Stop Motion Video Contest

Submissions accepted October 1-15. Enter the contest HERE

Entries may be submitted online by students in grades 6-12 living in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Westmoreland, or by any teen with a CRRL library card.

Prizes will be awarded in two age categories: grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.

Submitted videos may be used to promote the contest and library services.

Prizes generously donated by the Friends of the Library.

Contest Rules

  • Videos may be created and submitted by individuals or groups.

  • A teen may submit up to two videos, either as an individual or as part of a group.

  • Contest is open to teens in grades 6-12 and living in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Westmoreland, or any teen with a CRRL library card.

  • All portions of the video must be original creations of the individual or group submitting the video. 

  • Maximum video length:  30 seconds.

  • At least 75% of video must employ stop-motion animation. See here for an explanation of stop-motion.

  • Names of individuals or group members submitting video must NOT appear anywhere in the video.

  • Video must be appropriate for viewing by a general public audience.

  • All videos will be accepted contingent on being reviewed by a submission committee. The library reserves the right to refuse any submission.

  • Winners will be selected anonymously by a panel of judges.

  • Winners will be selected from participants in two categories: grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.  For group submissions, the video will be entered into the grade category of the oldest group member. 

  • Winners will be contacted by library staff. Winning videos and a selection of other submissions will be posted here on this webpage.

  • Questions?  Please contact Sarah Smethurst at Howell Branch Youth Services (sarah.smethurst@crrl.org, opens a new window).

Stop Motion Viewing Party

Teen Stop Motion Video Contest 2024 Viewing Party

Nov 14th | 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Selected entries will be screened and contest winners recognized. All ages.

2023 Winners & Honorable Mention

Grades 6-8

1st Place
Spy Anya: Operation Cookies by Miranda A.
Anya, who is obsessed with spy shows, goes on a top secret mission to steal the cookies.


2nd Place
The 12 Days of Anatomy by Amelia G.
A skeleton has started singing about his body in a 12 day form.


3rd Place
The Big Day by Samuel S.
A guy prepares to propose to his girlfriend.


Honorable Mention
Mr. Oinksters Goes Missing! by Audrey Z.
Lea steps away for just a second and Mr. Oinksters disappears! Where is he?

Grades 9-12

1st Place
Endless Opportunities (A Moving Picture) by Hannah B.
This video serves as an inspiration to students regarding what career they can pursue when they grow up. From painting to teaching to nursing, there really are endless opportunities!


2nd Place
The Secret Life of LEGO by Andrew D.
When a boy leaves the room, his Legos come to life.


3rd Place
To Produce a Video by Hannah B.
Kate Prince submits a video for the stop motion contest with the aid of her best friend Ashley.

Stop Motion Animation Blog

Stop-Motion Animation: A Brief History

Step back in time to the early days of stop motion animation and its pioneers who left a lasting influence on modern film.

What Is Stop Motion?

Stop motion is a film making technique that makes inanimate objects appear to move on their own.

This is accomplished by taking an image of a still object, moving the object a tiny bit, then taking another image.

Repeat this process, play back the sequence in rapid progression, and the object appears to move fluidly across the screen.

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