The Creepy Aesthetic of Stop Motion: PART 2

In “The Creepy Aesthetic of Stop Motion: PART 1” we discussed why we find things creepy and how the use of real objects and characters makes stop motion animation particularly so. In this post, we will explore some of the elements used in stop motion that best achieve creepiness in its short films. I have also included a short film at the bottom that is not meant to be creepy but utilizes these elements and creates this sensation, nonetheless.

Why is Stop Motion Creepy: RECAP

There is a sense of security we feel when watching something creepy from a screen as opposed to in real life. As advanced as computer-generated animations have become we are still aware of its falsity. Stop motion animation, however, while it sometimes does rely on computer-generated effects, is almost entirely comprised of clay, foam latex, silicone, and other materials that artists have sculpted to create settings, props, and characters. Nearly everything you see on-screen is real which makes it easier to trick the mind.

This unique realistic aspect of stop motion is what lays the groundwork for the following elements:

Parallelism

Since real materials are used in stop motion it is more unsettling when the world we see on-screen resembles our own. This resemblance, or parallelism, creates one less barrier between us and whatever it might be that makes us feel uneasy.

Using human or anthropomorphic characters is one way to create this resemblance. The key is to add realistic features. It’s the realistic-ness of the character that is the difference between the adorable characters from “Enough” and the unsettling characters from “Cream.” The more detailed the characters, the greater the resemblance, and the creepier it is.

        From "Enough" by Anna Mantzaris                                            From "Cream" by students at The Animation Workshop

The Unnatural

This element goes hand-in-hand with parallelism. Once a strong connection between our world and the one on-screen is established, anything different can help create the feeling that something is off and make it creepy.

One easy way to achieve the unnatural in stop motion is to show choppy movement. Sometimes stop motion animations are done so meticulously that the character’s movements appear perfectly natural. I have found that when this seamless motion is not achieved (which it often isn’t and really doesn’t need to be) it creates that unnatural visual we see and feel uneasy about.

Character design is another and more creative way in which the unnatural can be displayed. The headless characters from “Danny Boy” are a good example of this.

Unpredictability

This third and final element I want to discuss goes back to why we find something to be creepy. It’s in the uncertainty of whether something is threatening or not and in having enough evidence indicating there is something very real but unnatural about it. It lies in us not knowing.

Short films do not have a lot of time to establish settings, introduce characters, and build up scenes toward a climax. However, this time limit may serve as an advantage for a creepy short film because it leaves little chance for the audience to predict what will happen next. Since we aren’t sure what to expect while watching these realistic, unnatural characters we become tense and stay on guard to prepare for something scary or potentially threatening. In other words, we get creeped out.

Featured (Accidentally) Creepy Short: Disappear

Let’s be fair. Not all stop motion animations are intended to be creepy. After growing accustomed to the natural artistry behind stop motion I have found it easier to distinguish when a stop motion short is intended to be creepy and when it is not. Unfortunately, many shorts are often perceived as creepy regardless of intention, and I believe it is due to the elements I have explained above. I have featured such a short here, so that we may have a closer look at these elements in action and also show how strong they are in creating such feelings within us.

“Disappear” is a stop motion short film created by Hendrikus De Vaan about a man who desires to escape his responsibilities and fantasizes being a magician.