10 beautiful animated films that prove that stop motion is not dead

There are so many wonderful types of animation styles, and one underrepresented but powerfully enduring aesthetic is that of stop-motion. Whether through the use of cutouts, clay or puppets, stop-motion is a cinematic technique in which the camera stops and starts in rapid progression to give animated figures the impression of movement. This is a meticulous and very time-consuming animation technique, and while other styles may be simpler and more accessible, some of the best animated films of all time utilize a stop-motion style.

As a type of cinema that already differentiates itself from the average film, stop-motion animated films are often based on thought-provoking themes and address serious issues about mental health, childhood trauma and the undeniable perseverance of the human spirit. Although there are well-known stop-motion classics, including The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peachmany newer releases prove that this genre is not dead. With the power to portray richly imagined worlds that feel real and lived-in, stop-motion is an excellent example of creativity in action and cinema at its most ambitious.

10

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Directed by Travis Knight

Kubo and the Two Strings It felt like the perfect combination of stop motion and Japanese-inspired art styles as it told an epic fantasy story of magic and adventure. The story focused on a boy named Kubo, who wielded a magical stringed instrument called a shamisen and, along with an anthropomorphic snow monkey and a human-deer beetle hybrid, embarked on a quest to defeat his mother's evil twin sisters. and the power-hungry. grandmother. By combining stop-motion, ink painting and origami aesthetics, Kubo and the Two Strings had a totally unique art style.

As the second stop-motion animated film to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects, after The Nightmare Before Christmas, Kubo and the Two Strings showed that there was still a lot of room for innovation in animation. With a star-studded voice cast that helped elevate this already astonishing film, Kubo and the Two Strings could be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. With dark and sinister tones, the power of this release was that it didn't lose any of its unique sense of humor in the quest to tell a mature and effective story.

9

Coraline (2009)

Directed by Henry Selick

The gothic fantasy Coraline took the often light-hearted 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's The art style allowed for the development of a strangely imagined world, complete with stunning and sometimes frightening visuals. From the beady-eyed lookalikes of Coraline's parents to the eccentric characters that populate the Other World, Coraline it worked as a good entry point for children to discover the appeal of horror films.

Like nightmare fodder for younger viewers, Coraline it got a lot darker than your average children's stop-motion animated film. However, the fairytale-like story Coraline it was also deeply engaging as it took its time to capture the contemplative feeling of the original novel. Like a haunting, atmospheric journey to a strange, otherworldly place, Coraline is an innovative and imaginative stop-motion release this proves that this genre is far from dead.

8

Isle of Dogs (2018)

Directed by Wes Anderson

Director Wes Anderson's distinctive visual and narrative style has almost become a genre unto itself, as his eccentric films like Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel remain some of the quirkiest and most beloved films of the modern era. Anderson also demonstrated his love of stop-motion with Roald Dahl's acclaimed adaptation of Fantastic Mr. Fox. However, in 2018, Anderson gifted the world with an original stop-motion release called Isle of Dogswhich showcased his ability for more adult-oriented stop-motion work.

Isle of Dogs told the idiosyncratic story of Garbage Islanda place where all dogs were banned after an outbreak of dog flu. Featuring a star-studded voice cast that included Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, this unique narrative blended stunning stop-motion visuals utilizing puppetry with a philosophically rich and hilariously deadpan script. As one of Anderson's best films Isle of Dogs showed that its animation work could compete with its biggest live-action offerings.

7

Marcel The Shell With Shoes (2021)

Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp

Millennial viewers will remember Marcel the Shell with shoes as a trilogy of four-minute stop-motion animated shorts that were popular online in the early 2010s. As the story of an anthropomorphic shell equipped and dressed with a single googly eye and a pair of miniature shoes voiced by Jenny Slate, the Marcel's undeniable cute appeal was heartwarming. Yet, Marcel the Shell with shoes returned in 2021 for a feature film which expanded 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 made Marcel's viral popularity a part of its plot as they tried to use their newfound notoriety to reunite with their long-lost family. As one of A24's most underrated films and an Oscar nominee, this unique film from Dean Fleischer Camp showed the infinite potential of stop-motion in the modern cinema landscape. As a moving, deep and truly moving story, Marcel the Shell with shoes was a moving story of a shell whose main characteristic was its absolute humanity.

6

My Life as a Zucchini (2016)

Directed by Claude Barras

My life as a zucchini was a powerful meditation on childhood trauma by Swiss filmmaker Claude Barras. With a unique stop-motion visual style, incredible emotional depth, and deeply likable characters, My life as a zucchini is about a boy named Zucchini who was placed in an orphanage after being abandoned by his family. The difficult circumstances of an alcoholic mother who accidentally pushed Zucchini down the stairs while drunk left their mark on the child, although she soon began to learn the meaning of trust as she connected with others in her foster home.

