The 25 best stopmotion movies in cinematic history Jordan HoffmanWed, July 1, 2026 at 10:00 PM UTC 0 Mr. Fox (George Clooney), Sally (Catherine O'Hara), and Wallace (Peter Sallis)Credit: Fox Searchlight; Warner Bros.; Wallace & Gromit What makes animation such a wonderful medium is that, truly, anything can happen. You want your characters to take a very quick trip to Saturn? Not an issue. Or at least it seems that way. While a lot of animation today is computergenerated, there was a time when it was all crafted by hand.
The 25 best stop-motion movies in cinematic history
Jordan HoffmanWed, July 1, 2026 at 10:00 PM UTC
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Mr. Fox (George Clooney), Sally (Catherine O'Hara), and Wallace (Peter Sallis)Credit: Fox Searchlight; Warner Bros.; Wallace & Gromit
What makes animation such a wonderful medium is that, truly, anything can happen. You want your characters to take a very quick trip to Saturn? Not an issue.
Or at least it seems that way. While a lot of animation today is computer-generated, there was a time when it was all crafted by hand.
Perhaps you've visited a children's museum where you got to putz around with blocks of clay, click a button to take a still image, then move your creation ever so slightly to (oh, what's the word?) animate it. After many, many, many such incremental movements that, let’s face it, got a little boring after a while, you got to see your hard work — a fraction of a second's worth of animation, just for a blob to nod its head.
When you think about the level of detail and labor that goes into a feature-length stop-motion film, it boggles the mind. It's that elbow grease and abundant creativity that make stop-motion animation so vital, especially today. With this in mind, here are 25 stop-motion movies that are hypnotizing to watch.
The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985)
Mark Twain dispenses wisdom and spins a few comic yarnsCredit: Clubhouse Pictures
Just before creating the California Raisins, a healthy snack alternative mascot that kinda took over pop culture for a minute, animator Will Vinton made a glorious claymation film riffing on classic middle school literature. We follow a quip-ready Mark Twain as he travels in an airship, interacting with his famous characters like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.
Most memorable is the adaptation of Twain’s Mysterious Stranger, a supernatural tale in which the personification of evil grants tiny clay people life, only to then confront them with great hardship. The odd tone didn’t lend itself to immediate popularity, but the film became a cult hit years later.
Alice (1988)
This is the 'Alice' you should watch. Show your kids the cartoon one. Burn the Burton oneCredit: First Run Features
This is the first film on our list — but not the last — that represents Czech animation. Puppeteering is a cherished and nurtured tradition in Czech culture, as is rejuvenating folkloric tales. Jan Švankmajer is one of the most important names in envelope-pushing stop-motion animation, and his spin on Lewis Carroll’s fantasy, Alice, is equal parts whimsical and sinister.
The film transforms everyday items from a sock drawer and even taxidermized animals leaking sawdust into living characters. The familiar story takes on new layers of meaning in this gorgeously decayed form.
Anomalisa (2015)
This is the face of almost every character in the movie (seriously). Google 'Fregoli delusion'Credit: Paramount Pictures
Charlie Kaufman — writer of the puppet-themed Being John Malkovich (1999) and the bananapants novel Antkind — wrote and directed Anomalisa,a devastating look at isolation and emotional fragility made with stop-motion puppets.
Our main character, voiced by David Thewlis, sees everyone else as the same — literally. As such, they all have Tom Noonan’s voice and face. Until our traveler (stuck in a Cincinnati hotel) meets a woman voiced by Jennifer Jason Leigh. Things seem to be going well… until they don’t. Kaufman and co-director Duke Johnson exploit the surrealism of puppets to great ends (most notably in a love scene), creating a one-of-a-kind vision.
Chicken Run (2000)
This is basically 'The Great Escape' except without Steve McQueen doing motorcycle tricksCredit: DreamWorks
Aardman is arguably the most successful independent stop-motion studio. After several successful and influential shorts, Chicken Run became its first feature film — and a lucrative one at that.
A spin on the classic The Great Escape, the hilarious movie features a slew of memorable characters: the determined Ginger (Julia Sawalha), the dimwitted Babs (Jane Horrocks), and Rocky, a cocky American rooster voiced by Mel Gibson (who was born in America, by the way). In addition to featuring marvelous clay figures, it's a perfect way to introduce kids to British humor. (And, perhaps, a vegetarian diet.)
