Since co-launching Filmscope CIC and piloting Inanimatorz and Inanimatorz GO! projects for the London Borough of Culture Awards in 2020, it’s been a joy to bring the accessibility and creative power of stop motion animation to children and adults across my local community of Brent, London.

Following my previous HUE blog post back in 2023, Filmscope has continued to bring stop motion animation to schools across Brent, including Chalkhill Primary School, Kingsbury Green Primary School and Preston Manor All-Through School, as well as running holiday and summer sessions at local community centres and venues in the borough. It’s been wonderful for the team to see the kids from all ages experiment, problem-solve, and express themselves through animation whilst utilising the versatile cameras from HUE.

The HUE HD cameras have become our trusted companions in nearly all of these workshops. It’s really allowed participants to animate in a tactile, hands-on way that is intuitive and creative for their own individual animating styles and needs.

Notable Sessions from the Past Few Years

Chalkhill Primary School

One of Filmscope’s earliest funded stop motion projects, STOPMO YO!, took place at Chalkhill Primary School with Spanish teacher, Ms. Irene Mallek. Before the pandemic, Ms. Mallek would take students to Spain each year — but with travel suddenly halted, due to Covid restrictions, she wanted to recreate the experience through animation instead.

Working in small groups, the children designed different scenes from their “virtual Spanish trip”, recording their own voices and bringing the story to life through stop motion. The final film was screened in an assembly to the school and parents — a moment the children, and Filmscope, were incredibly proud of! 

This session was our first real insight into the benefits of stop motion for children with SEN also. For those that were more visual and kinaesthetic learners, the set up really worked well. Teachers and parents told us they noticed improvements in focus, patience, and confidence, and that some children even began experimenting with animation at home, which was a joy! Often we might bump into one of the kids from previous sessions and they would proudly show us their new animation. Exactly the kind of outcomes we were hoping for.

Check out the behind the scenes process of making the stop motion animation with our Spanish language pupils at Chalkhill Primary School!

Kingsbury Green Primary School — d/Deaf Group Sessions

Inspired by the success at Chalkhill, we began working with a group of d/Deaf students at Kingsbury Green Primary School. Our focus here was visual communication, sensory learning, and giving the d/Deaf children ways to express themselves creatively without relying on spoken language. The HUE setup is brilliantly Plug and Play, while the flexible neck allows the children to position the camera anywhere — over paper cut-outs, LEGO builds, clay, drawings, or layered mixed-media scenes.One of the highlights was when the children took photos of themselves and turned them into superheroes. With their printed poses cut out, they designed costumes, added colourful effects and animated their characters together in collaborative scenes. The happiness they felt seeing “mini versions” of themselves animated on screen was priceless!

Framing the Future

The success of these stop motion projects across Brent has inspired Filmscope to expand the inclusive animation sessions to after school clubs and even further — giving more children who are d/Deaf, neurodivergent, SEN, or, as we like to say.. .those that are simply wonderfully curious, the chance to explore storytelling through animation.

Adults also have the opportunity to learn and explore stop motion animation at ANIMATIKZ – 1 to 1 sessions with me at the studio in Wembley Park, once a week! Whether a beginner or with experience, these guided sessions are a great way to get into something new. In a world that’s seemingly moving digital and less tactile, let us bring movement to the imagination!!

More information can be found here: https://classbento.co.uk/stop-motion-animation-course-harrow 

Stop motion continues to show us that storytelling goes far beyond words. With tools like those from HUE, creativity becomes accessible, visual, and joyfully collaborative — exactly as it should be! A special thank you to Ruth at HUE HQ, who has been immensely supportive throughout this stop motion journey. Thanks to her, we’ve received the newly released HUE Clay, and the excitement from the children so far has been…LOUD!!! They love the colours, the feel, and the endless possibilities — and I cannot wait to see the curious characters and worlds that will be created in 2026!

Follow Vee on social media and find out how to book a Classbento workshop via the links below.

