Stop Motion GIFs are a series of pictures placed in sequence creating the illusion of motion or animation.
Unlike singe-image photography, GIFs include the dynamic element of motion which has the ability to convey a story, express emotions, reactions, humor, and provide demonstrations or tutorials.
Two of the most common types are Loops or Boomerangs.
Loops are created when the same sequence of images is cycled through indefinitely while Boomerangs sequence the images first to last and last to first.
Many e-commerce companies use boomerangs to showcase unboxing of their packaging, humorous push and pull dynamics like adding or subtracting props, growing or shrinking elements, back and forth movement and so on.
Stop Motion is not tied to just a series of photography with physical props. Hand-made and digital elements like post production magic, illustration, graphic design, high-end retouching, compositing, claymation and paper cutouts can be used to introduce added charm and humor to your stop motion and overall product appeal.
Not sure where to go with stop motion and your brand? Here’s a few stop motion and gif trends we’ve seen do well on social media.
Product Magic
When products move and shift on their own without the use of models or hand modeling. This is a great affordable option as you don’t need to pay extra expenses on booking a model and it adds a dash of whimsy or humor to your product without any distraction.
If you’re a clothing brand, your garment could be shown unfolding itself. A drink or food brand has shown its beverage opening itself and pouring into a glass. And various other products of all types moving and interacting on their own
Snap Magic
Usually shown a hand sneaking into a staged composition and snapping to reveal unboxing, a new more fun magical scene and any other creative storytelling movement that brings your product to life.
Background, product color & light changes
This is a lower lift but still effective way to engage the audience with your product. Because at the end of the day we all love colorful shiny things. Add a little motion and we’re transfixed. If you already have a plain e-commerce product photographed, a high end retoucher can easily transform one single image into a kaleidoscope of color and fun.
Post production magic
This ranges from moving typography, logo reveal, to photoshop compositing entire scenes and even hand made illustration. These trends have become especially popular as people are longing for hand made creativity again among the constant bombardment of digitized spaces. These also open up a new world of possibility without the expense.
Lastly, a simple image slideshow. This is another low lift option if you have multiple photos of your product to showcase many versions and angles in the same post.
Conclusion
Stop motion is a unique and eye-catching way to make your product stand out in the social media feed. They offer a different viewing experience compared to static imagery that captivates your audience. It also shows off your brand’s personality creatively with clever storytelling and imaginative sequences that become memorable, fostering a stronger connection and brand recall.
If you haven’t employed stop motion media in your brand, these trends are a great place to start. With the help of a high-end retoucher you can bring your ideas to life. Check out some of these GIF trends in action.
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