Chronopolis (1982)
Trust us, we can't describe it to you any better than this image can (complimentary)Credit: Saint-André-des-Arts
Polish animator Piotr Kamler’s science-fiction stop-motion feature (with narration from Michael Lonsdale, a.k.a. Bond villain Hugo Drax) imagines a vast, floating city suspended in darkness, inhabited by immortal beings who, out of boredom, begin tinkering with the construct of time. The abstract imagery of the epic cityscape creates an eerie texture, with a heavily stylized, dreamlike look. The soundscape is just as unusual as the visuals; the result is less a traditional narrative and more a sustained cinematic feeling. If you can track this one down, it’s a must-see for late nights.
Coraline (2009)
'Coraline' ushered in the Laika library in dark and colorful styleCredit: LAIKA
The first film from stop-motion studio Laika, Coraline had an absolute supergroup of talent behind it. Henry Selick adapted Coraline by Neil Gaiman and enlisted voice performances from greats like Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, plus music by They Might Be Giants, to tell this crafty, Grimm-esque fairy tale about alternate worlds. It arrived at the height of the 3D boom, which added significant pop to the handmade textures of every colorful flower petal and creepy doll eye. Oh, and the movie also gave us one of the most enduring kids' movie villains of the century: the "Other Mother."
Corpse Bride (2005)
The happy bride and groom in 'Corpse Bride'Credit: Warner Bros.
Many people think Tim Burton directed The Nightmare Before Christmas. He did not. He did, however, co-direct the not-as-memorable-but-still-good Corpse Bride, a gothic fantasy featuring voice performances from Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. The film boasts a broad visual palette between the dull Land of the Living and the vibrant Land of the Dead (ironic!), and there’s no shortage of fast-paced visual puns in this charming beyond-the-grave love story. Some of the best scenes revolve around original songs by Burton’s longtime musical accompanist, Danny Elfman.
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
That look he gets when he wants to pull off a secret heistCredit: Fox Searchlight
Wes Anderson took to stop-motion like a fox to a henhouse with this innovative and slightly melancholy comedy, based on Roald Dahl’s book. Anderson did not record the voices of George Clooney, Jason Schwartzman, Meryl Streep and others in a booth, as is typical in animation, but instead had them perform the scenes in a field with microphones.
The very tactile miniatures are intricately designed, but the scenes are still blocked and shot in a manner that makes them instantly recognizable as an Anderson film. This movie is appropriate for most kids, but it isn’t really a kids’ movie, which is a breath of fresh air for any animated film made in Hollywood.
Faust (1994)
Turns out Švankmajer and Goethe are a match made in heavenCredit: Lucernafilm
Though not as famous as his Alice, Faust may be Jan Švankmajer’s finest film. It’s about a man who goes to a building in which players are prepping a theater production of Faust — then becomes the title character himself. His scenes with the other characters blend live-action and large puppets, with relentless running gags and stream-of-consciousness imagery. (One could make the case that this is a film about falling asleep during a play and the production triggering unsettling dreams.) Nothing in the film is spelled out for you, but if you have a basic understanding of the Faust myth, you’ll get the gist of it.
The Good Soldier Schweik (1954)
There would be no 'Catch-22' without this, so let's thank our lucky stars for CzechoslovakiaCredit: Czechoslovak State Film
Sticking with Czech puppetry, The Good Soldier Schweik is something of a national mascot over there. (You may see renderings of the wide-eyed soldier with a kind heart at local pubs. Imagine if Ziggy were in the army.) There have been many adaptations of the story, which ultimately champions pacifism despite its title, but director Jiří Trnka's 1954 animated version is the most impressive. It combines 2D wood carvings with tiny wooden figures and plenty of slapstick humor.
Isle of Dogs (2018)
A loyal pilot and five mighty dogs in 'Isle of Dogs'Credit: Fox Searchlight
Wes Anderson’s second stop-motion feature is just as impressive — once again overwhelming in its texture, with every bit of fur handmade. Anderson’s symmetrical framing and exaggerated colors showcase his trademark precision.