Website: www.filmscope.org | www.animatikz.com  

Classbento: classbento.co.uk/stop-motion-animation-course-harrow 

Instagram: 
@filmscopecic instagram.com/filmscopecic
@hello.animatikz | instagram.com/hello.animatikz
@VeeLadwa | https://www.instagram.com/veeladwa 

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We are thrilled to announce that HUE Animation Toolbox has been awarded the coveted Recommended badge by the Good Play Guide. 

Experts at Fundamentally Children said:

“The HUE Animation Toolbox is a fun creative kit that inspires children to bring their imaginations to life through stop-motion animation. The set is packed with everything young filmmakers need to start animating right away including clay, wooden tools, a giant storyboard and a child-friendly quickstart guide. Children can follow step by step projects in the included book and there are downloadable templates and tutorial videos, or they can experiment freely with their own ideas.”

“Our testers were thrilled each time they produced a new video and couldn’t wait to share their creations. While younger children sometimes needed guidance at first, they quickly gained confidence and independence with practice. The set worked well for both solo play and group collaboration, as children took turns making individual films but also brainstormed ideas together.”

“Parents loved that it combines screen time with hands-on creativity, teaching children patience, storytelling and technical film making skills in an accessible way. Compact and easy to set up, it keeps children coming back for more and offers endless opportunities to get increasingly inventive. A really engaging introduction to the world of animation!”

What our testers said:

“Look, there’s so many backgrounds. Can we do the space one?” Boy, aged 7 year old

“Oh cool, there’s sound effects!” Boy, aged 9

Skills developed:

“Encourages imaginative play and creativity”

“Helps develop an understanding of technology”

“Develops storytelling skills”

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“The sheets helped me think of ideas for my story”

” I really liked HUE Animation Toolbox, and I thought that it was very clever. I liked how you could make your own characters out of clay and the book of animation really inspired me. The idea for the sheets to create your own story was good and it helped me think of ideas for my story. I made a story about the clay hero and him hiding the avocados car keys and he was naughty but also very nice because he helped her get them out again. I used the idea of the faces on fruits for my avocado. The camera was very useful because it was in place and I started recording right away. But when you move it, it takes a little while to put it back in place.

My favourite part was making the clay figures for my story, I used the instructions on how to make a clay hero. I also made a zebra with the clay. I like that the clay is in strips – it makes it so much easier to mold into the animals you want. All the tools that came with it were useful because you don’t have to buy them separately. At the start I needed some help from mum to help me set up the stop motion because it was quite tricky. But we got it and it was very fun once we did it. Overall I really loved the box and am looking forward to making lots of videos, I have some ideas for using my TY toys in the next story.” Olive Capron, Aged 10

“Combines children’s interest in screens and technology with creativity!”

“As a parent, I think HUE Animation Toolbox is a fantastic way to combine children’s interest in screens and technology with creativity. It really brings together the best of both worlds; the hands-on making and doing that can sometimes be missed when using a screen. It’s also brilliant that everything you need fits neatly into the box, keeping things tidy and easy to pack away when not in use. Everything was great quality, the instructions were easy to follow, and the idea book was really helpful for sparking inspiration.”  Lucy Capron, Parent

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We are excited to announce that HUE will be exhibiting at the Manchester Animation Festival in the MAF Marketplace. The show takes place on Wednesday 12th November 2025 in Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK. 

Running between the 9-13th November 2025, Manchester Animation Festival is the UK’s biggest celebration of the animated art form and it is also an Oscar®-qualifying, BAFTA-recognised film festival. 

Taking place at HOME in Manchester, the festival unites the nation’s animation communities and welcomes international guests to share in the joy of all things animation. Working with leading organisations including Netflix, Disney, Apple, Sky, Aardman, Cartoon Saloon, Blue Zoo, Nickelodeon, the BBC and many more, the festival offers something for everyone, including animated short film competitions, feature screenings, retrospectives, workshops, networking events, panel discussions, masterclasses and talks from some of the industry’s leading voices. 

