Video--Animation

With its upgraded HD camera the iPad has become a very capable video tool for students with the one device able to handle every stage of the production process: shooting footage, editing and publishing. It won't be a Hollywood blockbuster but the results will be more than adequate for most student's needs. If you would like some ideas then here are 50 ideas for classroom video projects. Animation is a function that the iPad does really, really well. For price, versatility and functionality for student use, the iPad Apps listed below are far superior to what is on offer as computer software or Web sites. This was intended to be a short list but the Apps listed are all really good quality and cover a variety of distinct functions within the area of animation. If you had to choose only one then Puppet Pals would be the number one choice due to its educational flexibility and ease of use. Z || Z || Z || Z || Z The first secret to creating better quality videos is to keep the camera still and if you are making a time lapse or stop motion video then this is crucial to good quality production. || Z || Z || Z || Z || Z || Z || Z || Z || Z || Z ||
 * ** Video Editing ** ||
 * [[image:imovie2.jpg link="@https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/imovie/id377298193?mt=8"]] || ** iMovie - Free ( C ) **
 * Best for** : video editing and making trailers
 * Age range** : 10 yrs upwards
 * Features** : iMovie has always been the most feature rich video editor for the iPad and now that iMovie is free there really is no need to look for anything else. More basic than the desktop version but still a capable HD quality movie editor that works with footage taken with the iPad or created by other Apps. It has media, photo and music import tabs, audio adjustment including auto ducking on voice over, direct import from the iPad camera and a highly impressive trailer creation function. Projects can be saved to the iPad Photo Library or uploaded to iTunes, YouTube, Vimeo or Facebook. YouTube Video Tutorials
 * ** Special Effects ** ||
 * [[image:Action-movie.jpg link="@https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/action-movie-fx/id489321253?mt=8"]] || ** Action Movie FX - Free ( I-M ) **
 * Best for** : action movie effects
 * Age Range** : 14 yrs upwards only because of the destructive content
 * Features** : At first look this just doesn't seem right for schools and it would definitely be for older students as this is exactly what it says: destruction effects right out of an action movie. Almost all the effects Apps tried were cheesy or poor quality but the effects in this App are really high quality and it's hard to stop until you try them all. It states that 5 effects come free with the App, I actually got 7 effects and was able to download another 2 for free. Additional effects come in double packs for $0.99. The downside is that the effects only last for 5 seconds but they blend beautifully with your footage which you take in App. Obviously a very niche use in schools but it is great value for free. The effects in this YouTube video are different to those now packaged but you can see the quality.
 * ** Teleprompter ** ||
 * [[image:On-Air.jpg link="@https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/on-air-pro/id406042913?mt=8"]] || ** On Air - Free ( M ) **
 * Best for** : a prompt for reading text for any purpose
 * Age range** : All ages
 * Features** : As a scrolling teleprompter the available controls are very basic but are all that are really needed: font type, font size, font colour and background colour. There are only 14 colours to choose from and they are all bold colours which doesn't allow for a lot of contrast options, however black and white works pretty well in most cases. Text can be typed in, copy and pasted or spoken using Siri's speech to text recognition function. On playback a 3 second timer counts down, the text then scrolls from bottom to top at a speed determined by a slider bar. This is a very useful tool for speaking to a camera or rehearsing a speech.
 * ** Time Lapse Video Creation ** ||
 * [[image:Timelapse-Studio2.jpg link="@https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/timelapse-studio-pro/id562853016?mt=8"]] || ** Timelapse Studio - Free ( M-C ) **
 * Best for** : time lapse photography
 * Age range** : 8 yrs upwards
 * Features** : For such a low price this Apps offers a lot of features that put it well above other free and paid time lapse video Apps. As well as the usual frame control it has a timer so you can set it up somewhere and it will start and stop recording at the set times. A zoom function and grid lines give control over the quality of the images taken. Use the Stop Motion Studio Remote Camera App over wifi as a remote camera. A range of effects can be added with inexpensive add on packs. Add a music track from your library before exporting to your Photo Library.
