Stop-motion is back this year with Wendell & Wild and Pinocchio, out later this year. Wendell & Wild is the latest film from director Henry Selick, who has already created some of the best stop motion films of all time.
Stop-motion is a beloved medium, and Letterboxd fans are often very positive when reviewing films. There have been so many films in the genre over the years, and Letterboxd is a good measure to discover the best of the best.
10/10 The Corpse Bride (2005) – 3.8/5
Co-directed by Tim Burton, Corpse Bride follows a man named Victor who accidentally puts a ring on the body of a dead woman. The woman comes to life and believes that Victor is now her fiancé. Victor must find a way out of this predicament before his future living wife finds out.
Corpse Bride is one of those classic Tim Burton films that Letterboxd users really appreciate. The Tim Burton-style animation is as fun and whimsical as ever and Depp’s Victor is a highlight for many. The main point people bring up is the bittersweet ending that works for the movie, but some wish it had turned out differently.
9/10 Blood Tea and Red String (2006) – 3.8/5
Blood Tea and Red String comes from stop-motion animator Christiane Cegavske, who tells a story about class through stop-motion mice. Described as a “fairy tale for grown-ups”, the film chronicles the struggle between the aristocratic white mice and the creatures that dwell under the oak tree, considered lower class.
Letterboxd users find it a very bizarre film, but it’s clearly a labor of love and it shows in every frame. The film took years to make, and the detail is stunning. Fans aren’t quite sure what to make of it, but the consensus is that it’s a delightful look at class and an engaging movie, overall.
8/10 Anomalisa (2015) – 3.8/5
Describing a film like Anomalisa is difficult. In the vein of Kaufman’s other films, it’s the story of a relatively mundane person thrown into a remarkable life. During this man’s journey, he meets a woman in a hotel and the two end up revitalized.
Charlie Kaufman isn’t the kind of filmmaker that everyone can follow, but Letterboxd users love his surreal nature that mixes with real human emotions. The film tugs at the heartstrings to deliver a very human experience and it really shows how animation, especially stop-motion, can be used to tell adult stories.
7/10 Mad God (2021) – 3.8/5
Acclaimed stop-motion animator Phil Tippett released Mad God last year after a long period of development. The film follows The Assassin as he travels through a hellish nightmarish world. On his travels he encounters all manner of creatures that fall prey to larger and more gruesome creatures.
Phil Tippett is a beloved name in animation, and it’s wonderful that this movie he started decades ago has finally come to fruition. The animation is some of the best, and Tippett does stop-motion like no other. Letterboxd users are impressed with how the film handles its difficult themes about a man who descends further into madness.
6/10 Drinking Spirits (2012) – 3.9/5
Consuming Spirits is about three residents of a fictional town who work together at the town’s newspaper. Throughout the film, the connection between the three turns out to be much deeper than initially suggested. The film uses a variety of different animation techniques to create a unique atmosphere.
Fans of this movie praise the unique animation, constantly calling it one of the most unique movies ever made. The movie starts out pretty mundane, but it keeps viewers interested before going into a really crazy ending. For some, this is the definition of an auteur film.
5/10 Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) – 3.9/5
KUBO AND THE TWO ROPES
Laika’s fourth film, Kubo And The Two Strings is about a young boy named Kubo who hides with his mother on an island. When he accidentally goes out after dark, two evil spirits descend on him and his mother sacrifices herself for her son. Kubo must go on a journey with a Samurai Beetle and a Talking Monkey to find a sword powerful enough to kill the Moon God.
One of Laika’s finest films, Kubo and the Two Strings is a triumph of stop-motion cinema. This coming-of-age story of a young boy learning about his family and his heritage resonated with audiences on Letterboxd.
4/10 Isle of Dogs (2018) – 3.9/5
Thanks to a canine flu epidemic, the mayor of a Japanese city sends all the dogs to an island to fend for themselves. Isle Of Dogs follows a young boy who travels to the island to find his dog who was taken there. Meanwhile, others attempt to uncover a sinister plot that may be tied to the cats.
Wes Anderson’s films are normally very stylistic, but his stop motion films are on another level. Every frame here is a work of art and very few CG enhancements were used, which is rare with today’s stop-motion movies. It’s a sweet dog lover movie that puts a smile on almost everyone who watches it. Isle of Dogs is also one of Jeff Goldblum’s best films.
3/10 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – 4/5
The Nightmare Before Christmas follows Jack the Pumpkin King, who is tired of doing the same Halloween ritual every year. While searching for inspiration, he stumbles across Christmas Town and decides he is going to take over Christmas from Santa Claus. Oogie Boogie picks up Santa Claus and begins torturing him before Jack finally comes to his senses and intervenes.
It’s a vacation classic for two vacations, something very few movies can claim, and the design aesthetic of Tim Burton and Henry Selick has become an iconic piece of Disney history. Over the years, this movie has only grown in popularity and been the subject of many Nightmare Before Christmas memes, all due to its iconic animation, story, and music.
2/10 Coraline (2009) – 4.1/5
Laika’s first film, Coraline, follows a young girl named Coraline who is taken to a new house with strange neighbors and a terrifying secret. She discovers that there is a door to a beautiful world where everything is colorful and fantastical, but the people there have pimples for their eyes. Unbeknownst to Coraline, the “other mother” wants to keep her there by replacing her eyes with buttons.
There’s a reason this continues to be Laika’s most popular film after more than 10 years. This movie scared many Letterboxd users with its unique take on horror. Goose bumps come out of the screen and every frame looks like a real work of art.
1/10 Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) – 4.2/5
Mr. Fox is bored with his life, so he decides he needs an adventure and plots a heist with his friends. His plan is to steal chickens from local farmers, but the farmers are fed up with Mr. Fox. What he doesn’t know is that the farmers are also planning their revenge against him.
Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox is the best stop-motion movie according to Letterboxd users. The film fires on all cylinders and makes for an incredibly fun heist flick. Wes Anderson’s stop-motion work is magnificent, and the voice cast consists of some of the finest talent Wes Anderson has ever assembled.
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