Stop-motion is back in a big way this year with the likes of Wendell & Wild and Pinocchio, which will be released later this year. Wendell & Wild is the latest film from director Henry Selick, who already has created a few of the best stop-motion films of all time.
Stop-motion is a beloved medium and Letterboxd fans are often very positive when reviewing the films. There have been so movies in the genre over the years, and Letterboxd is a good measure for discovering the best of the best.
10 Corpse Bride (2005) - 3.8/5
Co-directed by Tim Burton, Corpse Bride follows a man named Victor who accidentally puts a ring on a dead woman's body. The woman comes to life and believes that Victor is now her fiancé. Victor has to find a way to get out of this predicament before his living bride-to-be finds out.
Corpse Bride is one of those classic Tim Burton films that Letterboxd users really enjoy. The Tim Burton-style animation is as fun and whimsical as ever and Depp's Victor is a highlight for many. The major point that people bring up is the bittersweet ending that works for the movie, but some wish it had been gone differently.
9 Blood Tea And Red String (2006) - 3.8/5
Blood Tea and Red String comes from stop-motion animator Christiane Cegavske, who tells a story about class through stop-motion mice. Described as a "fairy tale for adults," the film is about the struggle between the aristocratic White Mice and the Creatures Who Dwell Under the Oak, who are seen as lower class.
Letterboxd users find this to be a very bizarre film, but it's clearly a labor of love and that comes through in every frame. The film took years to make, and the detail is stunning. Fans aren't sure what to make of it, but the consensus is that it's a delightful look at class and an engaging film, overall.
8 Anomalisa (2015) - 3.8/5
Describing a movie like Anomalisa is difficult. In the vein of Kaufman's other films, it's a story about a relatively unremarkable person thrown into a remarkable life. Through this man's journey, he meets a woman at a hotel, and the two end up revitalizing each other.
Charlie Kaufman isn't the kind of filmmaker that everyone can get behind, but Letterboxd users love his surrealist nature that mixes with real human emotions. The film tugs at the heartstrings to deliver a very human experience and it truly shows how animation, especially stop-motion, can be used to tell adult stories.
7 Mad God (2021) - 3.8/5
Acclaimed stop-motion animator, Phil Tippett, released Mad God last year after a long period of development. The film follows The Assassin as he journeys through a hellish nightmare world. Through his travels, he meets all sorts of creatures who are preyed on by larger, more horrifying creatures.
Phil Tippett is a beloved name in animation, and it's wonderful that this film he started decades ago has finally come to fruition. The animation is some of the best and Tippett does stop-motion like no other. Letterboxd users are impressed with how the film handles its tough themes about a man descending further into madness.
6 Consuming Spirits (2012) - 3.9/5
Consuming Spirits is about three residents of a fictional town who work together at the town's newspaper. Throughout the film, the connection between the three of them is revealed to be much deeper than initially suggested. The film uses a variety of different animation techniques to create a unique atmosphere.
Fans of this movie praise the unique animation, constantly calling it one of the most unique films ever made. The film begins in a pretty mundane way, but it keeps the viewers' interest before going into a truly wild ending. For some, this is the definition of an art-house film.
5 Kubo And The Two Strings (2016) - 3.9/5
Laika's fourth film, Kubo And The Two Strings is about a young boy named Kubo who is hiding away with his mother on an island. When he's accidentally out after dark, two evil spirits descend on him and his mother sacrifices herself for her son. Kubo has to go on a journey with a samurai beetle and a talking monkey to find a sword powerful enough to kill the moon god.
One of Laika's most beautiful films, Kubo and the Two Strings is a triumph in stop-motion filmmaking. This coming-of-age story about a young boy learning about his family and heritage has resonated with audiences on Letterboxd.
4 Isle Of Dogs (2018) - 3.9/5
Thanks to an outbreak of canine flu, the mayor of a Japanese city sends all the dogs to an island to fend for themselves. Isle Of Dogs follows a young boy who goes to the island to find his dog who was taken there. While this is happening, others are trying to uncover a sinister plot that may be cat related.
Wes Anderson's films are normally very stylistic, but his stop-motion films are on another level. Every frame here is a work of art and very few CG enhancements were used, which is rare with today's stop-motion films. It's a sweet film for dog lovers that puts a smile on the face of almost anyone who watches it. Isle of Dogs is also one of Jeff Goldblum's best films.
3 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) - 4/5
The Nightmare Before Christmas follows Jack the Pumpkin King, who has grown tired of doing the same Halloween ritual every year. While he searches for inspiration, he stumbles on Christmas town and decides that he is going to take over Christmas from Santa Claus. Oogie Boogie takes Santa and begins to torture him before Jack finally comes to his senses and intervenes.
It's a holiday classic for two holidays, which is something that very few films can claim, and the Tim Burton and Henry Selick design aesthetic has become an iconic piece of Disney history. Over the years, this film has only grown more popular and is the subject of many Nightmare Before Christmas memes, all due to its iconic animation, story and music.
2 Coraline (2009) - 4.1/5
Laika's first film, Coraline, follows a young girl named Coraline who is taken to a new home with weird neighbors and a terrifying secret. She discovers that there's a doorway to a beautiful world where everything is colorful and fantastical, but the people there have buttons for eyes. Unbeknownst to Coraline, the "other mother" wants to keep her there by replacing her eyes with buttons.
There is a reason why this continues to be Laika's most popular film after more than 10 years. This movie has freaked out many Letterboxd users with its unique approach to horror. The creepiness comes off the screen and every frame feels like a true work of art.
1 Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) - 4.2/5
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Mr. Fox is bored with his life, so he decides he needs some adventure and plots a heist with his friends. His plan is to steal some chickens from the local farmers, but the farmers are tired of Mr. Fox. What he doesn't know is that the farmers are also planning their revenge against him.
Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox is the best stop-motion film according to Letterboxd users. The film fires on all cylinders and makes for an incredibly fun heist film. Wes Anderson's stop-motion work is beautiful, and the voice cast consists of some of the best talents Wes Anderson has ever assembled.