 * ** Video Accessory ** ||
 * [[image:tripodsm.jpg width="83" height="76" link="@http://www.makayama.com/moviemount.html"]] || ** Movie Mount ** by Makayama** - around $70 **
 * Best for** : taking stable footage and utilising other accessories
 * Age range** : All ages
 * Features** : This jig does things a true filmmaker will appreciate: attach a tripod to it for those pan & tilt shots, use 37 mm conversion lenses, including wide angle and zoom, add a video light or shotgun mics, or use an optical viewfinder when shooting in bright sunlight. . . . . ** Original article ** . . . . ** YouTube video **
 * ** Line Drawing Animation ** ||
 * [[image:ipadcentral/animation-creator.jpg link="@http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/animation-creator-hd/id363201632?mt=8"]] || ** Animation Creator HD - $2.99 ( C ) **
 * Best for** : creating detailed line animations
 * Age range** : 12 yrs upwards
 * Features** : The user interface is a bit confusing and takes a bit of getting used to but with some time invested this app allows the user to create interesting animations. Import your own background and build up the animation by adding frames and using onion skinning to adjust your character. It is quite sophisticated with many options but can also work on a simple level, depending on the ability of the user. Playback is very smooth and can be looped. Files are saved in the app but can be uploaded to YouTube. There is a free lite version available. YouTube Video
 * [[image:ipadcentral/flipboom.jpg link="@http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/flipboom-lite-free/id385135145?mt=8"]] || ** Flip Boom Lite - Free ( C ) **
 * Best for** : an introduction to animation
 * Age range** : 10 yrs upwards
 * Features** : This app is created by Toon Boom Animation so it comes with a good pedigree and has good support files on the developer's website . The free version is quite basic but good to use as an introduction to animation. The user interface is well set out and the onion skinning feature and page advance work very well. Stills and videos can be sent to your photo gallery. The $2.99 Flip Boom Cartoon adds more tools, an image library and iCloud integration. YouTube Video
 * ** Stop Motion Animation ** ||
 * [[image:ipadcentral/imotion.jpg link="@http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/imotion-hd/id421365625?mt=8"]] || ** iMotion HD - Free ( M-C ) **
 * Best for** : detailed high quality stop motion animation
 * Age range** : 10 yrs upwards
 * Features** : Manually created stop motion animations can be replayed at any intervals from 1 fps to 30 fps. Time lapse photography can be set with intervals from 1 second up to one hour. The free version is add free but only exports to the photo library and Facebook. Upgrading to the full version for $1.99 allows exporting to mail, YouTube and the iMotion gallery. For educational purposes the free version offers all the functionality that is really necessary. YouTube Video
 * [[image:Stop-Motion-Pro2.jpg link="@https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/stop-motion-studio/id441651297?mt=8"]] || ** Stop Motion Studio - Free ( M-C ) **
 * Best for** : introductory stop motion animation
 * Age range** : 8 yrs upwards
 * Features** : This is an easy App to use, press the plus sign to start a new project and press the camera icon to take a photo - couldn't be simpler! Projects are auto saved and can be added to later on. Two important features fro stop motion creation are an overlay mode and a grid to enable more precise positioning between shots. Add a voice over or a music file before saving the project which can be exported to the Photo Library, YouTube, Facebook, iTunes or emailed. Use the Stop Motion Studio Remote Camera App over wifi as a remote camera. For more features, upgrade to the Pro version for $6.49 or a range of effects can be added with inexpensive add on packs. YouTube video
 * ** Character Animation ** ||
 * [[image:ipadcentral/photo-puppet.jpg link="@http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/photopuppet-hd/id421738553?mt=8"]] || ** PhotoPuppet HD - $2.99 ( C ) **
 * Best for** : detailed animations
 * Age range** : 14 yrs upwards
 * Features** : This is a very sophisticated animation app for a very low price. Use the ready made puppets or customise your own. This is the type of app where you spend time tweeking using the range of options available to produce a polished result. Very suitable to extend younger creative students or for older media students. If you would like to try before you buy there is a Lite version which allows you to use up to 3 puppets and create 15 second animations.Great support from the developer's website which contains information and video tutorials that will help you get started. YouTube Video
