Animate a LEGO® minifig jumping
Create a stop-motion video of a LEGO minifig jumping by posing incremental frames, photographing each move, and assembling them into a short animation.
About this activity
Create a stop-motion video of a LEGO minifig jumping by posing incremental frames, photographing each move, and assembling them into a short animation.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Place the background paper or cardboard flat on a table.
- 2
Step 2
Put the LEGO baseplate or a flat surface on the background where your minifig will jump.
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Step 3
Turn on and position the desk lamp so the baseplate is lit evenly.
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Step 4
Put a few small LEGO bricks nearby to use as props or markers.
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Step 5
Pose your LEGO minifigure in a crouch at the starting spot on the baseplate.
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Step 6
Ask an adult to help place a phone or camera on a stable surface aimed at the minifig.
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Step 7
Take the first photo of your crouching minifig.
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Step 8
Move the minifig a little upward to show the beginning of the jump.
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Step 9
Take a photo of the push-off position.
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Step 10
Move the minifig to the highest mid-air pose.
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Step 11
Take a photo of the mid-air pose.
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Step 12
Move the minifig into a landing pose.
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Step 13
Take a photo of the landing pose.
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Step 14
Import your photos into a stop-motion app or photo editor and assemble them in order to make a short animation.
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Step 15
Share your finished stop-motion LEGO jump on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you animate a LEGO minifig jumping?
To animate a LEGO minifig jumping, set a stable scene and fixed camera angle on a tripod or steady surface. Pose the minifig slightly, take a photo, move it a tiny bit to show upward motion, and repeat through lift, peak, and landing. Keep movements small (5–12 frames for a short jump) and use a stop-motion app or video editor to assemble frames at about 12 fps. Add sound effects and trim timing until it looks smooth.
What materials do I need to make a LEGO stop-motion jump?
Materials needed: one LEGO minifig plus a baseplate or bricks to build a launch and landing platform, a smartphone or camera, and a tripod or stable stack to keep the camera steady. Use a stop-motion app (e.g., Stop Motion Studio) or simple video editor, good consistent lighting, and small adhesive putty or tape to steady pieces. Optional: remote shutter, extra minifigs for scenes, and a plain backdrop for cleaner shots.
What ages is animating a LEGO minifig jumping suitable for?
Suitable for ages 5 and up with adult supervision for handling small parts and camera use. Preschoolers (5–6) enjoy posing and playing with guidance; ages 7–10 can handle incremental movements and basic apps; 11+ can plan storyboards, add sound, and do editing. This activity builds patience and fine motor skills; supervise younger kids to avoid swallowing small pieces and help with any app or camera controls.
What are the benefits of making a stop-motion LEGO minifig jump?
Benefits: Stop-motion jumping teaches storytelling, sequencing, fine motor coordination, and basic digital skills like photography and editing. It encourages patience, planning, and creativity while being low-cost. Safety: keep tiny parts away from under-threes and supervise camera use. Variation: swap backgrounds, add props, try slow-motion or multiple minifigs to create a relay jump for longer scenes and more complex storytelling.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of a desk lamp or a LEGO baseplate if we don't have them?
If you don't have a desk lamp, use bright indirect sunlight or an LED clip light, and if you don't have a LEGO baseplate use a sheet of stiff cardboard or a flat plastic tray as the surface where your minifig will jump.
My minifig keeps falling over between frames — how can I keep it stable during the jumping sequence?
If the minifig keeps falling over between frames, secure its feet to the baseplate with a small dab of reusable putty or clear tape, or use the small LEGO bricks as temporary supports while you take each photo.
How can I simplify or make the activity more challenging for different ages?
For younger kids reduce the number of photos by making bigger moves and have an adult position the phone or camera, while older kids can take many tiny increments, fine-tune the desk lamp lighting, and add more frames in the stop-motion app for a smoother jump.
How can we improve or personalize the final animation before sharing on DIY.org?
To personalize the animation, import your photos into the stop-motion app and add a hand-drawn background on the paper, extra LEGO props, sound effects or titles, and insert extra mid-air frames for slow-motion before sharing on DIY.org.