Martyna is a Polish self-taught stop motion director. Since 2016 she has been immersed in different animation techniques, creating music videos, commercials and TV spots from scratch. She does everything from writing and puppet making to animation and editing.
the interview:
How and why did your journey into animation begin?
Many years ago, my teacher at school showed us an Oscar-winning stop-motion animation. I was fascinated by the fact that you could do everything by hand and create worlds from scratch. I have always had many hobbies and always loved handmade things, so for me stop-motion was the culmination of art, handmade crafts, stage design, photography and storytelling. I fell in love with it and it still stays with me today.
What are your sources of inspiration?
It may seem strange, but boredom stimulates my creativity. To find inspiration, I immerse myself in nature, exploring different textures, smells and sounds around me. I put down my phone and walk. New ideas and images come to me naturally. This way, you can find inspiration everywhere: in conversations with friends, in movies, in books, etc.
Tell us about your creative process.
When I get a new project, the client describes their ideas and I immediately start visualizing them. I have a basic vision of how I want to bring their concepts to life. Then, planning becomes super important, especially in stop-motion. I usually start with storyboarding, sketching out scenes and taking detailed notes on timing and movements needed. After planning, I dive into building sets and characters, paying close attention to every little detail. This part is incredibly rewarding because I get to see the project slowly come to life.
Is there a part of the process that bores you? And what part excites you the most?
There are so many different aspects to stop-motion that it’s hard to get bored; every project is different and different challenges can arise. I think the most boring process is editing and cleaning up the footage from equipment and dust. The most exciting part is when I put my props and puppets in front of the camera, adjust the lights and take the first picture. Then, you see all your hard work come together nicely. There’s a glimmer of satisfaction in the fact that you’ve created this little world all by yourself, from scratch.
It’s a difficult question because on one hand, we have powerful tools like social media like Instagram, TikTok, where everyone can become “famous”. On the other hand, because of the big rivalries and too much content, it’s difficult to get seen. Also, with the development of artificial intelligence, working as an artist has become a concern for the future. But there is something that artificial intelligence cannot replicate: human stories, human touch and connection. I think stop-motion is a great example where we show the beauty in imperfection when you can see the fingerprints of an artist.
Are there any new projects in the pipeline?
I’m already working on two feature films! Bea and the Isle of Spells and Big Bang Parade . They’re still in development and applying for funding. They’re dream films for kids and young audiences. One of them is my debut film based on a story I created; it’s set in a magical world full of creatures. Also, I’m currently working on a music video that I feel is finally my style.