Come and find HUE in the MAF Marketplace where we’ll be showing off our HUE Animation Studio and HUE Animation Studio Pro kits, together with HUE Clay, the colourful clay that’s perfect for bringing your stop motion creations to life. 

We’ll have free samples to give away (while they last!) plus chances to win stop motion goodies in festival giveaways such as our clay creation challenge. Get creative, make your own clay character and share it on social media with the hashtag #MAFHUE25 for the chance to bag a bundle of HUE prizes!   

This year, HUE is not only excited to be part of the MAF Marketplace, we are also the proud sponsors of the Stop Motion category of the Young Animator of the Year UK (YAY UK) Award!

The YAY UK Awards is the nation’s largest animation competition for aspiring creatives aged 11–22. Open to entrants from across the UK, the contest showcases short films under three minutes in length in 2D, 3D and stop motion.

Submissions closed on 1st September 2025, and the winners will be revealed at the Manchester Animation Festival on the 9th November 2025, with prizes including exclusive studio tours at world-renowned companies such as Aardman.

Feeling social? Keep up to date with everything HUE Animation (@HUEanimation), MAF (@mcranimation) and YAY UK (@younganimatorUK) over on Instagram.

We can’t wait to see you all at the festival! 

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Written by Brett Mullins, Somerset Primary School, Tasmania.

As a STEM educator working with children from Prep to Grade Six, I have found the HUE Animation cameras to be an invaluable tool in my classroom. Over the past four years, as a digital technologies teacher, I have never had a child say they were not interested in using the HUE cameras and animation. The HUE cameras consistently captivate my students, encouraging them to explore their creativity through stop motion animation and video projects. 

Part of my teaching philosophy centers around the use of digital media and fostering a cooperative learning environment. The HUE cameras align perfectly with this philosophy. The built-in microphone and ability to magnify details have enhanced our lessons, allowing students to see and hear their work with exceptional clarity. The software that accompanies the HUE cameras is incredibly easy to use, not only for the children but also for new teachers to the HUE program. The flexibility of the cameras allows us to use them from a variety of angles, which significantly enhances the children’s animations. We use everyday objects, clay, LEGO, paper, and foil, just to name a few, to create engaging and imaginative projects. 

We have entered state animation competitions and consistently achieve top-level results, even competing against high school students who have access to more expensive equipment. We use only the older version of HUE cameras, but it doesn’t matter because the product is amazing. We use the HUE cameras daily with over 370 children, and they have become a staple in my teaching toolkit and part of a 10-week program. Whether it’s for recording videos, taking pictures, or especially for stop motion animation, the HUE cameras consistently deliver high-quality performance. 

They are easy to set up and use, making them accessible for both teachers and students. The results are outstanding, even for children who have difficulties in the classroom, as they can tell their own story, in a different, unique way. The HUE Animation setup and program help them focus as it promotes self-directed and creative learning. I can set a task or show a skill, and the children make it their own—there is no wrong way. 

The HUE product is faultless in delivering excellence. I highly recommend the HUE animation cameras and software to any educator looking to enrich their classroom experience. They are truly awesome and have made a significant positive impact on our students’ learning journey at every level. The HUE product is the best on the market that I have ever used. Thanks HUE

HUE Animation Studio is a STEM.org approved, movie-making starter kit for children aged 7+. It places kids in a highly engaging and immersive environment where they can enjoy the freedom to express themselves creatively.

Whether animating on their own or with friends, children love the thrill of making stop motion movies and they can do it for hours! It is the perfect gender-neutral activity for imaginative play, enabling children to create pretend worlds using both hands-on artistic and technical computer skills.

HUE Animation Studio contains everything a budding animator needs to create stop motion movies using modelling clay, LEGO®, 2D drawings or a favorite toy, including:

• A colorful, flexible HUE HD camera.
• A perpetual single-user Stop Motion Studio for HUE software license.
• A full-color, 64-page animation activity book. 
• A durable carry case.
• Digital resources, sound effects and backgrounds.

