Stop Motion for Elementary Students: Tuesdays, 8/18-9/8, 3:30-5pm, 4 weeks

In this class, kids learn the basics of stop motion animation and see how creativity and imagination can create real life magic. We build simple sets, make characters, and bring them to life one frame at a time. I teach them how animation works, and they learn the full stop motion process from planning and setup to capturing each frame. By the end, they’ve learned to animate on their own and get to see their ideas come to life on screen. It’s hands-on, creative, and a great way for kids to learn something new while having a blast doing it. Meet the Teacher: Trent Shy My name is Trent Shy, and I’ve been obsessed with art for as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved trying new forms of art, and the second I feel like I understand one, I’m usually off learning another. About 15 years ago I picked stop motion back up after making little Lego animations as a kid, and this time it really stuck. I started making animations on my kitchen floor for my kids just for fun and began posting them online. They took off, and before I knew it I was getting millions of views and opportunities to work for major brands. From there, stop motion animation became my full-time focus. Now, years later, I’m still creating every day, just in my own studio instead of on the kitchen floor. I specialize in clay animation and have worked with companies like Adobe, A24, MTV, New Balance, and more, with my work reaching hundreds of millions of viewers online. I’m also a dad to three boys and have always loved teaching. After getting every kid in the neighborhood into animation, I started teaching classes for elementary through high school students. I love watching kids surprise themselves with what they can create, and I do all of it for the same reason I started… because being creative is just plain fun.