Here's a simple trick or two for creating stop motion explosions. Well, it may not be all that simple to get all participants to cooperate, but if you can keep your characters under better control than I can, you should be able to blow them into tiny pieces one frame at a time.

Please see my other tutorials on how to make a puppet, Lego animation, cut-outs, lip sync, facial animation, and other stop motion subjects:    • Stop Motion Tutorials  

Franklin rig by Artella Virtual Studios
Mery rig by meryproject.com
Explosion reference from Funker Tactical

Software: Dragonframe. iStopmotion (Mac and mobile) is a good frame-capturing app for the price. I understand iKITmovie is a good free option for Windows. Stop Motion Studio is a good mobile app. If you have a favorite stop motion app, please tell us about it in the comments.

Camera: I'm using a DSLR. But if you're not there yet, a good option is a camcorder that can run a live video signal to your computer. But these days a mobile device with a camera running a stop motion app is all you need. The principles discussed in this video will also apply to animation recorded with a mobile device.

Shopping for Puppet-Making:
Clay (Van Aken, Sculpy III), armature wire, cotton batting to build up puppet: Arts/craft store like Hobby Lobby or amazon.com.

Armature kit: stopmotionstore.com

Puppet clothes (Barbie/Ken clothes: dept store, ebay, amazon.com
16-gauge aluminum armature wire (from an art store or Amazon, not the hardware store)

Epoxy putty (Hardware store)

Pre-wrap (Sporting good or drug store)

Cotton batting or foam (quilting supplies from craft or sewing store)

For the head, aluminum foil or wood ball (craft store)

Just about everything here can be found on Amazon if you don't have all these kinds of stores in your area. You can also get animation supplies from stopmotionstore.com.