Stop-Motion films have been enthralling audiences for decades with their carefully crafted scenery and characters. The art form itself is quite as old as the film industry. While the early days of animation were largely dominated by classic 2D animation and computer-generated films such as Pixar have taken over ever since, stop-motion animation has been given a small corner of the animation world. This little corner has produced some of the best animated movies ever.
Updated April 3, 2023: If you love stop-motion animated movies, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve updated this article with new entries.
With the advent of CGI in animated films, almost stop-motion movies have become their own event. Of course, creating a stop-motion animated movie is already a daunting task to begin with, so when an animated movie is being made, directors tend to go to great lengths to craft a story that fits in the stop-motion medium. Each of the films on this list was a special treat, and not served as often as one would like. Through the use of puppets, clay, or even puppets, stop-motion animated films have captured audiences’ imaginations and left their indelible mark on the film industry. With the October 2022 release of the blockbuster movie Wendell & Wild The next sequel to The chicken is runningWe were considering the best stop-motion animated films in terms of length.
14 corpse of the bride
Believe it or not, corpse of the bride It was the first stop-motion animated feature film directed by Tim Burton. A common misconception is that he channeled The nightmare before christmas, but this was actually Henry Selleck adapting Burton’s story. Burton finally took the reins of a full stop motion feature in 2005 when he co-directed that film alongside Mike Johnson.
The film starred familiar Burton collaborators Johnny Depp and ex-wife Helena Bonham Carter as the titular character. The dark fantasy followed Victor (Depp) as he was unexpectedly engaged to a dead woman named Emily (Bonham Carter) and whisked away to the land of the dead. Burton’s usual glow of the dark and gloomy was used brilliantly in this film, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.
13 Shaun the Sheep movie
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For realists who live relentlessly in the real world, the idea of ​​sheep unable to talk is a refreshing reprieve from movies with animals that are all singing, all dancing. Unfortunately, suspension of belief is required next, when Shaun drives himself into town with his slashing flock in search of their amnesiac farmer. An endearing title, at its heart a sweet tale, Shaun the Sheep movie is an homage to the silent era of the ’20s and ’30s.
12 The chicken is running
Another innovative Aardman Animations product, 2000 is unforgettable The chicken is running. One imagines, if we humans discovered that our companions were plotting to kill us to satisfy their fierce desires, we would also enmity. In the comedy-adventure epic, Rocky the Rooster (Mel Hibson) and Ginger (Julia Swalha) choose chickens off the farm when it comes to that resident farmers, Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy, have designs on their lives. Think The Great Escape, but with flightless birds of feathers.
11 anomalysa
Director Charlie Kaufman brought his own unique brand of storytelling to life anomalysa alongside co-director Duke Johnson. The 2015 film was Kaufman’s first animated feature film, and it was an instant hit. anomalysa It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the first R-rated animated film to receive the honor.
Kaufman and Johnson tell a thought-provoking story about a disillusioned motivational speaker who finds himself infatuated with the one woman who brings him happiness. The main roles are brilliantly voiced by David Thewlis and Jennifer Jason Leigh, while the wonderful Tom Noonan voices literally every other character. anomalysa It was a visual breakthrough in animation using puppets created through 3D printing that brought Thewlis and Leigh’s performances to life in this stop-motion adult film.
10 Kubo and the two threads
Kubo and the two threads It was another critically acclaimed film by the Stop Motion studio Leica. The fantasy film follows the adventures of a young boy named Kubo who accidentally summons a spirit for revenge. Laika’s unique animation has been praised as well as its stellar cast including Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey. Despite failing to achieve financial success, Kubo and the two threads Still highly praised for its story and animation.
9 James and the Giant Peach
Silik’s second advantage, James and the Giant Peach It was an adaptation of the classic children’s book written by Roald Dahl. The book was researched by various studios and directors before Selick and Disney finally acquired the rights to produce the film. One of the main issues was the weird storyline that made it difficult to produce on screen. However, Selick managed to create a compelling story that was largely animated through stop motion while the book finished through a live action setting.
8 Mary and Max
2009 Mary and Max It is the first feature-length animated film by Australian director Adam Elliott, who previously directed the Academy Award-winning short Harvey Crumpet. Inspired by the director’s relationship with his pen pal, Mary and Max It tells the offbeat and charming story of two unlikely pen pals, a shy, unpopular eight-year-old girl from Melbourne and a middle-aged New Yorker with Asperger’s Syndrome. Dealing with tough topics like childhood neglect, depression, isolation, addiction, and loneliness, the movie truly comes from the heart.