As with the rest of the director’s work, it balances melancholy with optimism, and also pays homage to the filmmaking techniques of Japanese greats like Yasujirō Ozu. The impressive voice cast includes Bill Murray, Edward Norton, and Bryan Cranston, and, yes, the title is a pun if you say it fast enough. (Aha!) Though it is, indeed, about an island run by dogs.
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Junk Head (2017)
Our protagonist got himself bisected, joining the tradition of the Black Knight and Bishop from 'Aliens'Credit: YAMIKEN
The feature-length Junk Head is essentially the work of one person. Takahide Hori wrote, directed, animated, edited, and voiced much of the film himself. It reportedly took him years to complete, which isn’t surprising considering the level of detail. The story follows a human explorer entering an underground realm of constructed sentient beings in a future where humanity faces extinction. It blends frightening dystopian imagery with absurd humor, and even an invented language. The self-funded project is part of a planned trilogy, but don’t expect the follow-ups any time soon.
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Kubo and Beetle (voiced by Matthew McConaughey) set off to take out Ralph Fiennes and two Rooney MarasCredit: Laika Studios/Focus Features
A Laika project directed by company CEO Travis Knight, Kubo and the Two Strings is set in feudal Japan and follows a young boy who uses a string instrument as a magical weapon. The film’s look is inspired by ink wash paintings and wood blocks, moving fluidly between different visual idioms. The most dazzling moment comes when our young hero uses his magical powers to bring a small army of paper warriors to life. The film is also a nice introduction of Eastern religious beliefs for a Western audience.
Mad God (2021)
One of literally thousands of magnificent frames from Phil Tippett's 30-year passion projectCredit: Shudder
Another dark, surreal dystopia, Mad God is a passion project from special effects legend Phil Tippett, the man responsible for some of the outstanding miniature and visual effects work in RoboCop (1987), Jurassic Park (1993), and The Empire Strikes Back (1981). The film took 30 years to make, as he basically worked on it from home on his own time. The nearly dialogue-free story revels in grotesque creatures and nightmarish vignettes in an underworld setting. It may not have the most enthralling plot, but its style and independent spirit are mesmerizing.
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On (2021)
Marcel simply cannot miss an episode of '60 Minutes'Credit: A24
This cutesy li’l feature, an expansion of shorts made by Dean Fleischer Camp and Jenny Slate, fuses live action and stop motion to tell the story about a one-inch living seashell and its friend, a ball of lint. While there is no shortage of visual gags that play around with a mockumentary style, the movie ultimately reveals itself as an adventure about taking risks and the universal drive to ask questions and explore. There’s also a weird bit about stanning 60 Minutes reporter Lesley Stahl.
Mary and Max (2009)
Mary, covered in her own stamp collection, in 'Mary and Max'Credit: Icon Entertainment International
Mary and Max was Adam Elliot’s first claymation feature film, made a few years after his Harvie Krumpet won the Oscar for Best Animated Short. This story was inspired by real-life pen-pal correspondence between Mary, a lonely Australian girl, and Max, an overweight New Yorker on the autism spectrum.
There’s a frank sadness to nearly every scene, but also a tenderness and warmth between these two unlikely friends. There are also scenes of great slapstick, like when Max (voiced by Philip Seymour Hoffman) tries to bake himself a birthday cake, which goes extremely poorly.
Memoir of a Snail (2024)
She either has a really quirky hat or is doing very obvious espionage workCredit: IFC Films
This R-rated, Oscar-nominated effort from Australia follows the tragic misadventures of a twin brother and sister growing up with their drunken, paraplegic father in 1970s Melbourne. When their father dies of sleep apnea, the kids are separated — she heads to Canberra and is raised by swingers, he winds up on a religious farm.
Once again, Adam Elliot balances deep cynicism with wonderment in the challenging and funny film, with a great many unexpected twists. The voice cast is a murderer's row of famous Australians, including Sarah Snook, Eric Bana, and Nick Cave.
My Life as a Zucchini (2016)
Don't worry, he does not turn into a vegetable, 'Zucchini' is just a nicknameCredit: GKIDS
This Franco-Swiss film from director Claude Barras deploys tenderly expressive puppets to tell the story of a boy placed in an orphanage after inadvertently killing his alcoholic mother. (It’s complicated.) At first, life there is rather tough, but in time he makes connections with other troubled kids — and the police officer who placed him there.
