The 20 Best Claymations Movies Of All Time

Claymation movies are one of the most popular and complex forms and best of movie creation, where some of the films take up to three years to complete or even more. However, the style is unique, attractive, and alluring, even though this form of the movie is time-consuming and incredibly rare.

Claymation movies are viral but are immensely underrated, and this art form should receive all the praise in the world as it presents some of the best short films that the world has witnessed.

The amount of love and details that go into these movies can be witnessed, and artists painfully create every detail of these movies to bring life out of ordinary-looking clay. Since these movies are scarce nowadays, here are some of the best Claymation movies:

20. The Wrong Trousers (1993)

Directed By: Nick Park
Written By: Bob Baker, Brian Sibley, Nick Park
Voice Cast: Peter Sallis and Peter Hawkins.
IMDB Rating: 8.3/ 10
Available On: Amazon Prime Video

This animated film tells the story of Wallace and Gromit. Where to make ends meet, Wallace decides to rent out an empty room, but the new lodger, a penguin, takes Gromit’s room and puts him in a dog’s house.

The second movie of the Gromit series is fun to watch, as the animation technology used in the film was great. The plot is silly but entertaining, as it is clever and well-written.

The Gromit and Wallace series is like the Bugs Bunny show of modern animation and is considered one of the best claymation movies. In conclusion, it is a hilarious movie, and people should check out this movie if they have not already.

19. Vincent (1982)

Directed By: Tim Burton
Written By: Tim Burton
Voice Cast: Vincent Price
IMDB Rating: 8.3/ 10
Available On: YouTube

Tim Burton, the mastermind behind Vincent, had high hopes for this movie as a confident production people backed it were looking forward-thinking the release date, and it summoned a massive crowd because of its dark humor and the black and white shadowy texture in this stop motion animation film made it stand out from other movies.

Moreover, this film had a wide range of bizarre characters, grotesque storyline, and creepy visuals, and this film was a direct forerunner of his previous film, A Nightmare Before Christmas.

18. Mary And Max (2009)

Directed By: Adam Elliot
Written By: Adam Elliot
Voice Cast: Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Eric Bana
IMDB Rating: 8.1/ 10
Available On: Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV

Mary and Max are the tales of an unlikely and beautiful friendship that features two pen pals: Mary, an eight-year from Australia, is a friendless girl who opens a telephone dictionary and sends a letter to Max Horowitz, a 40-year-old living alone in New York.

The two write letters to each other with chocolate, and thus a 20-year correspondence begins.

This is an unforgettable and heartbreaking tale of friendship and loneliness. The story is bittersweet and witty, it has ironic black humor, and this movie uses visual aids to provoke the audience’s emotions.

It can be funny in the previous scene and depressive in the next scene. The film has an excellent animation style and is one of the best stop-motion animated movies.

17. A Close Shave

Directed By: Nick Park
Written By: Bob Baker, Nick Park
Voice Cast: Peter Sallis, Anne Reid, and Justin Fletcher
IMDB Rating: 8.1/ 10
Available On: Amazon Prime Video

A Close Shave is a short film in Wallace and Gromit series; this third is a lovingly crafted movie that you can not stop laughing while watching. The movie’s scenes are entertaining, and the movie’s plot is excellent, which is hard to achieve in short films.

Over the years, Wallace and Gromit have proved they can entertain people and bring new people to watch their shows and movies without disappointment.

The film is full of laughs and jokes, and if you are feeling down or sad or just looking to watch something for a laugh, then this is the movie you should watch.

16. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Directed By: Henry Selick
Written By: Tim Burton, Michael Mc Dowell, Caroline Thompson
Voice Cast: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, and Catherine O Hara
IMDB Rating: 7.9/ 10
Available On: Disney Plus

The Nightmare Before Christmas is not your typical holiday movie. Still, it is the best stop motion animation film that is undoubted to be considered a classic, and even though many holiday-themed movies are being released, none of them can match the vibes given by The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Tim Burton’s director’s palette is full of stop-motion animated movies, and it isn’t easy to rate which movie is the best. Still, one thing is sure: The Nightmare Before Christmas is the best dark comedic holiday-themed film.

15. The Adventures Of Prince Achmed (1926)

Directed By: Lotte Reiniger
Written By: Lotte Reiniger
Voice Cast: N. A.
IMDB Rating: 7.8/ 10
Available On: Roku

This 1926 film is a piece of history and a great watch. The story is about a little prince riding a flying horse and going on an adventure. This is a German silent animated film where they used cut-outs for the scenes.

The cut-outs are excellent and incredibly detailed. It took three years to complete this movie—a great film to watch with family.

