The stop-animation workshops that were carried out in Varstveno delovni center Zasavje,were designed as a creative space where artists could explore storytelling, imagination, and collaboration through movement and images. Participants of the workshop Marija Pirc, Nik Zupan, Sašo Smrekar, Gorazd Parkelj, Sabina Lišič, showed incredable artistic talent, patience and collaboration durring the making.Guided by mentor Benjamin Kreže, the process focused on making film accessible through simple materials and clear steps, allowing participants to engage confidently with a medium that is often seen as complex.
The workshops began with exploration. Participants looked through magazines and images, selecting pictures that caught their attention or sparked curiosity. These individual choices became the starting point for creative dialogue. By placing the images together on a shared table, the group gradually discovered connections between them, and a common theme began to emerge. The artists were especially drawn to animals and food, which slowly developed into a playful and slightly abstract story about a search for lunch.
The story did not exist at the beginning—it grew naturally through experimentation. As the artists started moving the cut-out images frame by frame and photographing each movement, they could see their ideas come to life. This moment—when still images began to move—became a powerful source of motivation and excitement. The animation developed step by step, with each workshop contributing a new segment to the final film.
In the final phase, the artists added sound to their animation. They created their own audio using humming, animal sounds, and simple vocal expressions, shaping the atmosphere of the film and strengthening their sense of ownership over the work.
The result of this collaborative process is the animated film Time for Lunch — a humorous and imaginative story that reflects curiosity, cooperation, and the joy of creating together. More than just a film, it represents the artists’ voices, their creativity, and their active participation in a shared artistic journey.