7 Isle of Dogs
By no means Wes Anderson’s first entry on this list, and no prizes for guessing his esteemed company. Darjeeling Limited The manufacturer has stated that the name of the 2018 stop-motion animated film was inspired by spending time in London, driving past “Island of Dogs” signs. This colorful magic was especially born.
Isle of Dogs Illustrating a harsh world in which man’s best friend is no longer substantial, the tyrannical mayor, Kobayashi, rids the city of Megasaki of dogs infected with canine flu, dumping them on Garbage Island. When young pilot, twelve-year-old Atari, lands on the island in search of his exiled dog, he enlists the help of a disorderly mob of dogs including Rex (Edward Norton), Boss (Bill Murray), and Chief (Bryan Cranston).
6 Coraline
Scary children’s tale Neil Gaiman Coraline It was perfectly adapted in 2009 by Henry Selick (who, as it now turns out, is probably a master of stop-motion animation, perhaps bested only by Aardman Animation). Selick and Laika teamed up to create an impressive stop-motion thriller that wowed audiences young and old. The grim modern fairy tale followed Caroline as she delves into a portal to another world where she meets her “other family”. The stop-motion animation used by Laika and Selleck perfectly complements the spooky story written by Gaiman.
5 My life as a zucchini
The animated film debut of Oscar-nominated Claude Barras, My life as a zucchiniIt tells the heartwarming story of I Kerr, a big-eyed, blue-haired nine-year-old boy who prefers to be called Courgette (the French word for zucchini). After the accidental death of his alcoholic mother, Courgette is sent to an orphanage. There he learns to trust and love. My life as a zucchini It is a small masterpiece (it takes no more than 66 minutes) that is both heartwarming and sad.
4 Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of Rabbit Ware
Few stop-motion characters are as permanent Wallace and Gromit. The British Stop-Motion series was created by Academy Award nominee, Nick Park. The franchise has spawned several critically acclaimed specials and a feature film Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of Rabbit Ware. Their feature film debut followed the duo as they try to solve the rabbit problem in their town before facing off against the titular Were-Rabbit. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, making it the second non-American film to do so after. kidnapped.
3 Wonderful Mr. Fox
Wes Anderson’s weirdness was a match made for stop-motion animation. his first animated feature, Wonderful Mr. Fox It was a quote from Roald Dahl’s book. Anderson collaborated with Noah Baumbach to write the screenplay for the film. Wonderful Mr. Fox It starred George Clooney as the scheming Mr. Fox, a fox who must break his promise to this wife (played by Meryl Streep) not to return to his robbery ways. Anderson’s hilarious direction paired with the exceptional talents of his actors made this one of Anderson’s best films and one of the best stop-motion animated films of all time.
Second stop motion animation after Anderson Wonderful Mr. Fox2018 Isle of DogsAlso worth watching. It’s a comic delight, the witty and heartfelt tale of a 12-year-old searching for his lost pet.
2 Pinocchio by Guillermo Del Toro
Receiving its long-awaited premiere at the 2022 London Film Festival, Pinocchio by Guillermo Del Toro She dazzled critics and audiences alike with her subtle craftsmanship and profound virtuosity that have contributed to shaping such an ambitious, creative and poignant picture. The rustic, hand-crafted character of the film’s models, with all their particular, detailed quirks, adds a layer of authenticity to the Mexican director’s take on the classic children’s film.
However, del Toro was the first to claim that his stop-motion adaptation isn’t just a children’s movie, but has more substance, more meaning than its notable predecessors, and speaks to an adult world ruled by right-wing ideology. . Set against the backdrop of Italy during World War II, we take on a journey of a wooden boy, Pinocchio, and his father, Geppetto, who yearn for another after the tragic death of his son. Perhaps not surprisingly, Pinocchio It won Best Animation at the 2023 Academy Awards.
1 The nightmare before christmas
Is it a Halloween movie? Is it a Christmas movie? The debate still rages on, but one thing remains certain: The nightmare before christmas It is a beloved classic stop motion movie. Based on a story by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selleck, The nightmare before christmas He set the standard for modern stop-motion animation which has led to many of the films on this very list. Selick’s direction paired with Burton’s tone of voice made it an instant classic.
The story of Jack the Pumpkin King follows his attempt to take over Christmas after he is caught up in the crisis surrounding his role as King of Halloween Town. Animation used by Selick along with some classic musical numbers The nightmare before christmas An unforgettable movie and a triumph in stop-motion animation.
