What Is Claymation?
Claymation is a form of stop-motion animation that uses characters and objects made from modeling clay or similar flexible materials. Instead of recording continuous movement, animators take a photograph, make a small adjustment to the figures, and capture another image. When these images are played in sequence, the characters appear to move naturally.
In the image below, a salamander was formed from modeling clay and photographed in a succession of poses to create the animated movement you see around the frame.
"Salmeandering" — a salamander meandering across the screen.
Creating Claymation requires patience, creativity, and attention to detail. Every movement — even a simple blink or smile — is made by hand. Because each frame is photographed individually, producing just a few seconds of animation can take hours of careful work. The salamander in this examaple has fewer frames than most professional productions, but just producing this simple scene required filming and repositioning the model slightly for every shot. See each shot below.
Many clay characters are built around small wire armatures that allow them to bend while keeping their shape. Animators also create miniature sets, props, lighting, and backgrounds to bring each scene to life.
Claymation has appeared in movies, television shows, commercials, and short films for decades. Some of the most famous productions include Gumby, The California Raisins, Wallace & Gromit, and Chicken Run. Its handcrafted look gives every production a unique charm that is difficult to duplicate with computer-generated animation.
Although digital animation is widely used today, Claymation remains a popular art form because it combines sculpture, photography, and storytelling into one creative process.