Stop Motion Narrative

“You Never Know”

by Eleanor Goodfellow

The stop motion film I created follows a character I constructed with small paper polyhedral forms. I strung the shapes together with thread, monofilament, and “paper-joints.” Then, manipulating his limbs, I follow this character around on what seems like a typical day. While this little paper person experiences a casual morning wake up, enjoys the weather in a local park, and lies out in the sun, he remains blank. No name or facial expression. I wanted to keep it this way to give my viewer the sense of anonymity and inevitably feel connected through this. I really want my viewer to feel that this is whole scenario would be realistic, but it is partially fantastical due to the inanimate objects taking the roles of people. Throughout this day our protagonist becomes despondent and lonely, especially after seeing pretty girls and couples in the park. He then retires to his apartment studio and while in there another character enters the film. You see this mannequin head with long blue hair, making its way into the studio. While our main character is contemplating what to draw a marker falls off of the desk and onto the floor. Our new character sees this, and the two then notice each other. He hops down from his chair to greet her, which is where I end the movie.