14. Isle Of Dogs (2018)

Directed By: Wes Anderson
Written By: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman
Voice Cast: Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton
IMDB Rating: 7.8/ 10
Available On: Disney Plus

This 2018 stop-motion animation film is set in Japan tells the story of a boy searching for his lost dog. This film by West Anderson will be a delight to watch. It is different from other films as it is unsympathetic and different from the animated film we have seen.

Great attention to detail could be seen in the movie to display the clear vision of the director. The film is unique and a must-watch.

13. Coraline (2009)

Directed By: Henry Selick
Written By: Henry Selick, Neil Gaiman
Voice Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, and John Hodgman
IMDB Rating: 7.7/ 10
Available On: Netflix

Coraline is an exceptional movie with hard-hitting related topics for its viewers. The stop-motion animation would blow you away. The film’s plot is about a young girl called Coraline, whose parents do not have time for her. One day she finds a world entirely similar to hers, and everything is too good to be true.

The plot of Coraline is fantastic, and the animation is too beautiful; the movie’s story is strong, and the show’s characters are well-written. However, the viewers should know that this movie is not for young kids as some aspects of the film might scare them and hurt them emotionally.

12. My Life As Zucchini (2016)

Directed By: Claude Barras
Written By: Celine Sciamma, Claude Barras, Morgan Navarro
Voice Cast: Gaspard Schlatter, Sixtine Murat, and Paulin Jaccoud
IMDB Rating: 7.7/ 10
Available On: Vudu

This is a heartfelt movie, and it is hard to take in a film like this. The film’s quality is fantastic, and the story is strong and moving.

Even though the film is short, it packs a punch, the plot is simple, and the film does not fill up the running time with unnecessary scenes; crystal clear and handled with care and thoughts. This is a personal recommendation to the readers of this list.

11. Kubo And The Two Strings (2016)

Directed By: Travis Knight
Written By: Marc Haimes, Chris Butler, and Shannon Tindle
Voice Cast: Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes
IMDB Rating: 7.7/ 10
Available On: Vudu

Kubo and The Two Strings is a remarkable animated film that does not try too hard to explain magic, and the beauty of this film is its simplicity which makes the experience great for the viewers.

The writers use their creativity and imagination, giving rise to a strong plot, and the voice work of the film is excellent as the cast was in character. This is a perfect film to watch with family and kids.

10. Wallace And Gromit In The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (2005)

Directed By: Steve Box, and Nick Park
Written By: Steve Box, Nick Park, Mark Burton
Voice Cast: Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes, and Peter Kay
IMDB Rating: 7.5/ 10
Available On: Amazon Prime Video

It is one the stop motion films, and the movie’s plot is about Wallace and Gromit setting out to solve a mystery behind the sabotaging of vegetables, and this plague threatens to ruin the annual festival of the Giant Vegetable Growing Contest.

Wallace and Gromit is a popular series, and this film was the first mainstream animated film. The fans of this show, like myself, loved the movie, and compared to previous stop-motion animation films such as King Kong, or Sinbad, this film was way better as the quality and movement of the characters felt natural. In addition, the voice actors did a fantastic job with their work.

And the script of the film was simple yet so entertaining to watch. Moreover, this movie is for kids and adults, which is a great way to capture an audience.

This film is an excellent watch with a healthy dose of laughter and is fresh from what we are used to watching.

9. A Town Called Panic ( 2009)

Directed By: Stephan Aubier, Vincent Patar
Written By: Stephane Aubier, Guillaume Malandrin, and Vincent Patar
Voice Cast: Stephane Aubier, Jeanne Balibar, Nicolas Buysse
IMDB Rating: 7.4/ 10
Available On: Roku, Apple Tv

A Town Called Panic is a downright hilarious, surreal movie, and its viewers would laugh till their bellies hurt. The movie is simple and consists of Indians, Cowboys, and misadventures. The art form of this film is something one would have never watched before.

The film is entertaining from the beginning to the end, and the energy of the film is perfect. Overall, it is a great movie to watch.

8. Corpse Bride (2005)

Directed By: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
Written By: Tim Burton, Carlos Grange, John August
Voice Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emily Watson
IMDB Rating: 7.3/ 10
Available On: Netflix

Corpse Bride is another masterpiece by Tim Burton, and this claymation animated film focuses more on the darker side. It is like a gothic Broadway musical where a shy guy is practicing marriage vows in the presence of a dead young woman. She was raised from the dead, assuming they are married.

The Corpse Bride is one of the best stop motion animated movies, and it consists of star-studded hit actors and actresses; this stop motion claymation film is one of my favorites because of the characters and the plot is something you would not see very often and since this art form is rare to find it was a great watch.

7. Shaun The Sheep Movie

Directed By: Mark Burton, Richard Starzak
Written By: Mark Burton, Richard Starzak, and Nick Park
Voice Cast: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, and Omid Djalili
IMDB Rating: 7.3/ 10
Available On: Netflix

This Movie is a delightful movie for all ages, and in an article, it was stated that Shaun, the main character of this show, is originally from the Wallace and Gromit series.

