[ukmu]

Use lots of Blu-Tac to hold them in their poses as well. There is no answer to it, just start doing it. Don't mess around with the settings, just adjust the lighting and snap away.

Do a simple stick man type 4 frames per second "test" with some small generic figures first, even Lego figures will work. Make him walk across the screen and jump into the air and land at 4 frames per second.

Once you've did that.... begin you BIG ambitious project. Write an actual script. It may sound good in your head but not translate well. Writing it out should help. Draw up a story board and show yourself your exact vision. Easy to adjust angles from a drawing and see what does and doesn't work. Sucks to set up ten seconds of video, about 250 stop-pose-click shots, only to realise it would look better from a different angle. A story board will solve that.

Also, like stated above don't be afraid to start over if it isn't what you want. Keep us posted on your progress.