The best claymations ever (according to HUE)!

Claymation is a form of stop motion animation that is created with modeling clay. Because it can be molded into any shape and manipulated freely without drying out, modeling clay is a dream material to animate with. 

Many people will be familiar with classic claymation characters such as Art Clokey’s Gumby and Pokey and Aardman favorites like Morph, Shaun the Sheep and Wallace and Gromit. 

But… there are so many other lesser known (but no less amazing) animators, short films, movies and TV shows that should not be missed by clay connoisseurs! 

So sit back, relax and read on to discover the ultimate list of claymation inspiration (according to HUE).

Eliot Noyes 

Pioneering animator Eli Noyes is responsible for one of the earliest examples of claymation. Created while he was a student at Harvard University in 1964, Noyes’ 18 minute long movie Clay or the Origin of Species was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Film and helped to establish claymation as a movie-making medium. Noyes’ work proved to be highly influential, with Wallace & Gromit creators Aardman Animations citing the film as being the initial inspiration for their work with the medium.  

David Daniels’ Strata-cut

From the brilliant brain of animator David Daniels, the Strata-cut stop motion technique was born. Strata-cut animation is very possibly the most complicated, mind-bending animation technique that has ever been invented. The technique is created by building a loaf of clay with the animation pre-built inside. Thin layers of clay are then sliced off the block frame by frame to reveal the animation inside. 

David Daniels has created animated commercial work for the likes of MTV, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Peter Gabriel and many others. The content and imagery in Daniels’ work is often quite challenging but it is, nonetheless, always captivating to watch. A safe for work (and children) compilation of Daniels’ incredible animation is available to watch on YouTube.    

Guionne Leroy

Guionne Leroy’s work on La Traviata from the 1993 anthology film Opera Imaginaire is a visual feast for the eyes! The short film depicts a table full of cakes, sweet treats and party food that springs to life as a colorful crew of pudding people attending a party at a beautiful white wedding cake. This gorgeous, whimsical claymation movie is set to the gypsy girls’ chorus from Verdi’s opera La Traviata with breathtaking visual flair. 

Guldies 

Swedish animator Guldies has captivated animation enthusiasts with his masterful manipulation of modeling clay, creating mesmerizing, hilarious, and surreal short films. Among his works is STRONG BOI!!!, a charmingly whimsical film where a tiny clay figure becomes a powerlifting champion… well, for a few seconds anyway. 

The Trap Door Kitchen

If you like claymation with a side of nostalgia and a dash of British humor then The Trap Door is for you. Created by Terry Brain and Charlie Mills, this cult classic TV show from the 1980s features a hapless servant named Berk, who is tasked with keeping the spooky happenings of a castle basement under control. Of course, things never go as planned, and each episode is a delightful mix of humor, horror, and absurdity. Breakfast Time is a prime example, where Berk’s simple task of making breakfast turns into a chaotic, monster-filled disaster. It’s claymation at its most charming and quirky.

Rich Webber (waaber) 

Rich Webber’s contribution to the world of claymation is both significant and delightful. Webber, also known as Waaber, is one of the creative minds behind Aardman Animations, and his work never fails to entertain and inspire. His unique style makes even the simplest clay figures burst with personality such as in the animated series Purple & Brown, and his wonderful short film, Bench.

Ruari Chisholm

Ruari Chisholm is an incredible claymation animator and… he just happens to be our very own in-house animation superstar! Ruari has recently been remaking the classic example videos from the HUE Book of Animation including two amazing short claymation movies, Clayvolution and Clay Hero. 

We hope you have enjoyed learning about claymation and watching these standout examples of what can be done with this wonderful modeling medium. If this blog post has inspired you to try making your own claymation movies, HUE Animation Studio is the perfect starter kit for budding animators from age seven to ninety-nine. Happy animating, everyone!

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