Recommended by top child development expert, Dr. Amanda Gummer, this educational kit fosters 21st century skills such as creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking while bringing hours of enjoyment to young film directors as they learn how to make movie magic.

Watch the video to find out more and follow us on social media @HUEcameras for updates about awards, giveaways and fun ideas. HUE Animation Studio is one of a range of colorful, creative and affordable products for school, home and work from HUE.

Find out more, subscribe to our blog, download resources, contact us or follow us on social media.

Conosci Paola Testa, un’appassionata insegnante italiana di musica che insegna nell’Istituto Comprensivo Scialoia di Milano e che sa unire creatività e significato in classe. Di recente, Paola ha guidato i suoi studenti in un fantastico viaggio nel mondo della mobilità sostenibile, combinando la ricerca con la creatività pratica. Utilizzando HUE Animation Studio e tanto lavoro di squadra, la classe di Paola ha dato vita alla propria visione con un cortometraggio in stop motion realizzato con mattoncini LEGO®, per promuovere un trasporto ecologico.

Curioso di scoprire come è nato tutto questo? Continua a leggere per conoscere il loro progetto ispiratore e preparati a restare colpito da ciò che può realizzare un gruppo di studenti (e un’insegnante straordinaria) quando l’apprendimento incontra uno scopo.

Guest post scritto da Paola Testa, docente dell’Istituto Comprensivo Statale Scialoia in Milan (MI):

Il presente progetto ha avuto come obiettivo la creazione di un cortometraggio in stop motion utilizzando mattoncini Lego per illustrare e promuovere la sostenibilità del viaggio in treno, prendendo come esempio la tratta ad alta velocità Milano-Parigi operata dal treno Frecciarossa 1000 riaperta ad aprile 2025.

In classe, ci siamo interrogati su quanto, soprattutto oggi, sia importante pensare alla salute del nostro ambiente, cominciando dalle piccole cose come appunto un viaggio.

La scelta del Frecciarossa 1000 vuole evidenziare l’efficienza, la comodità e il ridotto impatto ambientale di un moderno treno ad alta velocità su una tratta internazionale. E’ stata svolta una ricerca sui vantaggi ambientali del trasporto ferroviario rispetto ad altre modalità, in particolare all’automobile, prestando attenzione all’impatto del Frecciarossa 1000 in termini di emissioni di CO2, consumo energetico e inquinamento acustico.

Sono state consultate fonti statistiche, articoli e materiale informativo, ricercando anche nel sito Trenitalia. Per lo stop Motion è stato usato Hue Animation Studio Hardware e Software. La musica è stata composta dagli studenti utilizzando app di musica digitale e tablet.

Siamo davvero colpiti da Paola e dai suoi studenti: sono saliti a bordo di un progetto davvero speciale! La loro creatività e impegno li stanno portando sulla giusta rotaia verso il successo. Non perdete il loro fantastico video su YouTube.

Se hai utilizzato HUE Animation Studio in classe con i tuoi studenti, saremo lieti di presentare il tuo progetto sul blog HUE. Per maggiori informazioni, contattaci su huehd.com/contact.

Meet Paola Testa, a passionate Italian music teacher who teaches at the Istituto Comprensivo Scialoia in Milan and who knows how to combine creativity and meaning in the classroom. Recently, Paola led her students on a fantastic journey into the world of sustainable travel, combining research with practical creativity. Using HUE Animation Studio and a whole lot of teamwork, Paola’s class brought their vision to life in a stop motion short film using LEGO® bricks to promote eco-friendly transportation. 

Curious to see how it all came together? Read on to discover their inspiring project, and prepare to be impressed by what a group of students (and one awesome teacher!) can do when learning meets purpose.

