Upper Peninsula youth with a love for animation will soon have an opportunity to learn the craft.

Wow Animation is a new creative initiative based at the U.P. Children’s Museum. In addition to learning the principles of animated filmmaking, participants will have the opportunity to explore and refine their art, storytelling, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.

“It’s all stop motion, so we are moving the object, we are taking a picture,” said program coordinator Masha Kakhova, “but we can talk about puppets from clay or puppets from paper, or maybe just drawings.”

The unique program takes advantage of modern technology, including the same professional software used in Hollywood films.

“I want to show them that (a) computer is just not a toy, it’s also (a) tool,” Kakhova added. “You can use this tool to do your own interesting films or stories. Nothing can beat it, especially right now, you know, it’s (the) 21st century. All the technology is simple, it’s user friendly, it’s interactive, and it’s easy, and it’s fun.”

Students from Kindergarten to High School are invited to participate. There will be an informational open house on Saturday at 11:00 a.m., and classes are set to begin on April 22nd. The Wow Animation group is working to make the program affordable for everyone with the help of volunteers and donations from the community.

For information on enrolling or helping out, visit their website.