There are so many wonderful kinds of animation styles, and one underrepresented but powerfully enduring aesthetic is that ofstop-motion. Whether through the use of cut-outs, claymation, or puppetry, stop-motion is a cinematic technique whereby the camera stops and starts in rapid progression to give animated figures the impression of movement. This is a highly time-consuming and meticulous animation technique, and although other styles may be simpler and more affordable, some of thebest-animated movies of all timeutilize a stop-motion style.
As a type of filmmaking that’s already set apart from the average movie, stop-motion animated features often lean into thought-provoking themes and haveaddressed serious issues around mental health, childhood trauma, and the undeniable perseverance of the human spirit. While there are well-knownstop-motion classics, includingThe Nightmare Before ChristmasandJames and the Giant Peach, plenty of more recent releases prove this genre is not dead. With the power to depict richly imagined worlds that feel real and lived in,stop-motion is a prime example of creativity in action and filmmaking at its most ambitious.
Kubo and the Two Strings
Cast
Kubo and the Two Strings is a stop-motion animation film from Laika that follows a young boy named Kubo who lives a quiet, normal life in a small shoreside village. His life is suddenly turned upside down when a spirit from the past visits him and re-ignites an age-old vendetta. Now on the warpath of various gods and creatures, Kubo must locate a legendary suit of armor worn by his late father.
Kubo and the Two Stringsfelt like the perfect combination of stop motion with Japanese-inspired art styles as it told an epic fantasy story of magic and adventure. The story focused on a young boy named Kubo, who wielded a magical string instrument called the shamisen and, along with an anthropomorphic snow monkey and a human-stag beetle hybrid, embarked on a quest to defeat his mother’s evil twin sisters and power-hungry grandfather. By blending stop-motion, ink painting, and origami aesthetics,Kubo and the Two Stringshad an art style that was totally unique.
As the second stop-motion animated film ever to be nominated for a Best Visual Effects Oscar, followingThe Nightmare Before Christmas,Kubo and the Two Stringsshowcased that there was still plenty of room for innovation in animation. With a star-studded voice cast that helped elevate this already astonishing film,Kubo and the Two Stringscould be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. With dark and sinister undertones, the power of this release was that it didn’t lose any of its unique sense of humor in the pursuit of telling a mature and effective story.
Coraline
Based on Neil Gaiman’s novella, Coraline follows Coraline Jones, a lonely young girl who, after moving to a new house with her inattentive parents, discovers a portal to another, more sinister alternate reality behind one of the house’s many doors. Written and directed by Henry Selick, the film uses stop-motion animation and stars Dakota Fanning as Coraline.
The gothic fantasyCoralinetook the often lighthearted style of stop-motion releases to tell a dark and unusual story about a young girl discovering a bizarre alternate universe behind a secret door in her new home. Based on the children’s novel by Neil Gaiman,Coraline’sart style allowed for the development of an eerily imagined world complete with striking and sometimes scary visuals. From the button-eyed doppelgängers of Coraline’s parents to the eccentric characters that populate the Other World,Coralineacted as a good entry point for kids to discover the appeal of horror movies.
As firm nightmare fodder for younger viewers,Coralinewent much darker than the average kids' stop-motion animated film. However, the fairytale-like story ofCoralinewas also deeply engaging as it took its time to capture the contemplative feeling of the original novel. As a creepy and atmospheric journey into a strange, otherworldly place,Coralineis an innovative and imaginative stop-motion releasethat proves this genre is far from dead.
Isle of Dogs
Island of Dogs is a stop-motion animation film set in a dystopian future in Japan in which dogs have been quarantined on a remote island due to a new virus called “canine flu.” The film follows five local dogs—Chief, Rex, Boss, Duke, and King. They are fed up with their isolated existence until a boy named Atari Kobayashi ventures to the island to search for his dog, Spots. Atari receives their help, and they will protect him from the Japanese authorities who have come to retrieve him.
The distinctive visual and narrative style of director Wes Anderson has almost become a genre in and of itself, as his eccentric films likeMoonrise KingdomandThe Grand Budapest Hotelremain some of the most quirky and best-loved films of the modern era. Anderson has also shown his love for stop-motion with the acclaimed Roald Dahl adaptation ofFantastic Mr. Fox. However, in 2018, Anderson gifted the world with an original stop-motion release calledIsle of Dogs, which showcased his skill for more adult-oriented stop-motion work.
Isle of Dogstold the idiosyncratic story of Trash Island, a place where all dogs had been banished following an outbreak of canine influenza. With a star-studded voice cast that included Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, and Scarlett Johansson, this unique narrative mixed striking stop-motion visuals that utilized puppets with a philosophically rich and hilariously deadpan script. As one of Anderson’s best films,Isle of Dogsshowcased that his animated work could stand against his greatest live-action offerings.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021) is a charming mockumentary that follows Marcel, an anthropomorphic seashell voiced by Jenny Slate. Living with his grandmother, Marcel navigates life in a human household, using resourcefulness and wit to tackle everyday challenges. Dean Fleischer-Camp directs this adaptation of the popular web series, expanding the whimsical world of Marcel while maintaining its unique blend of humor and heart.
Millennial viewers will rememberMarcel the Shell with Shoes Onas a trilogy of four-minute stop-motion animated shorts that were popular online in the early 2010s. As the story of an anthropomorphic seashell outfitted and dressed with a single googly eye and a pair of miniature shoes voiced by Jenny Slate, Marcel’s undeniable cute appeal made for heartwarming viewing. Yet,Marcel the Shell with Shoes Onreturned in 2021 for a feature filmthat stretched this seemingly limited concept into an epic mockumentary story that blended fact and fiction.
With a mix of live-action and stop-motion,Marcel the Shell with Shoes Onmade Marcel’s viral popularity a part of its plot as they tried to use her newfound notoriety to be reunited with her long-lost family. As one of A24’s most underrated films and an Academy Award nominee, this unique feature from Dean Fleischer Camp showed the endless potential for stop-motion in the modern movie landscape. As a poignant, profound, and truly heartwarming story,Marcel the Shell with Shoes Onwas a touching tale of a seashell whose primary characteristic was its utter humanity.
My Life as a Zucchini
My Life as a Zucchini is an animated feature directed by Claude Barras. The film follows a young boy named Courgette, nicknamed Zucchini, who is sent to an orphanage after his mother’s death. At the orphanage, he navigates friendship, love, and the challenges of a new life. The film is based on the novel Autobiographie d’une Courgette by Gilles Paris and has received acclaim for its heartfelt storytelling and unique visual style.
My Life As A Zucchiniwas a powerful meditation on childhood trauma by the Swiss filmmaker Claude Barras. With a unique stop-motion visual style, incredible emotional depth, and deeply sympathetic characters,My Life As A Zucchiniis about a young boy named Zucchini who was put into an orphanage after being abandoned by his family. The difficult circumstances of an alcoholic mother who, in a drunken rage, accidentally pushed Zucchini down the stairs left their mark on the young child, although they soon began to learn the meaning of trust as they connected with others in their foster home.
My Life as a Zucchiniis also known asMy Life as a Courgette, orMa vie de Courgettein its French title.
As an Academy Award-nominated film,My Life As A Zucchinishowed how stop-motion releases can be just as emotionally potent as any other style of filmmaking, and its beautiful animation only added to the depth of its moving message. As a poignant look at the heartbreaking consequences of childhood abandonment, Zucchini found new meaning in life through the friends he made in his new home. With a childlike sense of play throughout, one of the most impressive things aboutMy Life As A Zucchiniwas that it told a deeply mature story in a way viewers of all ages could understand.
Anomalisa
Anomalisa is a stop-motion animated film directed by Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson, based on Kaufman’s play. The story centers on Michael Stone, a self-help author grappling with a profound sense of monotony and disconnection in his life. During a business trip to Cincinnati, he encounters a woman named Lisa, who might offer a break from his emotional desolation. The film explores themes of isolation and the search for human connection.
Charlie Kaufman brought the same psychological depth and intriguing nuance that was on display in his scripts forBeing John MalkovichandEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mindto the stop-motion filmAnomalisa, which he co-directed with Duke Johnson. Starring David Thewlis as Michael Stone, a middle-aged man with Fregoli delusion, whose rare disorder relates to the belief that different people are all one person who simply change their appearance. InAnomalisa, this was presented aseveryone Michael Stone met being identical, except for one woman named Lisa Hesselman (Jennifer Jason Leigh.)
The unique concept ofAnomalisaused its animated style to its advantage as the monotony of Michael’s life was captured by every other character being voiced by one actor, Tom Noonan. This highly thought-provoking film showcased how one person can help someone break out of their depression and get excited about life once again.Anomalisaaddressed loneliness and isolation in the modern world and was a deeply introspective film of the kind only Kaufman could have made.
Mary and Max
Mary and Max is a stop-motion animated film directed by Adam Elliot. The story follows an unlikely friendship between Mary, a lonely young girl in Australia, and Max, an older man with Asperger’s Syndrome living in New York. Through their letters, they share their struggles, forging a bond that transcends their differences and distances. The film explores themes of loneliness, connection, and the human experience with poignant depth.
Two lonely people form an unlikely friendship inMary and Max, the Australian stop-motion adult comedy-drama animated movie that focuses on mental health issues. With Toni Collette and Philip Seymour-Hoffman in the title roles,Mary and Maxtold the unusual story of an overweight American man with autism who becomes a pen pal to a neglected eight-year-old girl in Australia. Mary’s difficult life included a distant father and an alcoholic mother, but she found a parental figure in Max, and with her, he found his only friend.
