Audience fascination with Claymation Characters
As a British stop-motion animation studio, each of our staff members has at least one favourite Claymation character. Whether this love stems from childhood memories or an adult appreciation of the craft, every stop-motion animator has a beloved character. But what makes these characters so appealing? In this article, we will explore a few of our favourite stop-frame animation characters, examining what makes them appealing from an animation perspective and highlighting the unique characteristics of each Claymation character.
Wallace and Gromit
Probably the most famous Claymation characters to grace the big screen are Wallace and Gromit. Created by British stop-motion animation legends Aardman Animations, they made their debut in 1989 in “A Grand Day Out.” From that point on, they have faced various foes, from international jewel thief Feathers McGraw to the horrific were-rabbit curse. Throughout all these adventures, the distinctly British tone permeates every frame of the stop-motion animation. From costume design to the talented voice work of famous British actors like the legendary Peter Sallis, every aspect of these clay characters is undoubtedly British.
In terms of character design, every character in the Wallace and Gromit series has a very distinct silhouette. This is an important element when creating a character, as it allows viewers to easily recognise any character on screen from their silhouette. If you were to create an outline of Wallace and Gromit, most people would probably recognise these iconic characters from their shape alone. Creating distinctive silhouettes is a fundamental principle of animation and character design. The more creative you get with the silhouette the more visually captivating they’ll be.
If you’re feeling inspired after this, check out our blog How hard is it to do Claymation? to learn how to get started!
Creature Comforts
Staying on the theme of British stop-motion animation, another famous series from Aardman is “Creature Comforts”, the animated interview show that translates real-life interviews with the British public into short animated segments featuring Claymation animals. The show ran from 2003 to 2006 and consisted of a colourful cast of characters, each with their own unique voice. This was one of the main appeals of the series, as much of each character’s individuality came from their voice. Giving a character the right voice helps to solidify them and gives them a lot of personality. The candid nature of the interviews also contributed to creating memorable characters, as each conversation felt natural and genuine.
In addition to the memorable voices, each animal seemed perfectly chosen to match each voice. From cats to snails, many animals were brought to life with the signature Aardman style that we know so well.
If you’ve got an idea yourself for a fun piece if animation, have a read through of our blog that goes through the process. How does stop-motion work?
Gumby
Jumping back in time for this Claymation character. Back in the 1950s, “Gumby” exploded onto American television. Covering the adventures of the character Gumby, the show focused on creating and exploring a toy-filled wonderland and different points in history with his sidekick Pokey, the talking horse. The appeal of the characters in “Gumby” comes from their limited animation. The lofi charm of the analoge tech and limited animation attribute to Gumby’s lovable quality. This homemade quality also transfers over to the characters themselves. All of the models used in the show were created from the same obvious clay as Gumby. These simplistic designs, combined with the integration of toys as props and sets, gave off a strong feeling of a true child’s playtime. When watching “Gumby”, you really feel as if you are playing with every character on screen and that you could easily make any of the characters you see in the show yourself. With a little bit of clay and some imagination, “Gumby” inspired so many to begin their journey into the world of stop-frame animation.
Celebrity Deathmatch
This is an interesting one. Starting on MTV in the late 1990s, “Celebrity Deathmatch” took on the format of a professional wrestling show, with each episode pitting two celebrities against each other in the ring and watching them fight to the death. Sounds a bit gruesome, doesn’t it? Well, you’re right! Each short ended with at least one character being horribly dismembered. That, however, was the main appeal of the show. Seeing a Claymation character—associated with some form of pop culture—fight to the death was a new, fresh, and subverted expectation.
Another major appeal of the show was that all the characters were celebrities you would recognise. Famous matches, such as Chris Rock vs Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and the infamous Beavis vs Butt-Head, featured world-renowned celebrities getting horrifically injured in outlandishly cartoonish ways. The show is a testament to the fact that you can create a show about anything using stop-motion animation!
Morph
Finishing off this list of Claymation characters with another classic from Aardman: “Morph”. Morph is an iconic figure in the UK animation industry. The design of Morph is deliberately simple and embraces the fact that the character is made of clay. This direct link and acknowledgment of his Claymation nature open up many creative opportunities for animating him. He can be squashed, stretched, or even taken apart in service of a joke, as his ability to be remodelled is core to his character.
Another key feature of “Morph” is his inability to speak beyond high-pitched squeaks. This means that all his emotions and character traits must be conveyed through his movement and actions. This is a joy for animators, as it allows for extreme or nuanced expressions in service of conveying emotion. It harks back to the work of actors such as Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton, who managed to communicate so much without speaking at all. Morph can adapt to any situation, which is what makes him such an appealing Claymation character.
There are so many amazing clay characters in the world of stop-motion animation that we’ve barely scratched the surface. Their ability to be as grounded or as cartoonish as desired is what makes working with clay such a joy. There are always new animations with creative and interesting characters to discover. Just keep in mind what you find appealing about each one when creating your own! If you’d like to check out some of the colourful Claymation characters we’ve worked with at the studio, you can read about them in this article! Our Claymation Characters!
For a closer look into the production of Morph, check out this great tour from Aardman Studios!