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Stop-motion is an animation technique. It records motion by filming one frame at a time while moving a physical object between the frames. The finished product on-screen can give motion to inanimate objects. The technique is often used to create children's films with puppets and clay figurines. But stop-motion is also a popular technique for serious adult drama films as well as music videos. Find out the very best stop-motion animation movies here in our gallery!
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Chicken Run from 2000 is the highest grossing stop-motion animation movie of all-time. It is also a classic animated comedy, following a group of chickens who plot to escape from their farm. The film's voice talents include Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, and Imelda Staunton. It was directed by stop-motion pioneers Nick Park and Peter Lord.
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"Wallace" and "Gromit" are icons of the stop-motion animation genre. They were creations of animator Nick Park. They've starred in short and feature films including A Close Shave and The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. But their 1993 film, The Wrong Trousers, is our pick for their best! In the movie, an evil penguin uses "Techno Trousers" to involve "Wallace" in a jewel heist.
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Coraline is a stop-motion animation masterpiece. The 2009 film is an adaptation of a Neil Gaiman graphic novel. It follows a young girl who uncovers a strange hidden world in her family's new home. "Coraline" soon discovers the dangers of this "alternative world," which features people who look like her family members. The film is a surprisingly dark and frightening one!
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The Nightmare Before Christmas is another classic of the stop-motion animation genre. It was directed by Henry Selick (who also directed Coraline) and written by Tim Burton. The musical is a favourite at Halloween or Christmas! It's about "Jack Skellington," a resident of "Halloween Town" who proposes that they celebrate Christmas for the first time.
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Fantastic Mr. Fox is a charming stop-motion animation work from director Wes Anderson. It's an adaptation of the Roald Dahl children's book about a fox who angers farmers by stealing their food. Anderson collaborated with Henry Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas) to bring this fun comedy version of the story to the screen. It features the voices of actors including George Clooney, Bill Murray, and Meryl Streep.
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Anomalisa is an example of the stop-motion technique applied to serious drama. It uses the animation technique to tell the story of "Michael," a man who begins to believe that everyone around him is the exactly the same. The 2015 film features elements of psychological drama and dark comedy. It was a nominee for Best Animated Feature Film at the 2016 Oscars.
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Frankenweenie is a stop-motion film by director Tim Burton. The 2012 film is actually a remake of the director's 1984 short of the same title. It's a parody of the classic Frankenstein story, only this time about a boy who brings his pet dog back to life. The sci-fi comedy was well-received and nominated for an Oscar in 2013.
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Isle of Dogs is a recent stop-motion film from director Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox). It's set in a dystopian Japan, where a pack of street dogs help a young boy track down his lost dog. The film came out in 2018. Isle of Dogs features the voice talents of Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, and Ed Norton.
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Kubo and the Two Strings is a 2016 adventure film. It's about a boy, "Kubo," who goes on a quest with two animal friends. They battle mythical spirits on their journey. It includes voices from actors Matthew McConaughey, Charlize Theron, and Ralph Fiennes. The film is also notable for featuring a unique version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by the Beatles.
Many beloved animated films are classified under the stop-motion animation category. Also known as stop-frame animation, the technique can include Claymation characters or animated puppets. Check out our list of the best stop motion animation movies of all-time!
Enjoy the gallery!