NR Productions

Sand animation is similar to paint animation. Instead of smudging paint around a square of glass, the animator manipulates sand on a glass-topped lighted table called a “lightbox”.

Caroline Leaf “The Owl who Married a Goose”

The sand blocks the light, creating light and dark shadows on the glass. A camera positioned directly above the animating surface grabs frames of the images created.

This film was created by Caroline Leaf, and here you’ll find a short explanation of her methods.

Sand animation can be used to achieve some surreal effects. See how heat and the dry desert are captured in this short clip. It’s like a mirage!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly