Greetings, pals. We return prepared to shape your thinking by teaching you about yet another specialized animation method that continues to make a significant impact despite the contemporary technologies present in the industry today.
Clay animation, a variant of stop motion, has been crucial in the evolution of animation history. This technique, often referred to as claymation, involves using malleable clay figures to bring captivating stories to life. It’s no wonder that the genre has given rise to memorable claymation movies that remain etched in our hearts.
Who made claymation famous, you ask? Well, pioneers like Will Vinton helped popularize this art form, crafting timeless classics that inspired generations. With its unique charm, animation with clay takes us back to a time when creativity thrived in the simplest of forms.
Clay animation resembles an old childhood companion that you don’t need to communicate with daily but still hold in high regard. When you encounter one another, nothing is different. You continue to love, value, and experience a sense of home-like comfort with them, even though you share more similarities with your exciting new friends who engage in fun activities like CGI and digital artistry.
What we’re trying to express is that you should always set aside time for that longtime friend. Don’t overlook that clay cartoon-like charm for your new friends simply because they possess CGI skills. They can live together harmoniously, complementing one another in the diverse world of animation. We’re getting confused in our own metaphor here. Let’s return to the yellow brick road and appreciate the timeless magic of clay animation.
What is Clay Animation
Once more, the definition essentially fulfills what it claims to do. Clay-built figurines are animated, unlocking an entirely new world of opportunities for animators. This timeless craft has given rise to iconic works, including famous claymation movies that have left an indelible mark on animation history.
Clay animation, often referred to as ‘claymation,’ is a type of stop-motion animation in which each animated segment—primarily characters, objects, and certain backgrounds—is fashioned from plasticine clay. It was in this medium that the first claymation movie was born, setting the stage for future masterpieces and beloved classics.
Be ready for your patience to be challenged if you want to become a clay animator. Every single frame is shifted a tiny bit at a time, captured on film, and then shown in rapid order to create the appearance of motion. Objects can remain lit and properly placed at all times to produce the effect of continuity.
Armatures, or wire skeletons, are typically encased in plasticine to maintain their stability. These techniques, still widely used today, form the backbone of claymation stop-motion animation. Fans of old claymation movies will recall iconic characters like Pokey the Horse and their adventures, which have become a nostalgic touchstone in animation.
Even today, claymation methods continue to closely resemble the initial experiments in this art form. Characters begin as lumps of clay before being shaped onto armatures and coated in latex. The claymation artists subsequently arrange the figures into the necessary positions to create the movie. Whether it’s crafting timeless clay cartoons or memorable Old Christmas movie claymation, this animation style continues to enchant audiences of all ages.
The Evolution of Clay Animation
You might find it surprising when we say that, in comparison to other animation styles, clay animation films are relatively new.
In 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs marked the inception of feature-length cel-animated films, granting 2D animation a 60-year advantage.
The first claymation movie, often considered to be The Sculptor’s Nightmare from 1908, demonstrated the potential of this technique long before modern clay animation movies like Chicken Run captivated global audiences in 2000.
Don’t exhale with relief just because you think you’ve found a brief yet delightful article at this moment. Clay animation has a lengthy, vibrant, and notable past that extends well beyond the dawn of the twentieth century. Let’s explore, shall we?
Though the initial full-length clay animation movie might be Chicken Run at the dawn of the new Millennium, the technique actually traces back more than a century earlier, to 1897. During this time, early clay animations paved the way for what would eventually become beloved classics like the Claymation series featuring Gumby and claymation Gumby’s adventures that charmed generations.
Plasticine is a clay created from an oil-based modeling material. Plasticine became the standard clay for most clay animated shows and movies because of its non-drying nature and flexibility. Not drying and flexible – what else could you want?
Claymation’s Initial Rodeo
The first claymation movie believed to have endured is The Sculptor’s Nightmare, created in 1908.
This pioneering film was the earliest recognized to combine clay animation with live-action footage. Intended to satirize the 1908 US presidential race, director Wallace McCutcheon mixed live-action storytelling with clay animations for humorous effect.
In ironic satire, the story chronicles a lively band of top-hatted men arguing over who will take Roosevelt’s place as president. The group commissions an artisan to create a statue of the new president, and he begins working, continuously drinking as much as possible.
Shortly imprisoned for his unruly conduct, the sculptor envisions three clay blocks that animate and transform into the living effigies of Roosevelt’s three possible successors: William Jennings Bryan, Charles W. Fairbanks, and William Howard Taft.
The animated figures entertain the sculptor as he observes them drinking, smoking, and behaving unsociably in a genuine satire of the institution. The film’s innovative use of clay animation laid the groundwork for future clay animation movies and clay animated shows, inspiring later classics like the beloved claymation series featuring Gumby.
Before we realize it, just as swiftly as the sculptures emerged, they disappear, leaving the sculptor in a cloud of euphoric intoxication.
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The Gumby Show
Vibrantly designed and the first of his kind, Gumby was created in 1953 by clay animation expert Art Clokey. Gumby, a green clay cartoon character, was designed with kids in mind—intended to impart moral lessons while he jumped around with his sidekick, Pokey (voiced by Art himself), confronting his adversaries, the Blockheads.
To allow the stop-motion modelers to keep the characters upright for extended periods, the majority of the characters featured cube-shaped bodies for added stability. In a forward-thinking approach for its era, Gumby was painted a vibrant green to stay racially neutral. His adventurous world also introduced Gumby Minga, a lovable pink clay character who added charm to the series.
Gumby ventured into the world of movies with claymation and even inspired a video game. Off you go, little fella.
