Review Detail

There's a lot to love about Animation Studio, a boxed treasure trove of goodies designed to help beginners learn how to make stop-motion movies. The stages and character parts are vivid and varied. The handbook is detailed and covers a wide range of topics, including various style of animation, all of which can be done using pieces of the Animation Studio kit. A kid who has plenty of patience and determination, and who is able to be careful with small paper pieces and with tearing along perforated lines, can have hours of fun with this kit.

Parents should be aware that your child will need modeling clay to make the movies, and that isn't included in the kit. Also, the parts (either the monster pieces or the various eyes/mustaches etc used to decorate characters) are small and easily ripped or lost. (As my 12 year old discovered while he was working with it.) The handbook is extremely informative and helpful, but may be difficult for younger children to work with. The publisher says this is for ages 8 and up, but personally, I would recommend for 10 or above.

Final Verdict: In the right hands, this kit will teach a budding filmmaker a new slew of tricks and techniques.