Having your own animation studio on an iPad is a fantastic resource, no matter your age. However, the younger ones may find it difficult to grasp the principles behind stop motion animation using apps designed for more mature users. And if you wish you had the time to teach them, but don’t, luckily Easy Studio - Animate with Shapes is a fantastic resource designed to let young children learn as they go.
Easy Studio is divided into two sections: Easy and Expert. The former is further broken down into six parts, with a tutorial and five progressively more difficult levels that show you how animating with shapes works. You'll be able to use a set number of them and follow the instructions as you move the shapes progressively them over time. However, once you’ve reached level 5, you’re ready to work unaided, and that last level offers you more shapes to play with plus a completely blank canvas.
If this still feels too limiting for you, jump to the Expert mode, where you’ll have access to 42 shapes that you can resize, rotate, and change color. It’s also possible to select multiple shapes at once and group them to make moving a much simpler process. Should you feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, there are six templates you can select, which luckily don't fully automate the process but still offer a helpful plan to place shapes onto. By default, the app records one image a second, but you can increase that to two or three per second to remove the obvious stuttering effect. Still, a low frame-rate makes animation quicker and more fun for the little ones.
Each still you’ve taken remains editable along the way, and you can go back to any of them and tweak the animation at that stage. However, the lack of a true undo button is sorely missed, plus it's a shame that Easy Studio isn't as multitouch aware as some other creative apps are, as you anticipate being able to perform functions that it's not designed to handle. But considering the kid-friendly approach, simpler may prove smarter for the target audience here.
The bottom line. The hallmark of a great creation app is that it grows with you as your skills and confidence increase. Easy Studio - Animate with Shapes does just that, making it a stellar educational tool for kids and families alike.
of 5
iPad running iOS 5.1 or later
Clever way of teaching stop-motion animation to youngsters. Friendly and non-intimidating interface. Complete flexibility, with the ability to edit previously taken shots.
Not multitouch aware for rotating a shape or selecting multiple objects. Rotate function can become annoying with continual use. No undo function.
