Stop-motion techniques extend far into animation history and continue to be used to this day. The medium has given birth to several cult classics, including Coraline (2009) and Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009). With technology constantly advancing and more “modern” forms of animation thriving, what keeps stop-motion films from becoming a thing of the past?
A Brief History of the Style
Even before the dawn of film, photographs and early tools like the phenakistiscope were used to create stop-motion animations. The phenakistiscope eventually developed into the zoetrope, a cylindrical version of its successor that spun, allowing viewers to look through cuts in its surface and view the drawings or photographs inside in motion. Other influential figures helped bridge the transition from photography to film. Eadweard Muybridge is known as the father of motion pictures and set the stage for the move beyond photographs to video.
The first stop-motion film is thought to have been created in 1898 under the title The Humpty Dumpty Circus, though there is no existing record of it today. Willis O’Brien’s The Lost World (1925) later combined live-action with stop motion. In 1926, Lotte Reineger released The Adventures of Prince Achmed, becoming the first feature-length animated film in the medium. Other filmmakers would go on to expand the use of the technique. Claymation and puppet work, in particular, were popularized through movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and the Wallace and Gromit series.
Stop-Motion Is a Labor of Love
Putting together a stop-motion film, or even a short film, is no easy feat. Each frame is painstakingly set up and shot one by one. If working with clay, each figure needs to be sculpted in detail. Positioning needs to be exact for the movement to translate well on screen, and if any mistakes are made, it could require starting over. The medium requires a certain amount of patience and attention to detail to be successful.
The time-consuming nature of the animation style is part of what makes it so well-loved—watching even just a one-minute animated short shows a huge amount of dedication on the part of its creators. So, to see feature-length movies, like those of the studio Laika, is awe-inspiring. Audiences can rest assured that those involved were dedicated to creating something extraordinary. It’s a testament to the passion behind the film.
It Carves Out a Niche for Itself
In many ways, stop-motion films hold a similar appeal to that of indie cinema. Independent filmmaking has carved a niche alongside big blockbusters and movie franchises. Similarly, many stop-motion works persist even as more tech-heavy animation styles advance. Like independent films, there is an aspect of novelty to stop motion animation that appeals to many.
Although many stop-motion films have made it into the mainstream, many are still less known. Many of them take unconventional approaches to storytelling, tackling themes in new ways. Stop-motion films also shed light on new, up-and-coming talent. People love to support the underdog.
It Tackles Dark Themes
Due to its unconventionality, it’s not surprising that darker themes are prevalent in this animation style. Mary and Max (2009) are prime examples of this. The Australian independent film follows an eight-year-old girl and a lonely forty-four-year-old man who become pen pals. It tackles topics like bullying, anxiety, and grief, among others. Even movies like Coraline, which are geared more toward kids, manage to grapple with some dark material. It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly makes stop-motion adept at handling these conversations, but it might have something to do with the visual aesthetic of the style and its use in independent projects.
It Nails the Creep Factor
Following its use of darker themes, the look of stop-motion animation lends an eerie feeling that makes the medium great for horror. Coraline is not a full-blown horror film, but the eerieness of the other mother and father is enhanced by its claymation style. The oddly constructed features of the models, coupled with the use of buttons and stitching, are uncanny. The House (2022) is another film that has a similar creep factor. The stripped-back look of the characters and dim sets feed into the darkness of the story.
The frame-by-frame nature of stop-motion makes movements look slower than usual. Older stop-motion films and some still today add a stiltedness to the characters’ motions that is unsettling to watch. The models themselves can be constructed roughly and contorted at the will of the animators. In these ways, creators of stop-motion films can take advantage of the medium and play up these quirks to scare audiences.
It Proves Anyone Can Be an Artist
Despite the time-consuming process involved in creating stop motion animations, it requires significantly fewer technological resources than other styles. Nowadays, one can find creators on Instagram and YouTube using things like paper and their phone cameras to create short films. This does not detract from the immense skill needed to produce their art. Instead, it inspires everyday people like you and me to be resourceful, use what we have on hand, and create something spectacular.
Stop-motion animation may have a long history, but it is not outdated. The recent Chicken Run sequel and the anticipated Laika adaptation of Wildwood are testaments to the continued success of the style. Stop-motion infuses stories with a unique nostalgia and maturity that cannot be replicated. As major filmmakers and backyard artists alike continue to innovate with the style, stop motion secures its place in filmmaking’s future.
