Doing stop motion video with cut-outs ('in plain English' style). Which software

[urlwolf]

In case you've never come across these explainer videos:
http://www.commoncraft.com/videolist

Their trademark is these animations where you can see the hands.
But doing it is quite convoluted; you need good light boxes so your hand's shadow is soft, editing is hard, and printing the assets is not ideal.

I can imagine there's software for this; trying libreoffice impress, pencil, and tupi. Ideally linux based, but if the best is windows-only I can use a win box.

[Curt]

It was inspiring but also quite overwhelming to study the opportunities Common Craft gives.

But given professional software prices in general, I can think of no easier way than to pay the $159 (for a one-man, non-profit org), because this include for them to make you "Become an explanation specialist" - and I expect they also then must tell you a lot about the involved techniques and programs. But of course this is hazard; they might keep their cards close to them selves.

But a very interesting concept. 

[urlwolf]

I don't plan to sign up. I bought the book, and they explain quite a lot there.
But to record in this style you need quite a lot of lighting equipment. This is why I'll skip the 'animate with your hands' thing and do it in an animation program. Thinking of using inkscape, then maybe a presentation program? Or somth like synfigsynfig?

[Curt]

for animating person or hands, the old Stickman and Elemento duo may be good.

[urlwolf]

There's also pivot: http://pivotanimator.net/Video
Freeware, and runs on wine. What'd be the advantage of using  Stickman and Elemento?

Pivot has a big community and several forums:
- pivotanimation.org
- darkdemon.org
- droidz.org
- thepivotforum.com