h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Can anyone recommend a cheap/free animation program similar to the Animation Shop package bundled with
Photo Shop?

I'm afraid any such thing in existence would be an oxymoron.

If it's like the expensive one you are looking for, there is a reason. It cost a lot to make.

If you want a cheap one, you will have to deal with something that fails to have many of the features you are looking for.

Could you recommend ANYTHING to me? I'm not looking to get into 3D animation (not just yet). I just want
to cut my teeth on stop motion animation. I'm looking for something I can import photograph/sketches etc. into.
These packages can't be too expensive, can they?! Also, how do they compare to Animation Shop?

This is interesting. You know how we were talking about people who do a couple of posts and then leave? (The person in particular was the one who wanted ideas for a fancy dress party.)

This animation thread was started by someone who did the same thing. I went to his PS and he last posted in 1999. He left a name - Chris Arnold - and I googled "Chris Arnold animation" and came up with this site: Chris Arnold animation

http://www.caanimation.com/animations.php

I wonder if it's the same guy?

GIMP has an amimation component -- http://www.gimp.org/

.. called, 'GIMP-GAP'

I've never used it, but it's free, Open Source, cross-platform etc.

Let us know how you get on, please.

I do not think it is the same guy. The website guy is in the USA. The hootoo guy was from Scotland.