Stop-motion animation has been around for a long time, and some may see it as outdated, but it is an amazing art form. It takes skill, time and a great amount of patience. The imaginative and unique imagery can captivate almost any audience. Of course, stop-motion animation is not appealing to everyone, but for those that understand the beauty of it — it can be an amazing experience. Perhaps I am biased because I love stop-motion animation; it has the capability to move and inspire me. Here are 10 stop-motion animation artists I love that you should check out (many are not solely just stop-motion animation artists).
1. Stephen and Timothy Quay (1947-)
The reason there are two here is because they are identical twin brothers. The Quay brothers work together to create these lovely, haunting films. An excerpt from one their most well known short films:
You can watch the full film here.
2. Kihachiro Kawamoto (1925-2010)
Famous for his beautifully detailed puppets in his films, Kihachiro Kawamoto made some of the most exquisite stop-motion animations. He creates visually appealing short films based on ancient legends, Bunraku doll theater and Kabuki.
2. Robert Morgan (1974-)
If you love unsettling atmospheres and peculiar creatures then Robert Morgan is your guy. He creates stunning characters and unique plots that will actually make you take a second to think about their meaning. If you have seen "ABCs of Death 2," then you’ve already seen one his short films.
4. Jan Švankmajer (1934-)
A Czech filmmaker that can do almost anything. His films are surreal and will twist your thoughts. The films he creates are meticulous and gorgeous. His films have a unique feel to them that one can only understand while watching them. He is currently working on a new film that will be his last, called "Insects."
5. Chris Lavis and Maciek Szcerbowski (unknown)
These two joined together to create a partnership called Clyde Henry Productions. The pair has created fantastic award-winning films. One of their most widely known films is below.
6. Jiří Barta (1948-)
He created captivating films, but after the fall of the communist government in Czechoslovakia he was unable to release his work for 15 years. Here is one of his greatest films:
7. Ladislas Starevich (1882-1965)
Ladislas Starevich created enthralling films with the use of interesting puppets. He was a pioneer of puppet-animated films. His films are also labeled as surreal.
8. Lotte Reiniger (1899-1981)
Lotte Reiniger is different from the other stop-motion animators on this list because she was a pioneer of silhouette animation. Her films look as if they were cartoons. Her great attention to detail and her amazing skills are how she created such beautiful films.
9. Marek Skrobecki (1951-)
Marek Skrobecki mainly uses classic puppetry techniques, but his films are breathtaking. He even worked at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and Aardman Animation.
10. Adam Elliot (1972-)
Many of you may have seen his most popular film: "Mary and Max." Adam Elliot has a recognizable style of animation that is intriguing. His storytelling is also what makes him fantastic.
