Never stop stop-motion! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best and most influential animated movies made with stop-motion.
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00:00Where have you been?
00:02Call a town meeting, and I'll tell everyone all about it.
00:06When?
00:07Immediately!
00:08Welcome to WatchMojo,
00:10and today we're counting down our picks for the best
00:12and most influential animated movies made with stop motion.
00:15We will only be including feature-length movies,
00:17so short TV specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer aren't eligible.
00:21Oh no, not you!
00:23You better go home with your folks.
00:25From now on, gang, we won't let Rudolph join in any reindeer games.
00:30Number 20, Missing Link.
00:32You're beautiful.
00:33Um, can you hold on one second? I'm uncomfortable.
00:36Don't believe a word of it. He'd sooner see you stuffed
00:39or have your head mounted on a wall.
00:41The folks at Laika are the modern masters of stop motion,
00:44and with Missing Link, they're batting 5 for 5.
00:47Costing upwards of $100 million,
00:49it's the most expensive stop motion movie to date,
00:52unfortunately bombing at the box office.
00:54It's a shame for general audiences,
00:56as Missing Link is a wonderful movie about a Sasquatch
00:58traveling to the Himalayas to meet a Yeti.
01:00The people we don't want here are leaving!
01:03Force them to stay!
01:05The talented voice cast delivers their witty lines
01:07with a great amount of humor,
01:09while the story contains many touching themes
01:11about friendship and acceptance.
01:13Above all, the movie is gorgeous,
01:15featuring some of the most impressive stop motion animation
01:18ever put to screen.
01:19Don't miss out on Missing Link.
01:21But if you'd explain, what exactly do you ask of me?
01:25Take me away from this place.
01:28I'm lonely.
01:30Number 19, The Little Prince.
01:32How beautiful you are.
01:34I'm only half awake.
01:36Forgive me, I'm still quite disheveled.
01:38You're perfect.
01:40Am I not?
01:42Director Mark Osborn had an enormous task
01:44in adapting Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince.
01:47The iconic novella is beloved all over the world,
01:50being translated into over 500 languages
01:53and selling 140 million copies.
01:55Luckily for us all, he did a bang-up job.
01:58Sire, over what do you rule?
02:00Over everything.
02:02And the stars obey you?
02:04They certainly do.
02:06I do not permit insubordination.
02:09The movie accurately captures the story's mature tone,
02:11offering plenty of emotion and thoughtful themes.
02:14The visuals are outstanding,
02:16with Osborn making the creative decision
02:18to blend two different animation styles
02:20to differentiate the main story and the framing narrative.
02:22While the CG segments are pleasant on the eyes,
02:24the stop-motion visuals are right out of a dream.
02:27Like the book, it's a movie that anyone can enjoy.
02:30Hey, come and play with me.
02:32I cannot play with you.
02:34I'm not tamed.
02:36What does that mean?
02:38Tame means to establish ties.
02:50A charming little British film,
02:52Shaun the Sheep Movie is based on
02:54the beloved children's show of the same name.
02:56Thankfully, it delighted both fans of the show
02:58and general audiences,
03:00eventually grossing over $100 million at the global box office.
03:03Even if the movie doesn't do anything new per se,
03:05it does everything just right.
03:11The adventurous story is well-told,
03:13and the characters are delightfully endearing.
03:15The movie is also wickedly funny
03:17and contains a ton of heart,
03:19centered around family, friendship and self-discovery.
03:22This and its sequel, Farmageddon,
03:24make for a highly entertaining double feature.
03:50Released as My Life as a Courgette
03:52outside of North America and Australia,
03:54My Life as a Zucchini is a colorful movie
03:56with a dark story.
03:58Audiences may expect a light-hearted romp
04:00with a silly title like that,
04:02but that couldn't be further from the truth.
04:04The movie tackles some seriously dark subject matter,
04:06earning a PG-13 rating for heavy thematic elements.
04:08These include childhood trauma,
04:10necessary support systems,
04:12adult failures and lack of self-worth.
04:20These poignant themes
04:22help My Life as a Zucchini stand out,
04:24as does the unique and colorful visual design.
04:26Beautiful in more ways than one,
04:28My Life as a Zucchini is a modern masterpiece.
04:46We always salivate at the prospect
04:48of Wes Anderson doing a stop-motion movie.
04:50This one exceeded all of our wildest expectations.
05:01This isn't only among Anderson's best films,
05:03but one of the greatest stop-motion movies
05:05about a dystopian Japanese city
05:07that banishes dogs to a distant island.
05:09Like all of Anderson's work,
05:11Isle of Dogs is visually stimulating
05:13with meticulous attention to detail
05:15and a gleefully unique aesthetic.
05:19The animals have loved, served and protected us.
05:21Now, in their time of greatest need,
05:23we forsake them again?
05:25A tidal wave of anti-dog hysteria
05:27has crippled our moral judgment.
05:29The movie also offers an ingenious story
05:31and an all-star voice cast,
05:33all of whom give their respective characters
05:35warmth, humor and humanity.
05:37Unlike its titular island,
05:39Isle of Dogs is certainly not for the dogs.
05:49Number 15.
05:51The Pirates Band of Misfits
06:03As we'll learn throughout this list,
06:05there's just no going wrong with Artman Animations.
06:07Grossing over $120 million,
06:09The Pirates, in an adventure with scientists,
06:11or Band of Misfits,
06:13as it's known in the U.S.,
06:15was the company's first stop-motion movie
06:18and oh, how we miss them.
06:31The swashbuckling comedy
06:33is an Artman production through and through
06:35and it contains all of their beloved trademarks.
06:37There's the irreverent wordplay and rapid-fire jokes,
06:39quirky but relatable characters,
06:41whimsical story and top-notch voice acting.
06:43Most notably,
06:45the stop-motion animation is second to none,
06:47proving once again that Artman's technicians
06:49are absolute masters of the craft.
07:03Number 14.
07:05ParaNorman
07:15Inspired by the social commentary
07:17often seen in zombie films,
07:19writer-director Chris Butler hoped to make
07:21a smart horror movie for kids.
07:23The result is ParaNorman
07:25and we're proud to announce that Butler accomplished his mission.
07:35The movie pays homage
07:37to classic horror films
07:39and is often quite scary in its own right,
07:41allowing children to enjoy age-appropriate horror.
07:43It might even introduce the genre to younger audiences
07:45and inspire future filmmakers.
07:47And yes, it contains the typical
07:49Laika charm, including well-developed characters,
07:51a good amount of emotional depth
07:53and eye-popping animation.
07:55ParaNorman is scary good.
08:05Number 13.
08:07Marion Max
08:09If you want a different sort of stop-motion movie,
08:11this is it. Unlike many films on this list,
08:13this one is undoubtedly for grown-ups.
08:27In this film,
08:29Toni Collette is Mary Dinkle,
08:31a lonely Australian girl who is pen pals
08:33with Philip Seymour Hoffman's Max,
08:35a much older American on the autism spectrum.
08:37The characters' unique quirks and unconventional friendship
08:39help endear them to audiences,
08:41and with Collette and Hoffman behind them,
08:43they are fantastically acted.
08:55The film is also rich with theme and meaning,
08:57delving into complex topics like mental health,
08:59social isolation,
09:01and distant friendships.
09:03Marion Max is a stop-motion film unlike any other.
09:09Its logic was as foreign to him
09:11as a salad sandwich.
09:13Number 12.
09:15Anomalisa
09:17Speaking of stop-motion movies exclusively for grown-ups,
09:19how about Charlie Kaufman's Anomalisa?
09:27Kaufman is universally acknowledged
09:29for his unique and distinct stories,
09:31writing gonzo movies like Being John Malkovich,
09:33Synecdoche, New York,
09:35and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
09:37In addition to Kaufman's work,
09:39Anomalisa received widespread acclaim for its screenplay,
09:41with many viewers praising its thematic content,
09:43intelligence, and originality.
09:57The innovative storytelling blends perfectly
09:59with Kaufman's pensive direction
10:01and the magnificent lead performance from David Thewlis.
10:03It's yet another notch
10:05for Kaufman's esteemed filmography
10:07and a brilliant piece of stop-motion animation.
10:15Number 11.
10:17Frankenweenie
10:23Like Charlie Kaufman,
10:25Tim Burton is a visionary auteur
10:27and his style resonates wonderfully
10:29with stop-motion animation.
10:31A loving parody of Frankenstein,
10:33Frankenweenie follows a young boy who causes pandemonium
10:35after raising his dog from the dead.
10:49Like all great family movies,
10:51Frankenweenie is enjoyable for both adults and children.
10:53Kids might not get every Frankenstein reference,
10:55but they will still enjoy the animation,
10:57humor, and relatable characters.
10:59Adults will revel in the movie's retro style,
11:01various homages to classic horror films,
11:03and the nostalgic story centered around childhood.
11:05There's a little something for everyone.
11:19Number 10.
11:21Kubo and the Two Strings
11:31Wanting to make a movie about samurais,
11:33Laika crafted the magnificent Kubo and the Two Strings
11:35about a young boy who embarks on a personal quest.
11:37Laika made a visual wonder,
11:39populating their masterpiece with stunning vistas,
11:41gorgeous character models,
11:43and wonderful sets,
11:45capturing the physical essence of feudal Japan.
12:01The animation was partly inspired by Japanese traditions,
12:03including the use of origami,
12:05giving it an undeniable personality
12:07centered around Japanese history and culture.
12:09Personality aside,
12:11the movie also contains memorable characters,
12:13a strong emotional story,
12:15and exciting action sequences,
12:17turning Kubo and the Two Strings into an unmissable feature.
12:31Number 9. Corpse Bride
12:45The third stop-motion feature produced by Tim Burton,
12:47Corpse Bride was also the first he directed,
12:49having helmed the film with longtime collaborator Mike Johnson.
12:51Along for the ride are Burton regulars
12:53Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter,
12:55the latter of whom voices the titular Corpse Bride.
13:01This is a Tim Burton movie through and through,
13:03complete with macabre aesthetic,
13:05a bittersweet story centered around love and companionship,
13:07and beautiful music written by Danny Elfman.
13:09The gothic Victorian setting is superb
13:11and visually magnificent,
13:13and all the Burtonisms make Corpse Bride
13:15a must-watch for fans of the legendary director.
13:31Number 8. James and the Giant Peach
13:45Roald Dahl's whimsical writing lends itself perfectly
13:47to the fanciful style of stop-motion,
13:49resulting in the brilliant James and the Giant Peach.
13:51Co-produced by Tim Burton,
13:53the movie is adapted from Dahl's classic novel
13:55and accurately captures his fantastical essence.
14:01Populated with unique characters,
14:03tons of eccentric whimsy,
14:05and surprisingly emotional themes,
14:07the movie is a wonderful adaptation
14:09not only of Dahl's specific book,
14:11but his general style of storytelling.
14:13Being helmed by the stop-motion master Henry Selleck,
14:15James and the Giant Peach is also a stunning visual wonder.
14:17Take a bite and enjoy the sweetness.
14:31Number 7. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
14:55Earning an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature,
14:57Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
14:59may be a mouthful to say,
15:01but it's a lot easier to watch.
15:03A stop-motion mockumentary about an anthropomorphic seashell,
15:05the movie is unlike anything you've ever seen.
15:07Marcel himself is a cute and lovable character,
15:09and we enjoy spending a brisk 90 minutes in his company.
15:25The movie also has a unique visual identity,
15:27blending live-action with stop-motion
15:29and partly telling its story through the perspective of tiny Marcel.
15:31We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the story,
15:33which is brilliantly told
15:35and guaranteed to make you cry.
15:43Number 6. Chicken Run
15:45Ardman strikes again,
15:47with Chicken Run being their first feature-length movie,
15:49and what a debut it was.
15:51Following a delightful group of Yorkshire chickens,
15:53the movie steamrolled the box office
15:55and ended its run with $227 million,
15:57making it the highest-grossing stop-motion movie ever made.
16:15The film resonated with millions of moviegoers,
16:17offering exciting action sequences,
16:19a clever script filled with witty wordplay,
16:21and uproarious slapstick humor.
