SCENE 01 / STOP MOTION
Stop Motion Production
Frame-by-frame animation for your Irish production.
Here is how this works in practice. Stop-motion animation brings puppets and objects to life by photographing them frame by frame, with tiny adjustments between exposures. Ireland has an Oscar-nominated animation sector anchored by studios that have redefined hand-crafted animation on the world stage—with Screen Ireland backing a talent pool that has produced worldwide-celebrated features, shorts, and series.
Here is the short of it. We connect you with stop-motion pros, fabricators, and the stage facilities needed for this demanding craft. Our team sets up soundstages at Ardmore Studios, Ashford Studios, and Troy Studios, Dragonframe-equipped capture rigs, and skilled animators. Qualifying shoots can access Ireland's Section 481 Film Tax Credit of up to 32%.
Capabilities
Stop Motion Services
Complete stop motion animation from concept to final delivery.
01
Animation Types
- Puppet animation
- Claymation
- Object animation
- Cut-out animation
- Mixed media
All Techniques
02
Production
- Set construction
- Puppet fabrication
- Rigging systems
- Motion control
- Capture software
Full Service
03
Technical
- Dragonframe capture
- Consistent lighting
- Focus control
- Camera motion
- Miniature effects
Expert Setup
04
Creative
- Character design
- Set design
- Storyboarding
- Animation direction
- Post-production
End-to-End
Handcrafted Animation
Capabilities
Our Process
Pre-Production
Storyboarding, character design, and planning the tech way for your animation.
Fabrication
Building puppets, sets, and props with the craftsmanship stop motion needs.
Animation
Frame-by-frame capture with pro animators bringing characters to life.
Post-Production
Compositing, rig removal, grading, and sound design for the final piece.
On Location
Cartoon Saloon Kilkenny (4× Best Animated Feature Oscar noms), Boulder Media Dublin, Brown Bag Films and JAM Media animation-stop-motion infrastructure
Here is how this works in practice. Ireland's stop-motion and animation bench is the deepest in Europe outside the UK and France. This has anchored by Cartoon Saloon Kilkenny, the top Irish + worldwide indie 2D-and-stop-motion animation leader with 4× Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations across Wolfwalkers (2020). The Breadwinner (2017. This has also producer Angelina Jolie), Song of the Sea (2014) and The Secret of Kells (2009 — the celebrated debut). Boulder Media Dublin (the Hasbro-owned studio behind My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Danger Mouse + Bing) carries the major broadcast-animation slate.
Here is the short of it. Brown Bag Films (Banijay-owned) ships Octonauts, Doc McStuffins and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. JAM Media (Funky Fables + Becca's Bunch) and Studio Brown Dog handle dedicated stop-motion-and-mixed-media briefs. Geronimo Productions and Magma Films carry the wider Irish-language Gaeltacht TG4 commissioning brief. With Northern Ireland Screen funded studios in Belfast (the Sixteen South + Paper Owl Films bench behind Pablo and Macca's Makeovers) adding cross-border Northern Ireland stop-motion capacity under the CTA seamless plan.
Here is the breakdown. Gear flow runs Canon EOS R5 C + Sony A7R V + Nikon Z9 bodies (the cinema-stop-motion standard) under Dragonframe 5 software with Arduino-driven motion-control puppet-arm rigs. Lighting flows ARRI SkyPanel S360-C + Aputure 600d Pro + 1200d Pro + Astera Titan Tubes for the stop-motion-set-rigging standard. Stage infrastructure runs dedicated Cartoon Saloon Kilkenny stop-motion stages plus the Boulder Media Dublin + Brown Bag Films Dublin animation campuses. With overflow at Ardmore Studios + Ashford Studios for live-action stop-motion hybrids. The Cartoon Saloon Wolfwalkers production carried mixed 2D + stop-motion sequences (the celebrated wolf-transformation passes).
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Senior post-pipeline flows Toon Boom Harmony + Toon Boom Storyboard Pro + TVPaint Animation + Dragonframe + Adobe After Effects + Foundry Nuke + Frame Store Dublin + Yellowmoon Belfast finishing. Section 481 32% relief plus 40% regional uplift covers stop-motion-stage hire and animator day rates. Bilingual EN/Irish (Gaeilge) story-development is standard for TG4 commissions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What stop motion techniques do you offer in Ireland?
We give all major stop motion techniques including puppet animation with armature-based characters, claymation, object animation, and mixed media. Irish animators gain from the country's celebrated feature animation sector and strong animation-school pipeline.
Can you build puppets and sets locally?
Here is the breakdown. Yes, we work with skilled Irish fabricators who build pro stop motion puppets with metal armatures, silicone or foam bodies, and replacement faces. Sets can be built at Wicklow-based studio stages with the craftsmanship behind Ireland's Oscar-nominated animated features.
How does Section 481 apply to stop motion?
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Qualifying shoots can access Ireland's Section 481 Film Tax Credit of up to 32% on eligible Irish spend, administered by Screen Ireland. This covers fabrication, stage time, animation, and post-prod—making Ireland a premium base for European stop motion work.
How long does stop motion production take?
Stop motion is time-intensive—mostly 1-5 seconds of finished animation per day based on complexity. A 30-second commercial might take several weeks of animation, plus pre-production and post.
Can you do motion control for stop motion?
Yes, we can integrate motion control rigs for camera movement, allowing smooth dollies, pans, and crane moves while keeping frame-by-frame animation. This creates dynamic shots impossible with static cameras.
What about post-production for stop motion?
Post-prod has rig removal, compositing, and grading at Irish facilities including Windmill Lane Recording, Screen Scene, and Egg Post—Dublin post houses with strong audio-post heritage and native English-speaking crews.
Related Services
Productions in Ireland that need this often pair it with Underwater Lighting, Live Streaming, and Helicopter Filming for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Time-lapse & Hyperlapse and Gaffer & Lighting Services.
On Set
Planning Stop Motion?
Tell us about your animation project and we'll bring your vision to life frame by frame.