The beautifully crafted animation ofMary and Maxwas only matched by the vulnerability of its story as disparate characters helped fill the glaring void they had in their lives. By focusing on issues of autism, childhood neglect, depression, obesity, suicide, and more,Mary and Maxdidn’t make for lighthearted viewingbut was certainly a rewarding and highly emotive film. As an authentic showcase of how two people from opposite sides of the world can provide each other solace and meaning,Mary and Maxhighlighted the connection potential of shared hardship and having someone to talk to when life gets tough.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
From director Guillermo del Toro comes Pinocchio, a stop-motion animation reimagining of Carlo Collodi’s original tale, The Adventures of Pinocchio. A darker story than the Disney original, this Pinocchio takes place during the fascist regime in 1930s Italy after the passing of Gepetto’s son, Carlo. When Gepetto’s grief overcomes him, he finally seeks an outlet by creating a wooden boy who comes to life. However, Gepetto’s new wooden son is more of a trickster than a well-behaved boy, as he pranks the people he comes across and tends to lean on the wild side. Pinocchio will struggle to make his father proud and learn what it means to be a real boy while avoiding the pursuit of the film’s main antagonist, Count Volpe.
As a true Disney classic, to many viewers in 2022, it felt like the definitive version ofPinocchiohad already been told way back in 1940. Add to this the disappointing response to Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks’ version ofPinocchio, and it felt like this was a property best left alone. However,Guillermo del Toro truly blew audiences away with his stop-motion musical adaptation, which added political intrigue and psychological depth to this classic tale of the wooden puppet who comes to life.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchiobreathed new life into this timeless story and deservedly won the Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. This visually stunning adaptation maintained the dark subtext of the original story, which had been lost in the more lighthearted classic Disney version.Pinocchiocaptured the fantastical sense of wonder of del Toro’s ownPan’s Labyrinth, and with a post-World War I setting that addressed the rise of fascism and Benito Mussolini, it was a politically charged depiction that felt totally relevant to the divisive nature of modern times.
Wendell & Wild
Wendell & Wild is a 2022 animated film directed by Henry Selick, following two demon brothers who team up with a guilt-ridden teenager named Kat Elliot. Their collaboration leads to an unusual and comedic journey as they attempt to summon themselves to the land of the living.
Coralinedirector Henry Selick teamed up withGet Outfilmmaker Jordan Peele to co-writeWendell & Wild, a kids’ stop-motion animated feature that did not shy away from dark themes. Reuniting the comedy duo Key & Peele, who voiced the film’s title characters,Wendell & Wildtold the story of two scheming demons who enlist the help of a 13-year-old girl to bring them to the land of the living. With top-tier animation and an equally impressive story to tell,Wendell & Wildcaptured the dark appeal of Tim Burton projects likeA Nightmare Before ChristmasandCorpse Bridefor a modern audience.
With an ambitious story that will please children and adult horror fans alike,Wendell & Wildfeatures a richly imagined world and strikingly visuals in a way only stop-motion can achieve. With plenty of twists and turns, as well as a healthy dose of genuine emotion, the talented cast and crew helped turn this into one of the most effective kids’ horrors in recent memory. WhileWendell & Wildsometimes felt like it tried to stuff a bit too much into its relatively brief 105-minute runtime, it was still an artistic triumph that showcased the incredible potential of stop-motion.
Memoir of a Snail
In 1970s Australia, Grace Pudel, a shy and melancholic woman, navigates a life of loss and loneliness after being separated from her twin brother. Finding solace in her love for snails and eccentric friendships, Grace’s journey highlights themes of resilience and self-discovery, told through Adam Elliot’s signature stop-motion animation.
With previous releases likeMary and Maxor the clayography shortErnie Biscuit, Australian filmmaker Adam Elliot earned his spot among the most unique and compelling voices in the world of stop-motion animation. This was further proven by 2024’sMemoir of a Snail, a biographical story loosely based on Elliot’s own life that toldthe tale of a lonely misfit named Grace Pudel from childhood to adulthood. With plenty of Elliot’s unique flair, emotional resonance, and distinctive deadpan sense of humor, this was a film that made viewers laugh, cry, and truly feel something.
Grace had a harsh home life but found meaning in collecting snails. However, things became even more difficult when her alcoholic father died, and she was separated from her twin, Gilbert, as they were sent to live on opposite sides of the country. As a profound story about maintaining hope in the face of life’s despair and the challenging circumstances of an unconventional childhood,Memoir of a Snailused the fantastical style ofstop-motionto tell a disarming story that was grounded in realism and everyday perseverances.
