In the new age of a completely digitized world, the art of filmmaking has become entirely easier for the industry. Special effects that seemed almost impossible to achieve back then, have become a norm for filmmakers to practice in each project. However, within the tides of this digital tsunami there exists a realm surging with nostalgia and hardworkship – a realm that defies the age of the digital world by embracing the charm of handmade craftsmanship and the magic of tangible artistry. This is the realm of stop motion animation, a medium that has been loved by audiences of all age groups since a very early age, and it has experienced a remarkable resurgence in the film industry, captivating its audience thanks to its timeless appeal and unique aesthetics.
Since stop motion animation is a technique that makes use of manipulating physical objects or models frame by frame to create the illusion of movement, it has carved out a unique niche in the landscape of contemporary cinema, defying the odds and earning its place among the giants of animation. The art of stop motion has a rich and fascinating history that spans over an entire century!
Stop motion can be traced all the way back to the early 1800s when sequential pictures were used to create the illusion of movement. This was pioneered by artists such as Eadweard Muybridge and J. Stuart Blackton. Muybridge’s works, specifically, laid the foundation for the concept of capturing movement through multiple frames.
One of the earliest examples of stop motion animation can be traced back to the “The Humpty Dumpty Circus” (1898) which was directed and co directed by Albert E. Smith and J. Stuart Blackton. This is an example of stop motion that laid the foundation of what this form of filmmaking is known for today, as it used actual toys and miniatures for the short film.
Humpty Dumpty Circus 1898
From the year 1926 all the way to the 1960s, the film industry saw many different examples of stop motion animation such as The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) and King Kong (1933). It wasn’t until the year 1993 when stop motion actually became mainstream through Tim Burton’s Nightmare before Christmas. Directed by Henry Selick, the film enthralled viewers with its blend of striking visuals, inventive character designs, and somber storyline, and cemented stop motion’s place in contemporary filmmaking. With its resurgence into the digital and modern world, filmmakers like Nick Park and Henry Selick continued to push the boundaries of the medium while incorporating digital enhancements. These are seen in many classic films such as Selick’s Coraline and Park’s Wallace and Gromit Series.
While the digital age has heavily influenced many industries, stop motion animation and studios that specialize in these stay true to their art forms using blends of traditional and digital techniques. The production company and studio Laika, specifically, uses these techniques and excels in their art, creating many critically acclaimed films that stay true to the art of stop motion.
When looking at old age examples, like King Kong or The Lost World, the idea of stop motion and the aim for those movies was for them to look as realistic as possible. It was a genre that was seen as new and avant garde, not necessarily something that the masses would enjoy. But as it became more mainstream and loved, it was not for the realism of it all – but rather it was the aesthetics and the eeriness of art that stirred up interest in the heart of the audience. The imperfections of the movements of the characters that we see on screen is what creates such a captivating atmosphere. There’s a certain eerie, wanky quality to early stop-motion efforts such as Bagpuss and Trumpton that lend them a unique charm; a spidery, otherworldly quality makes us feel as if we’re peering into another world. It’s this imperfectly perfect style that makes stop-motion so magnetic.
While the realism that goes behind the props that are used in stop motion makes it incredibly capturing, there is no doubt that it takes up a lot of time, effort and manual labor for the outcome of a film to be as perfect as it is shown on screen. Taking some notable examples of Fantastic Mr Fox and Isle of Dogs, both directed by Wes Anderson, it took over a year to complete the beginning models for the movies and included over 500 props for each film. It is an incredibly tedious task to stay true to this art but it is one that pays off well simply because of the appreciation that is given to each meticulous detail that goes into making it.
Shooting of Fantastic Mr Fox with realistic props used in the movie
The continuing appeal of stop motion animation and the inventiveness of filmmakers who are constantly pushing the frontiers of the medium are demonstrated by its resurgence in the digital age. Stop motion is still a renowned and revered art form, appreciated for its tactile charm, painstaking artistry, and evocative storytelling, even in light of the advances in digital technology that have revolutionized the animation business.
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Sahar Iqbal 
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