How Claymation is Made: Step-by-Step Behind the Camera

Claymation is one of the most hands-on, meticulous, and magical forms of animation. Unlike digital animation, where characters are created with a mouse and keyboard, claymation involves building physical models, moving them frame by frame, and photographing each movement to create the illusion of life. The process is slow—but the result is uniquely charming and deeply expressive.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how claymation is made, step by step.

Concept & Storyboarding

Everything starts with the story. Just like in live-action films or traditional animation, a script is developed first. Once the story is in place, a storyboard is created—this is a visual outline that maps out every scene, shot by shot. It helps the team plan camera angles, character movements, and timing before any clay is molded.

Character & Set Design

With the visuals planned, designers begin sketching characters, props, and environments. These sketches are then used to sculpt the actual clay models. Claymation characters are usually built around a wire armature, a bendable skeleton that lets the animator pose them without falling apart. The clay is added over this frame and shaped to match the character’s design.

Sets are built to scale, complete with miniature furniture, buildings, or outdoor landscapes. Every detail, from a teacup on a table to the clouds in the sky, is crafted by hand.

Sculpting & Rigging

Once the designs are final, sculptors create all the clay models: main characters, background figures, props, and more. Each model must be durable enough to survive hundreds of movements.

The internal wire skeleton (armature) is crucial. It allows the animator to bend the clay figure in small increments without breaking it. Complex characters may even include removable mouths, eyelids, or limbs so that facial expressions and gestures can be swapped out quickly between frames.

Lighting & Camera Setup

Lighting plays a huge role in creating the mood of each scene. Because clay has a natural sheen and texture, lighting must be carefully controlled to avoid glare or weird shadows.

Cameras are mounted on tripods or rigs and programmed to take still photos—one frame at a time. A single second of footage usually requires 12 to 24 photos, depending on the desired smoothness.

Animation: Frame by Frame

This is the heart of claymation—and the most time-consuming part.

Animators move the clay models in tiny increments, take a photo, move them again, take another photo, and repeat. When these photos are played in rapid sequence, the characters appear to move on their own.

Even a few seconds of footage can take hours or days to shoot. Precision is key. If a hand accidentally bumps a set piece, the entire shot might need to be redone.

Voiceover & Sound Design

While the animators work on visuals, voice actors often record their lines separately. These recordings are later synced with the animation so that the characters’ mouth movements match the dialogue.

Sound effects—like footsteps, rustling clothes, or creaky doors—are added in post-production, as well as a musical score to enhance the atmosphere.

Editing & Post-Production

Once all the frames are captured, they’re imported into animation software. Here, editors fine-tune the timing, adjust colours, add effects (like smoke or rain), and polish the final product.

Even though the animation itself is handmade, post-production ensures that the film looks clean and professional.

Final Output

After everything is edited, sound is mixed, and colour is corrected, the final animation is exported into a complete film. Whether it’s a short, a commercial, or a full-length feature, every frame is the result of intense patience, craftsmanship, and creativity.

Claymation isn’t just about moving clay—it’s about breathing life into lumps of earth, one frame at a time. It’s labour-intensive, time-consuming, and often unpredictable—but that’s what makes it so rewarding. Every fingerprint, smudge, and tiny wobble adds character and charm that no computer can replicate.

The next time you watch a claymation film, remember: what looks like a few minutes of magic on screen might have taken weeks—or even months—of work behind the camera.

Also Read: Exploring What Sound Sculptures Are Made of and Why It Matters

–Silviya.Y