There are so many wonderful kinds of animation styles, and one underrepresented but powerfully enduring aesthetic is that of stop-motion. Whether through the use of cut-outs, claymation, or puppetry, stop-motion is a cinematic technique whereby the camera stops and starts in rapid progression to give animated figures the impression of movement. This is a highly time-consuming and meticulous animation technique, and although other styles may be simpler and more affordable, some of the best-animated movies of all time utilize a stop-motion style.

As a type of filmmaking that’s already set apart from the average movie, stop-motion animated features often lean into thought-provoking themes and have addressed serious issues around mental health, childhood trauma, and the undeniable perseverance of the human spirit. While there are well-known stop-motion classics, including The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach, plenty of more recent releases prove this genre is not dead.