16:23The cast is also fantastic,
16:25and if you want to dig a little deeper,
16:27the movie offers some profound themes
16:29on freedom, revolution, and feminism.
16:41Number 5. Wallace and Gromit the Curse of the Were-Rabbit
16:45Ardman was on an absolute tear in the early 2000s,
16:47dropping all-time classics like it was nobody's business.
16:49Immediately following Chicken Run,
16:51came Wallace and Gromit the Curse of the Were-Rabbit,
16:53a glorious film that plays on the tropes of old horror movies.
16:55With a story involving a giant, crop-eating rabbit,
16:57the movie pays great homage to classic monster movies,
16:59with the titular Wallace and Gromit proving
17:01incredible companions for the journey.
17:03The sharp humor appeals to parents and children,
17:05deftly blending a thrilling adventure with a brilliant story.
17:19Number 2. The United Kingdom
17:21The United Kingdom was the birthplace of modern-day movies.
17:23children, deftly blending a thrilling adventure with tantalizing mystery.
17:27Add in some genuinely touching moments, and you have a film we're all crackers about.
17:37Number 4 – Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio
17:46Age-old stories can still be fresh, provided they're handled by a master storyteller.
17:51There are countless Pinocchio movies out there, and it seemed like the well was long
17:54dry.
17:55In came Guillermo Del Toro to prove us all wrong.
18:05Along with the late Mark Gustafson, Del Toro imbued his adaptation with his trademark style
18:09and charm.
18:10The visuals are astounding, as is typical of a Del Toro film, and he makes the story
18:14much darker than we're used to, with adult themes, violence, and the setting of fascist
18:19Italy lending the movie a very morose tone.
18:35Accompanying the gorgeous style is heartfelt storytelling, and a brilliant score from Alexander
18:39de Pla, resulting in an Oscar win for Best Animated Feature.
18:44Number 3 – Coraline
18:52This was Laika's first major movie, and it's arguably their best.
18:56Adapted from Neil Gaiman's novella, Coraline is about its titular character finding a creepy
19:00alternate universe behind the walls of her new house.
19:03Like most of the work done by Henry Selick, Coraline is an absolute treat for the eyes,
19:07featuring impeccable stop-motion animation and imaginative character designs, including
19:11the wickedly nightmarish Other Mother.
19:20The movie also carries a delightfully eerie atmosphere, aided by Bruno Collet's creepy
19:24and unsettling score.
19:26Then there's Neil Gaiman, who crafted a rich and engaging story that was perfectly
19:30captured for the film.
19:31Venture behind the cinematic wall, and enter another dimension.
19:42Number 2 – Fantastic Mr. Fox
19:44Roald Dahl meets Wes Anderson.
19:47Surely cinema doesn't get any better than this?
19:54Even if it does, Fantastic Mr. Fox is an undeniable milestone, and one of Mr. Anderson's greatest
20:00accomplishments.
20:01Naturally, it's spellbinding, blending Anderson's quirky style with state-of-the-art stop-motion
20:05animation.
20:14The story is also engaging for children and adults, with the cunning and resourceful Mr.
20:18Fox being a highly entertaining protagonist.
20:21That's to say nothing of the superb voice cast, including Anderson alums like Jason
20:24Swartzman, Bill Murray, and Owen Wilson.
20:36It may be cliché to say, but Fantastic Mr. Fox is, you guessed it, fantastic.
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20:58Number 1 – The Nightmare Before Christmas
21:01Is it a Halloween movie?
21:02Is it a Christmas movie?
21:04We don't know, but we do know one thing – it's a brilliant movie.
21:12The stop-motion film to end them all, The Nightmare Before Christmas has virtually everything
21:16going for it.
21:17The visuals are breathtaking and inventive, resulting in the animation genre's first
21:21Oscar nom for best visual effects.
21:31Then there's the gothic atmosphere, the brilliant score from Danny Elfman, the catchy
21:35tunes, the fun and original story, the unforgettable characters, the touching themes – it's
21:40all here, and it's all magnificent.
21:43It could very well be the best stop-motion movie of all time.
21:53Did we forget any stop-motion classics?
21:55Let us know in the comments below.