 * [[image:ipadcentral/puppet-pals3.jpg link="@http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/puppet-pals-directors-pass/id462134755?mt=8"]] || ** Puppet Pals Director's Pass - $2.99 ( C ) **
 * Best for** : visual animated storytelling
 * Age range** : 6-14 yrs
 * Features** : The versatility and ease of use of this app is pure magic and is a must have. The free version gives you one set of characters and backgrounds but just download the Directors Pass version instead for a huge variety of characters and background and more importantly it unlocks the ability to add your own characters and backgrounds from your own photos. Multiple characters and backgrounds can be added to the stage with all movement and narration recorded in real time for playback. Characters can be moved, resized and flipped but only as a complete image - ie no animation of character sections.Video files can be saved and exported. This app has huge scope for educational use. YouTube Video
 * [[image:ipadcentral/toontastic.jpg link="@https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/toontastic-free/id404693282?mt=8"]] || ** Toontastic - Free ( M ) **
 * Best for** : an introduction to creating an animated story
 * Age range** : 8 - 12 yrs
 * Features** : Animations are created by working within an excellent tutorial that takes the user through a step by step process to build an animated story. Select your screen content from the available backgrounds and character sets. Additional characters are available form the Toy Store but these are not good value for money (buying 3 or 4 characters for $1 is not value). An all items upgrade will cost $13.99. YouTube Video
 * ** Preset Animation with sound input ** ||
 * [[image:ipadcentral/morfo.jpg link="@https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/morfo-3d-face-booth/id440560166?mt=8"]] || ** Morfo 3D Face Booth - $0.99 ( M ) **
 * Best for** : well optioned talking head animation
 * Age range** : 6 - 12 yrs
 * Features** : Start with a facial photo or take a photo from within the app, for best results the subject should have their mouth closed. Adjust and frame the head with a simple alignment tool. Accessories from a large variety of themes and costume options. Record a message and watch an animated video which can be saved to the photo gallery, emailed or sent to Facebook. There is a free version of this app don't bother because you will very quickly want to purchase the 99 cent upgrade. YouTube Video
 * [[image:ipadcentral/sock-puppets.jpg link="@http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/sock-puppets/id394504903?mt=8"]] || ** Sock Puppets - Free ( M ) **
 * Best for** : two character animations of your speech
 * Age range** : 6 - 12 yrs
 * Features** : The basic app comes with 6 sock puppets and 7 image and 4 plain colour backgrounds and a variety of props. There is an In App store to purchase a range of additional additional content and functions. A full upgrade to all features and content will cost $4.49 Recordings can be created and viewed in either portrait or landscape. Once the characters are scenes are set and the recording made the app lip synchs the recording to the puppets mouth movements. Files are saved in app but can be exported to Facebook or Youtube. YouTube Video
 * [[image:ipadcentral/Talking-Tom.jpg link="@http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/talking-tom-cat-for-ipad/id379983299?mt=8"]] || ** Talking Tom Cat for iPad - Free ( M ) **
 * Best for** : creating an animation copy of your speech
 * Age range** : 6 - 12 Yrs
 * Features** : There are several versions of this and related talking friends - Larry, Baby Hippo, Harry and more but this was the first and still one of the best for educational use as it works well without any upgrades or in app purchases, although the ads can get annoying. Simply talk to Tom and he will repeat whatever you say. Press the record button and create a movie of Tom speaking - this is quite creative when imported into a movie project. YouTube video


 * App Categories**
 * I** - very directed or purely for information
 * I-M** - mostly instructive but allows for some response to user input
 * M** - fairly even mix of instruction and creativity, produces a predetermined outcome
 * M-C** - mostly creative but within a framework, allows for varied output
 * C** - very open ended allowing full user control of the content created, usually starts with a black page

Prices are in $AUS and were correct at time of publication but are subject to change.