Cool Hunting

Three Stop Motion Animators by Ami Kealoha

sma4.jpg

by Kyle Small

Almost since film's invention at the turn of the century, stop motion has been a key component of bringing the magic of the imagination into the world of motion pictures. The semi-recent advances in CGI technology (as well as other dazzling special effects techniques) has ultimately proven deadly to stop motion animation, but there are still those who favor the lo-tech magic and homespun aesthetic.

Mainstream filmmakers including Tim Burton and Michel Gondry have obsessed over the use of stop motion animation and continue to use it as much as possible for their desired special effects — thanks to them and stalwarts like those below, it's by no means a dead art form. (Ed. note: In fact, a good companion piece to our latest video on jam-maker June Taylor, is this sweet stop motion video that playfully interprets how she makes her products, pictured below.) We encourage you to spend some time checking out a few of our favorite indie stop motion animators around the world that we've spotlighted below.

sma5.jpg

PES
This stop motion artist has become famous for using everyday objects in his animations to create new ways of looking at things. He's also dabbled with pixilation, the process of using human bodies in collaboration with the stop motion style of filmmaking. Two of our favorite PES videos are the Human Skateboard (pictured above right) and his newest creation (the subject of recent internet buzz), Western Spaghetti.

sma1.jpg sma3.jpg

Leo Bridle
Probably less well-known, but no less talented, Leo Bridle has been making short stop motion videos in the U.K. for the past several years now. Creating everything from commercials to music videos and simple little stories, Bridle creates bold and imaginative worlds, often with tech-era themes. Two shorts that you should definitely check out are "Ultimate Media Centre" and "Still Life With Flowers." (Pictured above right.)

The Chase Factory
These up-and-comers may be still working out a few kinks in their animation style, but their latest piece, "Process Enacted" (somewhat of a YouTube sensation), is where they really start to shine. Combining a total of 987 Polaroids, this piece explores the themes of film's most basic element: the moving image. (Pictured above left.)

These are only a few of the many stop motion animators out there on the world wide web. We're glad to know that this unique and distinctive style isn't leaving us any time soon. For everyone here at CH I'd like to say, long live stop motion!

Tools
Print
Email
Save / Bookmark
fShare Share
Permanent link
Sphere It
This entry posted on 01 August 2008 at 12:05 PM
Related Entries
RESFEST 2005
RESFEST, now in its 9th year, premieres this week (15 - 18 September) at New York's Tribeca Performing Arts Center, followed by more than 40 cities worldwide. One of the few showcases for cutting-edge music video and motion graphics work, these two exclusive images are both by Japanese directors featured in the 5th annual "By Design" series in RESFEST 2005's jam-packed lineup. Culling the...
Forget the Film, Watch the Titles Database
Main title sequences for films have always held a very special place in my heart. From "The Good the Bad and The Ugly" (pictured below) to "City Slickers" and "XXX: State of the Union," title sequences have played an important role in setting a stylistic tone for a movie, or they're just there to totally blow your mind. Sometimes they're even better than the...
Noa Nahari: Side Walk
Entering the latest installation at the Jerusalem Artists' House is an exercise in sensory confusion. After parting the heavy drape covering the threshold, the room's minimal lighting creates a momentary blackout before the eyes adjust. Even when your vision returns, there's not much to see. The small gallery space is empty, and the floor is covered wall-to-wall with seemingly unremarkable gray cinder blocks. The...
Trollback+Co: Things We Think About Before Sleep
Trollback+Co, a NYC-based visual and conceptual creative studio, is responsible for some of the most cutting-edge video and motion graphics around. They're the team behind the visuals in the lobby of the Frank Gehry-designed IAC headquarters in NYC, the largest high-res video wall in the world. More recently they challenged their designers, Tetsuro, Peter, Anna, Paul, Emre, Christina and Tolga, to create short films...
Recent Cool Hunting Videosview all Cool Hunting Videos
Advertisement
Advertisement
Recent Entries

Nuun Hydrations Tablets


The Spaceman Watches of 1972-77


Fergus Brown


New York: Magnum Edition


The Invisible: Monster's Waltz


Daze: South Bronx to Naples


Pivot


Alfred Kubin: Graphic Works 1897-1910


Claire Beckett