# Picturesmith

> Stop-motion animation studio for ambitious brands. Real sets, real puppets, real stories that stick. Based in London, working with brands worldwide on character animation, paper craft, replacement animation, pixilation, and tabletop product animation.

## Notes

Long-form essays for producers and brand leads. Each one answers a specific question we hear repeatedly in client conversations.

- [What's the Best Aspect Ratio for Marketing Videos in 2026?](https://picturesmith.com/notes/aspect-ratio-marketing-videos/): Practical guide to choosing the right aspect ratio for social, web, and broadcast video. Includes a platform-by-platform reference table, the case for vertical-first production, and how to plan for every deliverable from a single shoot.
- [What Does Stop-Motion Actually Cost? A Producer's Guide](https://picturesmith.com/notes/what-does-stop-motion-cost/): Honest breakdown of what drives stop-motion production costs — the variables, trade-offs, and decisions producers face when scoping a project. Covers technique selection (character animation, tabletop, paper craft, pixilation), crew, art direction, post, and a 7-step budgeting framework.
- [How to Write an Explainer Video Script](https://picturesmith.com/notes/writing-explainer-video-script/): Step-by-step process for explainer video scripts — from brief to final draft. Includes word-count guidelines per duration and the script-writing mistakes that waste production budget.
- [Making Content That Earns Repeat Viewing — Lessons from 4 Million Annual Plays](https://picturesmith.com/notes/picturehouse-content-that-earns-repeat-viewing/): Case study on designing for repeat viewing using the Picturehouse Cinemas ident. Covers replacement animation craft, glass multi-plane production, and how a paper craft aesthetic became a brand-wide visual identity.
- [World Environment Day – a studio brick film](https://picturesmith.com/notes/world-environment-day-studio-brick-film/): Self-initiated studio short for the UN's "Consume with Care" theme, animated frame by frame from a box of LEGO bricks. On constraints as creative fuel.

## Work — selected case studies

- [Quizlet — Feed Your Brain](https://picturesmith.com/work/quizlet/): Stop-motion campaign for the learning platform.
- [LEGO — Arts and Crafts](https://picturesmith.com/work/lego-arts-and-crafts/): Tactile stop-motion for LEGO's craft-focused range.
- [LEGO Star Wars — 25th Anniversary](https://picturesmith.com/work/lego-star-wars/): Anniversary celebration in stop motion.
- [Sport England — Join the Movement](https://picturesmith.com/work/sport-england/): National campaign encouraging participation in sport.
- [Thredd — Weaving Payments Magic](https://picturesmith.com/work/thredd/): Brand film for the payments technology company.
- [ExxonMobil — STEM Experiments](https://picturesmith.com/work/exxonmobil/): Educational stop-motion series.

## About

- Studio focus: stop motion, paper craft, replacement animation, pixilation, tabletop product animation, mixed-media animation
- Location: London, UK
- Social: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/picturesmith), [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/picturesmith), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/picturesmith/), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@picturesmiths)
- Contact: christian@picturesmith.com or via the contact form at https://picturesmith.com/#contact

## Optional

- [Why Stop Motion Still Wins in the Age of AI](https://picturesmith.com/journal/why-stop-motion-still-wins/): Earlier essay on why handmade craft still outperforms AI-generated video for brands.