Claymation is one of the most unique animation styles around. Some of the films that use it are classics and these are the best of the bunch.
Claymation is an art style centered on complex, creative construction of clay characters. Approached through stop-motion (though typical animation has been known to combine with claymation in certain situations), the style is unique, charming and noticeable.
Despite this approach to animation being time-consuming and relatively rare these days thanks to advancements in animation technology, there is no denying some exceptional films are grounded in Claymation. Here are ten of the best.
Updated November 2nd, 2020 by Zach Gass: Claymation/stop-motion animation is an immensely unappreciated art form that certainly deserves more credit than it earns. While traditional ink-and-paper styles and modern CGI innovations are no doubt popular, the amount of love and care that go into these carefully crafted films is certainly more than noticeable. Every singular detail is painstakingly created by a skilled and loving hand to bring these stories to life. Watching these films is like viewing artwork in motion, and should not be missed by any animation addict.
15 The Boxtrolls
Despite being the first on our list, The Boxtrolls is one of the only films that make it on here without being created by the claymation geniuses over at Aardman Studios. Its response wasn’t overwhelming, but the appearances of Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade, and Simon Pegg are well placed, and the unique setting meant the creative use of clay models and animation was perfect for the film. Considering its unusual approach, it even managed to receive its premiere during the 2014 Venice Film Festival.
14 The Adventures of Mark Twain
Strange and unusual is putting it extremely lightly when it comes to The Adventures of Mark Twain. in this film, The titular author is the pilot of a grand, steampunk-esque airship who is joined by Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and Becky Thatcher on what appears to be a collision course with Halley's Comet. The rest of the plot concerns the kids meeting up with other characters from his works. It's weird, to be certain, but entirely worth a watch.
13 Paranorman
The creepy effort from the same studio that brought you The Boxtrolls, Paranorman was a surprisingly dark effort for a film aimed at children. It took a few creative leaps in its production, combining the stop-motion claymation with 3D printed faces for each character.
On top of the leaps forward from a production standpoint, Paranorman was also revolutionary in its characterization. It introduced the first openly gay character in a mainstream animated film in the form of Mitch. Done without fanfare or the intention to draw attention, this reveal is one of the subtle reasons Paranorman was such a brilliant, forward-thinking release.
12 Mary And Max
This is certainly the least well-known entry to this list. This tragic, semi-comedic Australian work was low-budget, with a relatively subtle cast and a timid release, but has come to be recognized for its emotionally driven storyline and dark content. It took a long time to produce, with a multitude of sets, puppets, and props combining to form an artistically immense film brimming with the complex themes of addiction, mental illness and loneliness. A poignant release that is well worth taking a look into.
11 Wallace And Gromit In The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit
The Wallace And Gromit series is full of gems, but their feature film, The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit showed their ability to turn a series built on shorts into a feature that was universally praised for their expansion on an already excellent concept.Parodying various horror films in its approach, The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit has the classic appeal from the rest of the series through its ability to entertain kids and keep adults engaged with its mature storytelling.
10 Chicken Run
While the news of Chicken Run 2 is being slowly swept somewhat back under the rug (even though it is apparently in production), one thing we can all agree on is that the original Chicken Run is a brilliant piece of cinema.
Thanks to a collaboration between Dreamworks and, you guessed it, Aardman, Chicken Run was able to gather an exceptional supporting cast including Mel Gibson and Timothy Spall. On top of this, the brilliant script and story were simultaneously touching, heart-wrenching and hilarious all at once. No wonder it’s the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all time.
9 A Close Shave
Moving back to the Wallace And Gromit series and their 1995 classic A Close Shave, it’s clear that Aardman is the undisputed kings of claymation. With the late Peter Sallis on top form as the Wallace (the human) and Gromit (surprisingly not anthropomorphic, as with most animation) as on point as ever with his silent visual jokes, this half an hour special has held its place as one of the best short films of all time since it first hit screens. It also introduced Justin Fletcher as Shaun the Sheep. Shaun went on to have a successful franchise of his own, with Fletcher having voiced the iconic animal for 24 years.
8 Vincent
Ever want to see how Tim Burton got his start with Walt Disney animation and then let go for being too dark? Vincent is the answer. The short film itself is an Edgar-Allan-Poe-inspired look into the imagination of a young boy with a taste for the mysterious and macabre, much like the director himself.
While not exactly what one would call nightmare fuel, it does showcase a darker side of Disney that not many people say nowadays. Plus, it features Burton's iconic style with narration by Vincent Price.
7 Frankenweenie
Any Disney buff who knows about Burton's history with the company knows that the studio let him go for being too dark with the original Frankenweenie. So how ironic is it that Disney would later ask the director to do a full-length motion picture based on the "scandalous" short film? Frankenweenie isn't just a stop motion adaptation of one of Burton's early short films, but a love letter to the Golden Age of horror movies. It's Burton doing what he does best.
6 Corpse Bride
Tim Burton seems to have a loving knack for stop motion films, but when that medium is paired with a ghoulishly delightful musical, stand back! Corpse Bride has all the makings of a gothic Broadway musical with Burton's special flavor of weirdness. With wide-eyed characters, a fiendishly fun color palette, music by Danny Elfman, and vocal performances by both Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, it's everything one could expect from the director's palette.
5 The Nightmare Before Christmas
Arguably the most well-known claymation film of all time, The Nightmare Before Christmas channels all the best parts of Halloween and all the best parts of Christmas and turns them into all the best parts of claymation.
It’s pretty rare to see something built on such creepy characters use such a charming art style, but when our screens slowly become filled with the contorted, slippery movements of the main characters, we can understand why this unique approach was taken.
4 The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists
Despite its long, unappealing title, it’s no secret that The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists was a star-studded hit for the world of claymation. Fronted by an incredible British cast of Hugh Grant, David Tennant, Imelda Staunton, and Martin Freeman, the film was well-received, even if the box office results weren’t explosive.
As you may have guessed, this one comes from the minds over at Aardman Studios and was their first stop-motion picture since The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit. It was also their first film to drop in 3D. While the Wallace And Gromit series always looks great, this film really pushed the limits of claymation.
3 Shaun The Sheep Movie
Spinning off from his conception way back in A Close Shave, Shaun The Sheep set off on his own world-beating quest. He had his own (very well-received) TV show aimed at children, a spin-off called Timmy Time based on a character from the show (aimed at even younger kids) and finally, a feature film. Despite being largely silent, it was an instant hit for adults and kids alike. An impressive feat, considering it left much of the humor to come from visual aids rather than lines. It even spawned a 2019 sequel which received an equally positive reception.
2 The Wrong Trousers
The greatest piece of claymation in history returns to Wallace And Gromit one final time. Given the mature and confident production of this short film, you’d be forgiven for not realizing this is just the second entry into the Wallace And Gromit series.
The titular duo is put up against an evil penguin who turns one of Wallace’s inventions, the Techno Trousers, against him. In a genuinely clever plot, the penguin (Feathers McGraw) forces Wallace into a diamond heist, before Wallace and Gromit use their inventing powers and teamwork to finally imprison the mischievous McGraw.
1 Coraline
Based on the novel by the legendary Neil Gaiman and brought to life by the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Henry Selick, comes this terrifying twisted fairytale. Coraline is not only one of the most visually impressive films from Laika studios, but one of the most unsettling and beautiful animated films out there. Whether they are fans of the book or just animation junkies that enjoy a healthy dose of freaky in their films, this delightful dive into an alternate universe is one they won't soon forget.
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