Movie Terms Wiki Filmmaking

Claymation

A stop-motion animation form using malleable clay figures.


Origins and Development

Early clay animation dates to the 1910s, but Art Clokey’s Gumby popularized it on television. Claymation combines stop-motion techniques with the pliability of plasticine figures.

Artistic Advantages

Clay’s malleability allows for expressive facial and body movements, enabling exaggerated performances and rapid prototyping of character designs.

Production Workflow

Artists sculpt figures around armatures, then adjust poses incrementally. Lighting, camera setup and frame rate decisions influence final texture and motion smoothness.

Iconic Examples

Aardman Animations’ Shaun the Sheep, Will Vinton’s The Adventures of Mark Twain and Chicken Run showcase claymation’s narrative versatility and global appeal.


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