The Creation of Claymation

Where would we be in modern times without humble childhood characters such as Gumbi, Wallace and Gromit, or the classic Saturday Night Live sketch, The Mr. Bill show? The answer to that lies in a world where the underestimated artistic form of claymation has yet to be discovered. For those who don't know, claymation is a type of stop-motion animation that uses adjustable clay figures in countless photographs that are filed into chronological order to create the appearance of live movement. There is much more to this art form that just a soft clay exterior however, this creative method of expression utilizes detail down to the smallest interval of time and motion to produce a cinematic work or brilliance. In order to fully grasp this amazing concept, a little background must first be introduced.

To begin, the architects who design these characters must create a wire frame with which to build around. Bendable metallic wiring is used to ensure lasting flexibility as well as durability while the plasticine clay that provide body to the creation is applied around this structure. To create the appearance of a setting, small scale models are built out of various materials ranging from drawings to computer animated backgrounds. The texture of these locations is generally made to look similar to that of the clay even if clay putty is not actually used within the set. One of the most important things to maintain is complete lack of difference in the backdrop between photographs. If the background is moved even in the slightest, the entire frame will be thrown off and the movements will look choppy if not completely false.

The dedication and application required to film one of these works is both tedious and time consuming. While standard film runs at a rate of 25 frames per second, this form uses 30 frames per second. Small adjustments are made to the characters in between shots along with any background motion that is meant to occur such as a flag blowing in the wind or a automobile racing through the streets. Once a sufficient quantity of photographs has been taken, they are set together much in the same way as a flip book. When in chronological order, the photos portray the characters undergoing human like movements while they are viewed in quick succession.

Unfortunately, this art reached the climax of its popularity previous to the 80's and has since been upheld by few sources other than Tim Burton, the creator of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Wallace and Gromit's Nick Park. In the past; however, famous scenes from movies such as Beetlejuice, Godzilla, and Indiana Jones featured impressive clay graphics that astounded audiences.

While this beautiful, creative display has lost some of it's past appeal, the memorable characters from the past are still able to be rebuilt with simple tools and an imaginative mindset. Some say the best of the best lives on, unaffected by time. This could explain why modern works such as The Corpse Bride have transcended their time to continue entertaining audiences of all ages. Like all great artwork, these pieces should be preserved in order to live on as a staple of the past and an example of sheer ingenuity,