puppet animation
Stop-motion with figures
Puppet animation is a form of stop-motion filmmaking using jointed figures—typically with articulated limbs and interchangeable facial features—photographed frame by frame to create the illusion of movement.
The technique produces a distinctive handcrafted aesthetic seen in works like *The Nightmare Before Christmas* and early Rankin/Bass holiday specials.
Distinguished from clay animation by using solid, pre-made figures rather than malleable material reshaped between frames.
- marionetteString-controlled theatrical figure
- frame by frameEach image successively
- stringsThin flexible lines
- figurineSmall ornamental sculpture
- articulatedHaving segments that bend
jerky · handcrafted · miniature · Gumby · felt · armature · frame-by-frame · plasticine · wooden · jointed · ball and socket · theatrical · Pinocchio · manipulation · wire · dollhouse · model maker · whimsical
- videovideo, AVI, clip, footage, film
- animationcartoon, cartoons, toons, Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny
- puppetrymarionette, marionettes, puppeteers, marionette strings, Bunraku
- Animation Termscels, inking, layering, keyframes, keyframing
- Tim BurtonEdward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Corpse Bride, Batman, Batman Returns
- frame-by-framestop-motion, keyframing, flipbook, claymation, pixilation
puppet animationhand-drawn animation
Motion created through sequential drawings
traditional animation · cel animation · 2D animation · computer animation · digital animation
puppet animationlive performance
Unrecorded staged entertainment
documentary footage · live action · live-action · reality television · found footage
puppet, animation, puppets, puppeteer, puppetry, puppeteering, animate, animated, animator