A Major Opportunity for Clay Animation
For a time, Claymation slipped into the background as the Disney transformation took over the cinema.
The revival of claymation took place in the 1980s, when sketch-style animation gained popularity and digital animation tools were introduced.
Do you know these cheerful faces?
If you haven’t been acquainted with the charming duo Wallace and Gromit, we recommend spending your evening viewing videos of their escapades on YouTube. Honestly, it’s simple and clear: unless you’ve seen their adventures and rooted for them to fetch cheese from the moon, you haven’t truly experienced claymation.
In 1989, Aardman Studios achieved significant success with the debut of ‘A Grand Day Out’ – animated by Nick Park. Who would have believed that a movie of such brief length could be overflowing with charm? It was certainly and predictably an immediate success and a pivotal moment for clay animation, solidifying it as a legitimate medium for film.
This humorous short film portrays the initial numerous film escapades of Wallace – an eccentric, kind-hearted inventor with outlandish concepts who consistently encounters difficulties. But who is Wallace without his trusty companion Gromit, the devoted beagle sidekick who courageously leaps to the rescue in every tough spot Wallace faces?
In this movie, cheese lover (aren’t we all?) Wallace concludes that the ideal spot to locate cheese is on the moon, leading him and Gromit to build a rocket for the journey. Honestly, we cannot dispute the reasoning.
The Wrong Trousers
Additional cherished classics emerged: In 1993, Aardman reached another landmark with the release of Nick Park’s Oscar-winning The Wrong Trousers, Aardman’s first 30-minute feature. Celebrated globally and receiving more than thirty awards, The Wrong Trousers has emerged as one of the most successful animated movies ever produced.
‘A Close Shave’ quickly followed in 1995, earning Aardman another Oscar and solidifying Wallace and Gromit as well-known figures.
Aardman was still gathering critical praise and remarkable box office success. In 2005, our friends debuted their initial feature film, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. The movie reached the highest position in the box office rankings in both the US and UK. It received numerous prestigious international accolades, such as the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and a BAFTA for Best British Film.
It’s astonishing that Aardman has evolved from the tabletop origins of Peter and David into a prominent, world-class studio. However, it is the citizens of Britain who cherish their animated creation, as Wallace and Gromit have become so associated with British culture that they are nearly as adored as the simple cup of tea.
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What Caused Claymation to Struggle in Achieving Initial Success?
As we have mentioned before, Chicken Run was the first full-length clay animation film to hit theaters, earning $224 million globally on a $45 million budget. As of now, it remains the highest-earning stop-motion film in history.
However, this success raises some questions: Why hasn’t clay animation been used more frequently? And what caused two earlier tries at complete clay films to falter at the box office?
To be truthful, clay hardly matches Hollywood’s idea of what is needed to create a grand cinematic experience.
Additionally, various types of animation, like traditional cel animation, can be infinitely divided, with jobs assigned to numerous workers simultaneously prior to the director’s final compilation during the animation production phase.
In sharp contrast, the craft of clay animation involves one or two animators operating directly in front of a camera. To finish Chicken Run, 30 sets, 80 animators, and a group of 180 individuals were required—achieving just one minute of footage each week. That, my friends, is what we refer to as a commitment to claymation. We can create rhymes at any moment.
Five Stages to Create Clay Animation
While the models and sets may have grown more complex over the years, and the camera technology might be more sophisticated now, the basic framework for producing claymation films has stayed largely consistent throughout the twentieth century. Here’s how to produce a claymation movie:
Create a Flexible Outline
Develop a simple outline of the narrative, showcasing the storyline and progression that your clay animation will adhere to. Because animation is a concrete and lively medium, you possess the artistic liberty to allow your creativity to lead.
Understand Your Frame Rate
The majority of films of this kind are made up of twenty-four frames every second. Utilizing techniques from celluloid (cel) animation can be beneficial in traditional 2D animation by reusing static shots, which can help you save time and effort. At this point, it is essential that the lighting and the motion of the clay figures remain aligned and steady to prevent continuity mistakes in the final edit.
Develop Your Characters
It’s not essential to use traditional plasticine clay for creating your characters. However, if you select clay as your material, we strongly suggest shaping your clay around a support structure. As we have covered in this section, the armature acts as the foundational framework of the character, aiding it in maintaining a consistent shape and motion from one frame to another.
This will conserve a great deal of time for you and improve the smooth flow of your animation. You can make your own armature using wire or alternatively locate a DIY kit online that includes artificial joints to mimic natural movement.
Shoot Still Frames
How awesome does this seem? In the realm of claymation, you are the master of your own puppets. You are the big shot, the go-getter, the force behind the scenes, the unseen influence—you understand the concept.
That being said, ensure you pay attention to every detail when capturing individual frames to produce seamless scenes and avoid any possibility of continuity mistakes that might force you to start over (trust us – no one desires that). The actions of your figurines must be subtle enough to produce the appearance of fluid movement.
Compile, Edit, & Learn
After gathering your final shots, the final step in the process is to edit them into the finished product: your short film. Claymation is a demanding and time-intensive art form that will undoubtedly challenge your patience. In the end, the insights gained during the journey will aid you in honing your skills.
Final Words
Well – there it is. That’s quite a bit of information regarding clay.
This type of filmmaking is rare, and we must admit, with good reason. The procedure requires an uncommon level of concentration, effort, meticulousness, and perseverance. However, when executed properly, it can yield truly amazing outcomes.
If you want clay animation services or custom 3D animation services, then Prolific Studio is the studio you should look for.
Prolific Studio, one of the best animation studios in LA, is here to help you with all your animation aspirations.
Get in touch with Prolific Studio today and make your animation dreams come true.
