Ahhhhhh.
These are great to break the monotony of viewing vector graphics. I dig the series.
But I am sick of seeing reviews that repeatedly ask how it's done. I don't know how the authors here do it but it can be accomplished with the simplest and cheapest of the outdated QuickCam's. The software that comes with them has a stop motion option. I used to make little stop motion vid's with hotwheels using one - it ain't that hard.
What should be noted is not the tools used but the skill of the animator(s). Adjusting the surface of the water slightly for each frame and taking the time and effort to string up pieces that are being "thrown."
As far as frame rates... I'm viewing on a 600mhz laptop with 128mb's Ram and yes, it did chop up near the end - it forced the machine to start caching to the HD. However, I don't think theres an absolute need for a compressed version. Up to you from my stand point.