Artistic Exploration of Stop-Motion Animation in Virtual Reality: Spatializing the Analog Techniques of 2D Replacement and Object Animation by Using Digital Cutout and Realtime Rendering

The art-based research project VRinMotion explores the implemen-tation of analog stop-motion animation in virtual reality. ExperiMotion 1, the first of four workshops, focused on 2D replacement and object animation in VR, presenting a unique challenge in creating a 3D virtual space with flat animation techniques. The research team discussed and artistically tested various new ideas and methods focusing, i.a., on haptic properties and the role of stop-motion loops. Furthermore, it developed frameworks in Unity3D and TouchDe-signer for prototyping and implementing the project requirements. Finally, the team explored how the use of sound may improve spatial perception in VR and how separating the artistic process into dis-tinct modules allows several individuals to collaborate on the same project.