10 Stunning Stop Motion Animation Movies (That Aren’t Horror)

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• Stop-motion is a time-consuming labor of love that deserves recognition for its beauty on screen, with films like “Kubo and the Two Strings” showcasing the best quality and artistry.
• Few filmmakers take on both live-action and stop-motion films, but those who do, like Wes Anderson with “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” bring a distinct style and atmosphere to their films.
• Stop-motion films can explore a variety of themes and genres, from heartwarming stories like “Mary and Max” to surreal and introspective tales like “Anomalisa,” proving that the medium is versatile and not limited to horror.

Stop-motion is an amazing aspect of animation, and though many of the most popular stop-motion films fall into the horror genre, there are plenty that don’t. Horror isn’t for everyone and can inadvertently turn people off to the art style. This is unfortunate because stop-motion is a time-consuming labor of love that should be celebrated for the beauty it can capture on screen. These stop-motion movies display the best quality and artistry of the technique without getting too scary.

As an art form, stop-motion has been around for a long time, and many early practical effects were done through stop-motion animation. Not every story is suited to the animation style, as it takes acute attention to detail and a plot that has a specific message that can only be communicated visually. Since it’s such a specialized skill, few filmmakers take on both live-action and stop-motion films, but those who do are known for the distinct style and atmosphere in their films.

10 Kubo And The Two Strings (2016)

Directed By: TRAVIS KNIGHT

Kubo and the Two Strings encapsulates the kind of adventure every child wants to go on. The story packs an emotional punch with the final twist and themes of the power of love and family. It follows Kubo (Art Parkinson) a young boy who must go on a quest to defeat the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) by using his magical gifts.

The film was produced by LAIKA, a studio that is known for its dedication to fantastic stop-motion, and illustrates a clear understanding of what kind of story best suits the art style. While the visuals are gorgeous and the set pieces amazing, every aspect of the film is carefully curated, down to the in-world music. This makes Kubo and the Two Strings easily one of the best stop-motion movies of the 21st century.

9 Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Directed By: WES ANDERSON

If there was ever a director who could easily cross over between live-action and stop-motion, it would be Wes Anderson. His distinct style and intense attention to detail make him the perfect candidate to create a world from scratch, and he did so with Fantastic Mr. Fox. The film is elevated by the team of actors that Anderson brought on, including George Clooney, Meryl Strep, and Jason Schwartzman.

Though all the actors are famous and have distinct voices, they disappear into the roles because of how immersive the world of the film is. Thanks to its cozy and autumnal atmosphere, the film is often re-watched when the leaves begin to change. It helps that the characters go through satisfying development throughout the movie and thatFantastic Mr. Fox has so many great quotes.

8 Mary And Max (2009)

Directed By: ADAM ELLIOT

One of the most criminally underrated stop-motion films of the 21st century is Mary And Max. Starring Toni Collette as Mary and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Max, two characters who become close friends through the letters they exchange as pen pals. Though Mary lives in Australia and Max in New York City, they remain close throughout their lives and help each other through the most difficult points of their lives. Due to the hardships that both characters face, the movie can be quite painful to watch, but it ultimately ends with the sanctity of their friendship solidified.

7 My Life As A Zucchini (2016)

Directed By: CLAUDE BARRAS

The French-Swiss film, My Life as a Zucchini, uses unexpected shapes and colors in its animation style to capture the experience of Zucchini (Gaspard Schlatter) after he is orphaned. In the unlikely setting of an orphanage, Zucchini meets lifelong friends and learns how to let love into his life after a difficult upbringing. The film succeeds by letting the children of the story be honest about their lives, and show that the emotions of these children are just as real as the adults around them. Despite the serious themes, My Life as a Zucchini is full of kindness and laughter, and witness just as many moments of lightness as darkness.

6 Anomalisa (2015)

Directed By: CHARLIE KAUFMAN AND DUKE JOHNSON

Anomalisa is not a stop-motion film made for children, but a raw portrait of adult life with recurring elements of surrealism. No less can be expected from co-director Charlie Kaufman, who’s known for making films that straddle the line between fantasy and reality in unsettling ways. The style of stop-motion utilizes puppets, with movements that are quite naturalistic but cannot be separated from the uncanny look of the faces. However, this suits the narrative of loneliness and isolation that permeates Anomalisa, as the two main characters, Michael (David Thewlis) and Lisa (Jennifer Jason Leigh) try to find some solace in each other.

5 Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (2005)

Directed By: NICK PARK AND STEVE BOX

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit was the first feature-length iteration of the Wallace & Gromit stories, and doesn’t disappoint in its scale or humor. With elements of scary stories, but ultimately poking fun at the genre, the film follows Wallace (Peter Sallis) and his dog Gromit as they search for the were-rabbit that’s terrorizing their town and its vegetables. The Wallace & Gromit universe is known for its distinct style, especially with human designs, and for subtly commenting on the British class structure. In the film, the adventures of the lead pair are just as fun as all the short films that came before.

4 Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

Directed By: GUILLERMO DEL TORO AND MARK GUSTAFSON

Guillermo del Toro is known for taking traditional fairy tales and stories based on fantasy and using them as a backdrop for an exploration of the cause and effects of fascism. Pinocchio is set in a period of real history and is no exception to del Toro’s previous films. The groundwork for his skill in stop-motion has been laid throughout his career in the beautifully crafted practical creatures that are featured in so much of his work. Though Pinocchio is a children’s tale, del Toro understands that the corruption of innocence is one of the most heart-wrenching ways to illustrate the impact of oppression and totalitarianism.

3 Jason And The Argonauts (1963)

Directed By: DON CHAFFEY

One of the earliest examples of a blend between live-action and stop-motion, Jason and the Argonauts re-tells the classic Greek tale of Jason’s (Todd Armstrong) quest for the Golden Fleece. Along the way, he and his crew run into many Gods, monsters, and other beasts that could only be portrayed through the use of stop-motion well ahead of its time. Utilizing stop-motion for practical visual effects was a perfect stylistic choice for the legend of a hero who becomes a myth. Realism is less important than the emotional impact that the animated elements bring to the film.

2 Shaun The Sheep (2015)

Directed By: RICHARD STARZAK AND MARK BURTON

Based on the animated series of the same name, Shaun The Sheep is also a spin-off of the Wallace & Gromit universe, which is clear in its innovative style and hilarious comedic timing. The film tells the story of another one of Shaun’s (Justin Fletcher) adventures as he searches for The Farmer (John Sparkes) to bring him home. Naturally, plenty of chaos and miscommunication ensues, but Shaun anchors the film as a likable if troublesome protagonist. As with other films in the Wallace & Gromit universe, the animation is flawless and is the perfect medium to tell the story.

1 The Little Prince (2015)

Directed By: MARK OSBORNE

There have been many adaptations of the novel, The Little Prince, by the French author, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, but the 2015 iteration is one of the best yet. Using a framing device for the story of the Little Prince in computer animation, and recounting the Pilot and Little Prince’s journey in stop-motion was a brilliant move on the part of the filmmakers. The stop-motion sections are beautifully executed and look straight out of a children’s storybook. As the film progresses and the wall between the frame story and the Prince’s tale starts to crumble, the animation reflects this and mirrors the emotional journey of the protagonists.