As an Oscar-nominated film, My life as a zucchini showed how stop-motion releases can be as emotionally potent as any other style of filmmaking, and its beautiful animation only added to the depth of its poignant message. With a poignant look at the painful consequences of childhood abandonment, Zucchini found new meaning in life through the friends he made in his new home. With a childlike sense of playfulness, one of the most impressive things about My life as a zucchini was that it told a deeply mature story in a way that viewers of all ages could understand.

5

Anomalisa (2015)

Directed by Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson

Charlie Kaufman brought the same psychological depth and intriguing nuances that were on display in his screenplays for Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for stop-motion film Anomalywhich he co-directed with Duke Johnson. Starring David Thewlis as Michael Stone, a middle-aged man with Fregoli delusion, whose rare disorder is related to the belief that different people are one person who simply changes their appearance. In Anomalythis was presented as Everyone Michael Stone has met is identicalexcept for a woman named Lisa Hesselman (Jennifer Jason Leigh.)

The unique concept of Anomaly used its animated style to its advantage, as the monotony of Michael's life was captured by all the other characters voiced by one actor, Tom Noonan. This highly thought-provoking film showed how one person can help someone get out of depression and become excited about life once again. Anomaly It addressed loneliness and isolation in the modern world and was a deeply introspective film of the kind that only Kaufman could have made.

4

Maria and Max (2009)

Directed by Adam Elliot

Two lonely people form an unlikely friendship in Maria and Maxthe Australian stop-motion animated adult comedy-drama film that focuses on mental health issues. With Toni Collette and Philip Seymour-Hoffman in the lead roles Maria and Max told the unusual story of an overweight American with autism who becomes pen pals with 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 of Maria and Max it was 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, child neglect, depression, obesity, suicide and more, Maria and Max not made for joyful viewing but it was certainly a rewarding and highly emotional film. As an authentic showcase of how two people from opposite sides of the world can provide each other with solace and meaning, Maria and Max highlighted the connection potential of shared difficulties and having someone to talk to when life gets difficult.

3

Pinocchio by Guillermo Del Toro (2022)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson

Like a true Disney classic, for many viewers in 2021 it felt like the definitive version of Pinocchio had already been told in 1940. Add to that the disappointing response to Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks' version of Pinocchioand it seemed that this property was best left alone. However, Guillermo del Toro really surprised audiences with his stop-motion musical adaptationwhich added political intrigue and psychological depth to this classic tale of the wooden doll come to life.

Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro breathed new life into this timeless story and deservedly won the Best Animated Feature award at the Oscars. This visually stunning adaptation maintained the dark subtext of the original story, which had been lost in Disney's happier classic version. Pinocchio captured del Toro's own fantastic sense of wonder Pan's Labyrinthand with a post-World War I setting that addressed the rise of fascism and Benito Mussolini, it was a politically charged depiction that felt entirely relevant to the divisive nature of modern times.

2

Wendell and Wild (2022)

Directed by Henry Selick

Coraline director Henry Selick teamed up with To go out filmmaker Jordan Peele will co-write Wendell & Wilda children's stop-motion animated film that didn't shy away from dark themes. Reuniting comedy duo Key & Peele who voiced the film's title characters Wendell & Wild told the story of two intriguing demons who enlist the help of a 13-year-old girl to bring them to the land of the living. With top-notch animation and an equally impressive story to tell, Wendell & Wild captured the dark appeal of Tim Burton projects like A nightmare before Christmas and Corpse Bride for a modern audience.

With an ambitious story that will please both children and adult horror fans Wendell & Wild presents a richly imagined world and stunning visuals in a way that only stop-motion can achieve. With plenty of twists and turns, as well as a good dose of genuine emotion, the talented cast and crew helped turn this film into one of the most effective children's horrors in recent memory. While Wendell & Wild at times it felt like it was trying to overdo its relatively brief 105-minute runtimeIt was still an artistic triumph that showcased the incredible potential of stop-motion.

1

Memoirs of a Snail (2024)

Directed by Adam Elliot

With previous releases like Maria and Max or the clay shorts Ernie CookieAustralian filmmaker Adam Elliot has earned his place among the most unique and compelling voices in the world of stop-motion animation. This was further proven in 2024 Memoirs of a Snaila biographical story loosely based on Elliot's own life that told the story of a lonely misfit named Grace Pudel from childhood to adulthood. With plenty of unique talent, emotional resonance, and Elliot's deadpan sense of humor, this was a film that made viewers laugh, cry, and actually feel something.

Grace had a difficult 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 brother, 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, Memoirs of a Snail used the fantastic style of stop-motion to tell a disarming story based on realism and everyday perseverance.