1972 - The Demon, Kihachiro Kawamoto

This Japanese animation master trained under both Jirí Trnka and Tadahito Mochinaga, and it shows in all his beautiful work. In this short film, Kawamoto explores his love for traditional Japanese theatre and puppetry, to tell a stop motion horror tale of two brothers who encounter a terrible creature while out hunting. It’s a highly formal piece, that is a great example of how fixed expression puppets can coax an emotional reaction from an audience. 

1972

Aardman Animation is formed by Peter Lord and David Sproxton. The medium of stop motion would never be the same again. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of this studio to the medium, and for many the name Aardman and stop motion are almost interchangeable. The studio warrants its own history book (and, in fact, has one- go check it out!)

1977

Morph, Aardman’s most recognized character, makes his first appearance on British television. There’s few better examples of what simple clay can achieve, when it’s combined with excellent story and character. An aspiring stop motion animator could lock herself in a room with Morph clips to study, and come out a year later as a highly accomplished animator. Water and food would also be required. And clay.

1977 - The Sandcastle, by Co Hoedeman

This beautiful short film was created with a mix of real sand and foam puppets. As you watch, you feel transported to a living fantasy world of strange but very real creatures. Excellent animation combined with a great story and music, it serves as a beautiful example of an early National Film Board of Canada stop motion effort, and would win the  Oscar that year for Best Animated Short.