Unlocking Creativity

Imagination soared and history came to life at the enchanting Bánffy Castle during our stop-motion workshop. As part of the one-week program of the multicultural camp organized by the Transilvania Trust, this day was all about animation. Participants gathered within the ancient walls, and they embarked on a journey to discover the secrets behind this art form. 

Inspiration and brainstorming

The workshop began with an introduction to the techniques, materials, and tools used in stop-motion animation. We watched a few examples and even experimented through a brief simulation.

After a break, participants engaged in a brainstorming session, exploring stories that resonated with the castle’s historical backdrop. We discussed and selected narratives that could be brought to life using available techniques. Then in groups we started planning the scenes of their films and preparing the necessary elements and props.

Taking the pictures

In the afternoon, the castle’s corridors and chambers transformed into mini film studios. Equipped with cameras and fueled by their imaginations they started making photographs. Frame by frame, they captured their narratives through a series photos and created four animation.

Breakfast on the balcony- LEGO animation + glass painting

Here the children were inspired by the sad story of the castle, which burned down during World War. According to the stories, Dénes Bánffy loved having breakfast on the balcony of the main building, overlooking the garden. This peaceful scene returns even after the burning of the castle, in a slightly different way.

The feast – object animation

This story revives the  many-course feasts held in the castle. We found the fact particularly funny that the large amount of food was always carried from a separate building (the kitchen building) to the dining area. This is what the animation shows with the help of kitchen tricks.

Ghost walk- pixilation

This film was inspired by the spaces within the castle. The goal was to create an innovative animation where the unnatural movement of the bodies can be played with, for which a half-ruined castle provides an ideal location.

Dinosaurs

This film is a one-person experiment in drawing and paper cut-out animation.

The workshop at Bánffy Castle merged youthful creativity with a profound respect for history. During the workshop, the children took a total of 994 photos, thanks to a lot of patience, persistence and exceptional teamwork.

If someone wants to try stop-motion animations at home, you can find the detailed process of making it in the blog post below: How to make tricky stop motion videos – activities for kids in 4 easy steps

Cover picture: Bánffy Castle, Bontida