Stop-motion animation is an intricate and lengthy process that can take films like A Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline at least three to four years to complete. While it tends to underperform at the box office movies like Fantastic Mr. Fox and Missing Link have more than enough made up for it by having dedicated cult followings. For years, the world of stop-motion animation has evolved at an impressive rate and through its advance in technology audiences have witnessed the form reaching significant achievements.
Meanwhile, the stories and characters have become more complex and dynamic. Giving audiences some of the best stop-motion animated features seen in the last decade.
Frankenweenie (2012) 6.9
Tim Burton rebooted his 1984 short film of the same name into a full-length feature film. Following the same premise, Frankenweenie expanded on the story of a young boy named Victor who brought his dog Sparky back to life, ala Frankenstein style. The film explored the town of New Holland and introduced more quirky and dark characters. Audiences and critics praised the visuals, the heartwarming relationship between Victor and Sparky, and the "colorful" medley of characters. However, some felt it was too dark for kids and did not rank among Burton's best.
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019) 6.9
The sequel to Shaun the Sheep Movie. A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon continued the adventures of the titular character and his flock. This time, they are on a race against time to return an alien back to her race before the Ministry for Alien Detection finds her. Not only did audiences feel this was a decent sequel but they also commended the animation, world-building, and comedy. Presently, it is the 16th highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time.
ParaNorman (2012) 7
Paranorman centers on Norman a social pariah who has the ability to see and communicate with the dead. Following its release, the Laika film was revered for its subversion of the horror genre including its themes, tropes, and characters. Audiences and critics were impressed by its sardonic and macabre humor and tone, resonating characters, and the world-building of Blithe Hollow. Director Chris Butler felt zombie movies offered poignant social commentary and he made the film for kids to show the obstacles they would face while growing up.
Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015) 7.1
Based on the British TV show Shaun the Sheep. Shaun the Sheep Movie featured its titular character and flock galavanting across London to find their owner who is under the effects of amnesia.
Despite Shaun being mostly mute, the animation excelled in perfectly evoking his expressions and offered a brilliant supporting cast including Omid Djalili as Trumper and John Sparkes as the farmer. Not to mention the film's physical and highbrow humor was top-notch.
The Tower (2017) 7.1
The Tower is based on stories director Mats Grorud heard while at the Burj el-Barajneh refugee camp. The premise follows a little girl named Wardi whose family has been living in a Palestinian refugee camp for four generations. While the poignant story was celebrated by critics some felt the animation style (which altered from stop-motion and 2d) did not properly support the emotional depth of the plot. Nonetheless, this was the director's first feature-length film and it was an impressive first attempt.
Anomalisa (2015) 7.3
Charlie Kaufman's Anomalisa may appear as a romance on the surface but underneath it was a compelling, psychological analysis of a man's warped view of the world. David Thewlis starred as Michael, an author who was dissatisfied with his life and Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lisa, a customer representative and Michael's "love interest." The film was originally a play but later converted to an animated feature almost a decade later. Thewlis and Leigh also reprised their roles from the play. Besides the narrative and acting, the film has been praised as being ground-breaking on a technological aspect.
The Little Prince (2015) 7.7
The Little Prince was based on the book of the same name. The film combined stop-motion animation and CGI. Director Mark Osborne had a special connection with the novel as he read it when he and his then-girlfriend (now wife) were dating and it gave him hope about their future.
Audiences and critics regarded the film as a riveting and iridescent visual spectacle. Supported by an equally captivating story and characters the film was a breath-taking and sentimental experience to watch.
My Life as a Zucchini (2016) 7.8
My Life as Zucchini centers on an orphan boy whose new life at an orphanage changes his and his peers' lives forever. The film was dramatic, comedic, somber, and heartwarming all rolled in one. Its darker moments were contrasted by its colorful animation and characters. In 2017, it was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars but lost to Disney's Zootopia. The film was impressively completed within two years and its 60 sets and 54 puppets were built by 50 people. Audiences and critics alike have enjoyed this feature.
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) 7.8
Kubo and the Two Strings was an action-fantasy film that centered on Kubo being pursued by his supernaturally powered aunts and grandfather Raiden the Moon King. The movie took place in Feudal Japan and its music, animation style, and characters were influenced by the era. While the film was criticized for casting mostly Caucasian actors to portray the characters it was praised for its innovative animation (including the construction of a 16ft tall puppet which was the largest at its time), decently choreographed action and whimsical music.
Isle of Dogs (2018) 7.9
Isle of Dogs was director Wes Anderson's second stop-motion animation feature. The movie followed a pack of wild dogs who have been designated to Trash Island following a bout of dog flu when they come across a Japanese boy who is looking for his dog. The film is acknowledged as an artistic feat (including intricacy and creativity involved in the sushi scene) and excelled in its music score and witty dialogue. However, its depiction of Japanese culture has more or less been debated. Some critics claiming its portrayal was purely superficial and cliche whilst others felt it was suitable.