Guest post written by Paola Testa, teacher at Istituto Comprensivo Statale Scialoia in Milan (MI):

This project aimed to create a stop motion short film using LEGO® bricks to illustrate and promote the sustainability of train travel, taking as an example the high-speed Milan-Paris route operated by the Frecciarossa 1000, which was reopened in April 2025.

In class, we reflected on how, especially today, it is important to think about the health of our environment starting with small actions, such as the way we choose to travel.

The choice of the Frecciarossa 1000 was meant to highlight the efficiency, comfort, and low environmental impact of a modern high-speed train on an international route. We conducted research on the environmental advantages of rail transport compared to other modes of travel, particularly the car, focusing on the Frecciarossa 1000’s CO₂ emissions, energy consumption and noise pollution.

Statistical sources, articles, and informational materials were consulted, including resources from the Trenitalia website. For the stop motion animation, the HUE Animation Studio hardware and software were used. The music was composed by the students using digital music apps and tablets.

Written by Paola Testa

We’re so impressed by Paola and her students, they truly went the extra mile with this inspiring project! Their hard work and creativity clearly shows they’re on track for success. Be sure to check out their wonderful video on YouTube.

If you have, or are planning to use HUE Animation Studio in the classroom with your students, we would love to feature your project on the HUE Blog! Please get in touch at huehd.com/contact to get on board  

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After much time and hard work, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re rolling out a completely new product line. 
Introducing … HUE Clay – our new high-quality, non-drying, reusable modelling clay.

Just like our HUE cameras, HUE Clay is colourful, flexible and affordable, doesn’t require installation, and is an essential teaching and learning tool. 

If you’re a long time follower and familiar with the HUE family of products, you’ll know we are HUE-GE fans of stop motion animation. When paired with our HUE Animation Studio kit, HUE Clay becomes the perfect partner for bringing your creative ideas to life through claymation movies!

Despite being a new product for HUE, the HUE Clay formula has been around for a long time. It has a rich history in the world of filmmaking in its original guise, Newplast, from esteemed British company Newclay Products.

Founded in 1967, Newclay captivated generations of children, animators and artists with its innovative and imaginative modelling materials including its flagship product, Newplast, a type of clay that is especially suitable for stop motion animation due to its balance of pliability, firmness and resistance to cracking. 

Newplast is well known for being used by Academy Award®-winning Aardman Animations, creators of world famous films including Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run. 

HUE acquired the assets of Newclay when the original owners Paul and Valerie Dearing decided to retire. Under Paul’s careful guidance we were taught the secret recipe and processes for producing the Newplast formula. Since then we’ve been busy mixing, extruding and perfecting every detail to continue the Newplast legacy!

If you have been missing Newplast and are in knead of a new supply, look no further than HUE Clay! Available to purchase now from: huehd.com/shop/clay. 

For more information and wholesale enquiries please contact us.

Can you help us spread the word? 

Are you a claymation animator, artist, teacher or hobbyist? We’d love for you to try HUE Clay! We’re giving away a limited number of complimentary sample packs to anyone who would like to create a short animated clip, art project or review to share on social media or the HUE blog. If you’re interested, fill out this form to apply! 

Find out more, subscribe to our blog, download resources, contact us or follow us on social media.

The Creative Play Awards 2024 have been revealed and we are delighted to announce that HUE Animation Studio has been judged as the Winner in the Teaching Resources category, and as the Highly Commended entry in the Electronics & Multimedia 8 -11yrs category 

“This was easy to set up, with helpful, clear instructions. We tried the no-handed eating, how-to-fly videos and also enjoyed creating stop motion pictures. This is great for a wide age range as everyone can get involved. This was so much fun. It comes with a case so it’s all easily stored. Brilliant.” 

Reviewer comment

“A really nice gadget that can provide hours of fun for children (and adults) to spark imaginations and give an insight into the making of movies. Excellent instruction booklet and useful box that creates a background for making films along with four downloadable backdrops. Would make an ideal present”

Reviewer comment

The Creative Play Awards “Are sponsored and organised by Creative Steps magazine, which promotes creative play as vital in a child’s development. The results of these awards recognise the best products available to enhance creative development in young children and are beneficial to the consumer when making purchasing decisions. Products are independently tested by parents, early years professionals and teachers, with the winners published in the Winter issue of Creative Steps magazine, as well as on www.creativesteps.co.uk.”

