shooting a wonderfully convenient process.”

SpartaCup: Cups of the Arena shows us a side of Bowman Face Mugs we would have never imagined possible, if not for the creative genius sparked in Brandon and made possible with iStopMotion for iPad. Watch as these brave mugs battle it out in SpartaCup!

Go behind the scenes of Artismia’s Mugs of the Arena to see Brandon’s intricate work process

Want to own one of the stars of the show? Bidding is still on for one of Artismia’s famous mugs – act now!

Credits:
SpartaCup: Mugs of the Arena
Created by Brandon Bowman
Stop motion animation created with iStopMotion for iPad
Shot with iStopMotion Remote Camera on an iPhone 4S
Edited in iMovie
Titles and effects created with LiveType
Sound effects made with Soundtrack Pro
Find out more about Artismia Productions and SpartaCup

Hi there! Mother’s Day is rapidly approaching (for those who celebrate the holiday for moms on the second Sunday of May), which means only a few more days to figure out what to get that special lady. If you are looking for something creative, we think (and PadGadget agrees!) iStopMotion animations are the way to go.

“If you really want to do something unique for mom this year, make her an animated movie. With iStopMotion, you can create, edit and even put a soundtrack to your own, personal masterpiece. You can either use your stuffed animals and other toys, or draw your moving story on paper for real old school animation.”

Whatever you choose to animate, we’re sure your mom will LOVE an animation created specially for her using iStopMotion for iPad. Remember – it’s the thought that counts! Plus, you’ll have tons of fun creating a stop motion animation on an iPad 2 or new iPad. Another fun idea: spend time with your mom (and dad, too) creating a stop motion animation together. Happy animating and Happy Mother's Day!

Read more of PadGadget's suggestions for Mother's Day gifts

A beautiful time lapse of a cold day in Dresden, Germany using iStopMotion’s Tilt Shift feature makes the colorful surrounding city and its inhabitants look a bit like toys. Though the footage shows a bright and sunny February day in Germany, the temperature is reported at negative 20 degrees Celsius! Enjoy the tilt shift time lapse – we hope the weather is warmer where you are!

"If you enjoy stop-motion animated films such as Coraline, Wallace & Gromit or Chicken Run, you can now create your very own movies with the aptly named iStopMotion for iPad app.

Now with support for the new iPad's iSight Camera, capable of shooting full 1080p HD video, iStopMotion for iPad uses the tablet's rear (or front-facing) camera to help you create a stop-motion movie from scratch, then share it with others online, if desired."

USA Today's Rating of iStopMotion for iPad: 3 out of 4

Read USA Today's Full Review of iStopMotion for iPad

The changing of the seasons is always an exciting time of the year, as we watch our surroundings change right before our eyes. From bright green trees and lush gardens to fiery red and orange leaves scattering the ground to snow covering everything in sight, the transformations, though slow, are beautiful to observe and experience. The gradual transformations can also be somewhat frustrating at times (would summer please get here already?!) – so watching a year of seasons change in this minute-long iStopMotion animation is a breath of fresh air. See a year of seasons transform in this stop motion short film – and remember, the warm weather is just around the corner!

We introduced you to the Supercols back in March with their heart-warming animation, “The Best Christmas Gift,” and now the pair is back for their Biggest Adventure yet: their wedding! The new iStopMotion animation, created by Colin with the help of his fiancé Li Yi (hence, the name the Supercols), puts the animator’s artistic chops on display, as he skillfully illustrates a hot air balloon, which is then inflated and launched into the air.

The balloon is floating through a timeline of the couple’s many exciting adventures when Colin jumps out of a photo in the mountains and into the balloon’s basket. Mid-tree pose Li Yi, of course, follows suit, abandoning her yoga practice to join Colin for their next great adventure. The animation, made using Boinx Software’s iStopMotion, was created for Colin and Li Yi’s upcoming wedding, so we’d like to propose a toast: here’s to a lifetime of happiness and many more fantastic iStopMotion animations to come!

It’s so fascinating to watch gradual events, such as slow changes in weather, sped up and played out in seconds rather than hours, and iStopMotion for iPad’s time lapse feature is perfect for achieving just that. Add in Losmandy’s cool new product, the StarLapse, a rotating motor used for celestial observation, and you’ve got the perfect panoramic view of any scene. The StarLapse was originally created for tracking stars through a telescope, but it can also be used for creating a panning effect while filming – simply mount on a tripod and begin shooting.

Achim gave it a “spin,” hooking the iPad 2 up to the StarLapse using the Makayama Movie Mount. He recorded a time lapse of different landscapes in his hometown of Leoben, Austria, with the StarLapse set to gradually pan the scenery as iStopMotion for iPad captured frame after frame. From a bird’s eye view of the village and rolling hills, to the street side traffic scene, the Star Lapse combined with iStopMotion for iPad captured some beautiful footage, which was then edited by our 14-year-old intern, Svenja, using Final Cut Pro.