The screenplay, cowritten by Céline Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire), nicely balances dark humor and sincerity. (The kid, for example, keeps an old beer can around to remind him of his mother.)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
You wouldn't know it from Dr. Finkelstein's work, but this is a joyful Christmas movieCredit: Disney
“What’s this? What’s this?” Few films become an instant classic quite the way this one did. Produced by Tim Burton and based on a short poem he wrote, the film was actually directed by Henry Selick, even though Disney branded it as Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, which still annoys Selick.
Nevertheless, this magnificent look at how “Halloween Town” adapts to the concept of Christmas has tickled the imagination for decades, leading to many great Halloween costumes and singalongs.
ParaNorman (2012)
Laika does John Carpenter proud in 'ParaNorman'Credit: Focus Features/courtesy Everett Collection
Another home run from Laika, ParaNorman is about an 11-year-old boy who, much to his chagrin, can communicate with the spirit world. This causes him no end of trouble at school, but it suddenly becomes useful when it's up to him to protect his hometown from a witch's curse. The film was a box office success and was also notable for featuring a casually gay character in a family film — a quietly groundbreaking choice in 2012. The animation is more spooky than scary, but it's full of terrific creature designs and visual effects.
The Pied Piper (1986)
As this list proves, Czech animation is on a whole other levelCredit: Cinedigm
Here’s yet another Czech masterpiece, this time from director Jiří Barta, adapting the folk tale of The Pied Piper of Hamlin. The film uses carved wooden figurines and borrows heavily from medieval art and German expressionist cinema, giving the production a unique visual style. As with many Czech films on this list, it walks the line between kid-friendly and super dark, which is probably more in keeping with actual fairy tales than the versions Hollywood usually offers. The best scene is likely when the swarm of rats first comes to town, played up for maximum creepiness.
A Town Called Panic (2009)
What, you DON'T let your horse take a shower in your normal human bathroom? RudeCredit: Brain Dead Studios
One of the more madcap titles on this list, A Town Called Panic, from Belgian directors Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar, is wall-to-wall sight gags and surrealist moments. The animation is deliberately crude, meant to evoke the imagination of a kid hyped up on sugar. A cowboy, Native American, and a horse romp around through various zany setbacks and misunderstandings in classic sitcom form. Shenanigans include an accidental delivery of millions of bricks, a visit to an underworld realm, and an aquatic adventure.
Toys in the Attic (2009)
Not gonna lie, a teddy bear that looks like that would not be a comfort to a typical childCredit: CinemArt
From The Pied Piper’s Jiří Barta comes this absolutely gorgeously detailed look at a group of toys and other objects that come to life when no one is looking. Yes, this sounds an awful lot like Toy Story, and while Pixar movies absolutely have their place, the handcrafted care of each shot of Barta’s stop-motion film puts it in a whole other category.
There are also too many shots of rotten food and gross insects for it to be completely kid-friendly. Additionally, there are elements of claymation and traditional illustrations thrown in, because with great art there are no rules.
The Wolf House (2018)
Do not show this one to your kids unless they're really into dark political allegory for some reasonCredit: Diluvio
This Spanish-language film is, along with Mad God, one of the few genuinely terrifying entries on this list. It’s loosely based on an actual Chilean colony where German expatriates tortured prisoners at the behest of General Pinochet. The story is told allegorically through the eyes of a young girl who witnesses pigs transforming into people. Directors Cristobal Léon and Joaquin Cociña used papier-mâché, charcoal, tape, moving miniature wall art, and other mixed media in lieu of traditional puppets. The film has a very avant-garde style, with images melting into one another to to give the horrific tale a hazy, dreamlike logic.
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The Wrong Trousers (1993)
One frame from genuinely one of the best action sequences ever filmedCredit: Wallace & Gromit/YouTube
We wouldn’t dream of concluding this list without including Aardman’s Wallace and Gromit, arguably the most famous claymation figures of modern times. The Wrong Trousers was the second short film starring the British cheese-loving gentleman and his loyal beagle.
The Academy Award-winning film, directed by Nick Park, involves a mechanical pair of pants, an annoying penguin, and a surprisingly tense action sequence on a model train set. It can never be emphasized enough how adorable Gromit is, and that middle-aged men in England all eventually become like Wallace.
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Published: July 2, 2026 at 01:36AM on Source: MANUEL MAG
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