Interactive Impulses in VR: A Modular Approach to Combine Stop-Motion Animation and Experimental Puppeteering in a Narrative Virtual Environment

The art-based research project VRinMotion is dedicated to investigate the incorporation of stop-motion animation and motion-capture into virtual reality through collaborative discussions and artistic experimentation. In it's second phase, ExperiMotion 2, the research team explored a range of new ideas and concepts i.e. recording methods for stop motion and timelapse photography, the translation of experimental puppeteering and stop-motion approaches, and physical interactions in virtual reality. The paper outlines the theoretical framework, incorporating aspects of puppetry and documentary filmmaking in the context of animation studies. It also details the methods employed in the project, including prototyping, inventive animation approaches, volumetric pixilation, and novel interaction modalities.