Hue Animation Studio

Many children grow up with animation at the centre of their visual entertainment, for me it was Wallace and Gromit, the Clangers and does anyone else remember Trapdoor? For my little ones its Bluey, Peppa Pig (much to my displeasure) and rather wonderfully, the Clangers also! The Hue Animation Studio aims for nurture the creative minds who fancy trying their hand at stop-motion animation and timelapse photography. This mini studio is an all-in-one kit that makes the process accessible to all whether you’re a total beginner, a kid (recommended 7+), or even an adult looking for a creative new hobby.

The kit includes a flexible USB camera with integrated microphones, a green screen, a 64-page full-colour book of animation, a mini stage with background, printable activities and sound effects, software plus a durable shockproof case. The camera has a bendable neck, so you can get all sorts of cool angles without needing a tripod. It connects directly to your computer via USB, so you can see your shots in real-time. The image quality is decent for the price—not Hollywood-level, but more than good enough for stop-motion projects.

Setting everything up is straightforward. The software walks you through the basics, and within minutes, you’re capturing your first frames. The onion-skinning feature (which lets you see a ghost image of the last frame) is super helpful for smooth animations. You can also add sound, text, and special effects, which takes your projects to the next level. We liked that the Hue Animation Studio encourages creativity without being intimidating, you don’t have to be an artist either, simply use LEGO figures, clay models, or stick some googly eyes on the things you find in the kitchen draw and bring them to life.

That said, there are a few minor downsides. The software, while easy to use, isn’t as advanced as professional animation programs. It occasionally feels a bit dated, and editing options are somewhat limited. Also, it only works on Windows and macOS—Chromebook users are out of luck.

Overall, Hue Animation Studio is a fantastic, fun, and affordable way to dive into stop-motion animation, however if it becomes a real passion you may want to upgrade the software. RRP £59.95

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