LEGO stop motion is based on piecing together potentially hundreds (or even thousands) of still shots so that when they are played at speed, they will produce a seamless and fluid motion. The more stills you use, the more fluid and flowing your animation will be. For example, a LEGO man that raises his hand in two motions (one shot down and one shot up) looks much more jerky and fragmented than one that take five or six shots. Another great thing about using more still shots is that you don't have to use them all; if an extra shot doesn't help your film then you can take it out without staggering your LEGO animation.
You should always keep track of the exact points where your LEGO figures are standing or moving toward. This is probably one of the most useful tips for any aspiring LEGO animator because without a proper diagram of the set you will lose track of where each model needs to be for the next shot. For example, if you need to pick up a LEGO piece to change its arm, leg or head position you must know exactly where to put it back down. If you can't remember where the figure needs to be--and you guess--then it is extremely likely your LEGO animation will have the character moving and jumping around in random directions without fluidity. To combat this, have a rough diagram of the set and characters that you can add to or erase between shots. You can also use small markers to place on the set when a LEGO character has been picked up; simply remove the marker when you put the figure back into the scene.
Whether you are animating LEGO figures onto a wooden table or on a fully built LEGO landscape, you must ensure that your set is stationary and secure. The reason for this is because your set cannot move during your animation. If your LEGO set or base moves even slightly it is going to be extremely noticeable in the final cut with entire buildings, floors and landscapes perhaps shifting out of sync with the rest of the film. In more severe cases, your set could crumble or break if it is not secure or safe and rebuilding a LEGO set can be very difficult without instructions. One way to secure your set is to use some simple putty adhesive beneath each large object or base by sticking a small ball of putty into each corner of the bottom of the structure. Doing this will help with animating your figures as well because you will be much less wary of moving a piece of the set.