Definition

The internal structure that holds poses between frames, from wire builds to ball-and-socket metal skeletons and printed/mechanical assemblies.

An armature is the internal, poseable skeleton of a stop-motion puppet. It holds a pose between frames and gives the animator repeatable, controllable movement; without one a figure would sag or drift under its own weight across the hundreds of incremental adjustments a shot requires.

Two families dominate. Wire armatures — twisted aluminium or steel wire — are inexpensive and quick to build, but the wire work-hardens and eventually fatigues, limiting a puppet's lifespan. Ball-and-socket armatures use machined joints whose tension can be tuned and re-tightened; they are durable and precise, the standard for feature production, but costlier and slower to fabricate.

Workflow

1. Design the skeleton to the character's proportions and the range of motion the shots need.
2. Choose the joint system: wire for short-lived or budget puppets, ball-and-socket for durability and repeatability.
3. Build and test the armature bare, checking every joint holds a pose without creep.
4. Add tie-down points in the feet for fixing the puppet to the set.
5. Build the body, skin and costume around the finished, tested armature.

Related

Links

• en.wikipedia.org