HUE Animation Studio is a STEM.org approved, movie-making starter kit for children aged 7+. It places kids in a highly engaging and immersive environment where they can enjoy the freedom to express themselves creatively.

Whether animating on their own or with friends, children love the thrill of making stop motion movies and they can do it for hours! It is the perfect gender-neutral activity for imaginative play, enabling children to create pretend worlds using both hands-on artistic and technical computer skills.

HUE Animation Studio contains everything a budding animator needs to create stop motion movies using modelling clay, LEGO®, 2D drawings or a favorite toy, including:

• A colorful, flexible HUE HD camera.
• A perpetual single-user Stop Motion Studio for HUE software license.
• A full-color, 64-page animation activity book. 
• A durable carry case.
• Digital resources, sound effects and backgrounds.

Recommended by top child development expert, Dr. Amanda Gummer, this educational kit fosters 21st century skills such as creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking while bringing hours of enjoyment to young film directors as they learn how to make movie magic.

Watch the video to find out more and follow us on social media @HUEcameras for updates about awards, giveaways and fun ideas. HUE Animation Studio is one of a range of colorful, creative and affordable products for school, home and work from HUE.

Find out more, subscribe to our blog, download resources, contact us or follow us on social media.

We are proud to announce that HUE Animation Studio has achieved a GOLD award in the Best Creative Play category of the Junior Design Awards 2024. HUE Animation Studio won this award after it was identified as both highly educational and fun by the judging panel.

The Junior Design Awards’ gold, silver and bronze winners are decided after the scores of 26 expert judges are collated. The make-up of the judging panel and the process of deciding the winners is entirely independent and impartial and is an indicator of quality that schools and teachers know they can trust. 

“This is the exciting side of kids’ tech we should be celebrating. I love the way this encourages creativity and experimentation with a final result to be proud of.”

Bonita Turner, Editor of Junior @juniormagazineonline

“Such a great gift for any budding film directors. I’ll be waiting for my Oscar mention.”

Eleonore Crompton, Deputy Editor of Junior, @juniormagazineonline

HUE Animation Studio is available for just £59.95 incl. VAT from the HUE shop or from Amazon.

Find out more, subscribe to our blog, download resources, contact us or follow us on social media.

After over 1,000 hours of toy testing and with more than 180 toys tested by over 380 real child testers, we are absolutely thrilled to announce that HUE Animation Studio with Carry case has been awarded the coveted Editor’s Choice in the MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024!

The HUE Animation Studio kit for children aged 7 years + was placed in the Best Tech Toy category and then also received the Editor’s Choice award. How cool is that?

The MadeForMums Toy Awards website states that the awards “recognise the very best toys you can buy for your child. Every toy was thoroughly tested by children (with a little help from their parents), who spent hours building, reading, scooting, crafting, cuddling and playing with hundreds of toys, to decide which deserved a coveted spot in the awards roundup.“

“Our community of testers, made up of real-life parents, families and child testers, got hands-on to discover the best baby toy, best balance bike, best doll, best role play toy, best educational toy, best arts and crafts toy and so much more.”

“I really like this toy – I’m writing stories and they come to life. That’s really cool! I started on the easy project with a Pink Dough-Blob in Space and now I am looking forward to doing the hard projects and filming myself skating – although l will need Mum’s help for that. I can write any crazy story I want. This would be a great gift for someone my age who likes to use their imagination and make their own movies!”

Child judge Matilda, 7 years old

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HUE Animation Studio is available for just £59.95 incl. VAT from the HUE shop or from Amazon.

Find out more, subscribe to our blog, download resources, contact us or follow us on social media.