Shaun, The Sheep Movie, is an excellent movie with a great story and one of the funniest stop-motion animated films with fantastic facial expressions and extraordinary animation.

The great thing about this series is that even adults enjoy this show, and even though some say it has a very unappealing title, it is an excellent show that one can never get bored of.

6. The Adventures Of Mark Twain (1985)

Directed By: Will Vinton
Written By: Susan Shadburne, and Mark Twain
Voice Cast: James Whitmore, Michele Mariana, and Gary Krug.
IMDB Rating: 7.2/ 10
Available On: Vudu

The Adventures of Mark Twain tells the story of a titular author who is the pilot of an excellent steampunk Esque airship. Mark is joined by Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and Becky Thatcher, and they are on a collision course with Halley’s Comet.

The Adventure of Mark Twain is one of the best claymation movies and one of the most-watched short films. The show is loved for its classic appeal, and the storytelling method is fantastic; it will feast your eyes and fill you with all kinds of emotion, and you will enjoy the movie until the last scene.

5. Chicken Run (2000)

Directed By: Peter Lord, and Nick Park
Written By: Nick Park, Peter Lord, and Karey Kirkpatrick
Voice Cast: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, and Phil Daniels
IMDB Rating: 7.1/ 10
Available On: Netflix

If you are a fan of ‘Creature Comforts’ or ‘The Wallace and Gromit series,’ you would love Chicken Run. However, if you are not a fan of this series, you would still love it because it is one of the greatest claymation movies created by Aardman Studios and a well-known claymation film.

The movie is downright hilarious, and the characters of this film are well-written; Chicken Run is still famous in 2022 because Aardman Studios made the clay models have large eyes and weird body sizes, giving the models irregular shapes and slippery movements.

In addition, the film’s voice cast is chosen correctly, and their sharp humor puts this film in another league.

4. Paranorman (2012)

Directed By: Chris Butler, and Sam Fell
Written By: Chris Butler
Voice Cast: Anna Kendrick, Kodi Smit Mc Phee, and Tucker Albrizzi
IMDB Rating: 7.0/ 10
Available On: Amazon Prime Video and Vudu

Paranorman is a 2012 film that tells the story of Norman Babcock, a young boy who is misunderstood because he can talk to the dead, and no one believes him. A witch cursed his city, and the dead attacked the town because of the curse.

Norman decides to save his village and find a horrifying truth about the curse. Paranorman is the only feature film to present the first openly gay character, and it is something that was never seen before.

Paranorman is one of the best stop-motion animation films, and it was surprising because this movie had a new approach compared to other films, and it was entertaining for adults and children.

Of course, the movie will be entertaining for adults, but parents should remember that this movie can be horrifying for some children.

3. Frankenweenie (2012)

Directed By: Tim Burton
Written By: Leonard Ripps, Tim Burton, John August
Voice Cast: Winona Ryder, Catherine O Hara, and Martin Short
IMDB Rating: 6.9/ 10
Available On: Disney Plus, Vudu

Frankenweenie is a stop-motion animation film by Tim Burton, and this movie is a tribute to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein with a happy ending. The story of this film is beautiful and features qualities such as loyalty and friendship.

The movie has creepy characters and a strong plot. The movie was not flawless, but it was covered by perfect execution and great acting by the voice cast. Overall, Frankenweenie is a great film you can watch alone, with children, or with friends.

2. The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists

Directed By: Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt
Written By: Gideon Defoe
Voice Cast: Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, and Jeremy Piven
IMDB Rating: 6.7/ 10
Available On: Amazon Prime Video

This movie tells the story of a Pirate Captain who wants to win the Pirate of the Year by defeating his rivals, Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz. This film is an excellent example of British humor, as the jokes are silly, clever, and catch you by surprise.

Very few animated films can entertain adults and kids, and apart from the Despicable Me series, the Pirates are the only animated films that can entertain people. Therefore, people would always watch this movie without showing annoyance or boredom.

1. James And The Giant Peach ( 1996)

Directed By: Henry Selick
Written By: Roald Dahl, Karey Kirkpatrick, and Jonathan Roberts
Voice Cast: Paul Terry, Joanna Lumley, Simon Callow
IMDB Rating: 6.7/ 10
Available On: Disney Plus

A timeless, stop-motion animated movie and a live-action film that is an adaptation of the late Ronald Dahl’s book. The movie is beautiful, just like the book, but the beginning and many scenes of this film are dark, and it can be scary to some children.

However, the movie has a charm, just like the book, and the characters are great; this live-action is excellent to watch with friends and family.