Top 10 Greatest Stop-Motion Shows of All Time

Eddie Murphy’s turn of the century stop-motion sitcom depicted life in a public housing project in Chicago. The show, which lasted for 44 episodes, starred Murphy as Thurgood Stubbs, the super of the projects in which he and his family live. The show was a refreshing twist on what was expected out of a stop-motion series, and came to a close after 3 seasons, and reportedly due to falling ratings, overinflated budget and declining interest from its co-creator and star. Murphy’s series will be remembered for its fresh take on the style, and for its down-to-Earth sensibilities.

Based on the classic children’s novel and following the success of the stop-motion animated film, this series continues the story of Mole, Ratty, Badger and Toad as they deal with mysterious travelers, the threat of the weasels and more. The show was so well-written and animated that it remains fondly remembered by those who grew up watching it in the 80s. After the show’s end, it’s received several follow-ups for fans in the form of an hour-long special and a revival of episodes that aired in 1990. Plus, we’ll always have the originals to go back to.

No, not the recently-released movies, though those are excellent as well. This classic stop-motion series based on the popular books lasted for several years in the 1970s, and won over countless fans with its charming stop-motion/cut-out animation style and lovable characters. Adapted from the series of children’s books bearing the same name, “Paddington” showcases the adventures of a young bear who comes to live with and be raised by a husband and wife in the city. “Paddington” is just the right amount of wholesome whimsy mixed with artistry, landing him a coveted spot on our list.

Across several stints on MTV, “Celebrity Deathmatch” has used stop-motion claymation to depict violent, gory battles between celebrities inside the old squared circle. From the likes of Tim Allen versus Jerry Seinfeld to Alfred Hitchcock versus Steven Spielberg, “Celebrity Deathmatch” delivered some serious laughs alongside glorious cartoon violence. The show became popularly associated with MTV in the late 90s and early 2000s, but was eventually cancelled. A proposed reboot almost happened in 2015, but MTV reportedly made the decision not to move forward. The show’s premise might not function is well in today’s society, so that decision may be for the best, despite our fond memories.

Kids who grew up in the mid-90s remember “Bump in the Night” as an underrated stop-motion classic about monsters living in a family’s house. For two seasons and a Christmas special, “Bump in the Night” managed to balance kids’ humor with some more creepy and slightly disturbing elements in a way that make the show memorable even today. With excellent voice acting and a large number of musical moments, “Bump in the Night” was able to distinguish itself from many other Saturday morning cartoons of the time, but never quite found the same level of success.

For 20 years, “Pingu” featured the everyday adventures of a young penguin and his family in a children’s comedy format that managed to cross boundaries due to its lack of a language barrier. Pingu and his family spoke their own language, so the show always used physical humor to get its giggles. Featuring an adorable cast of supporting characters, Pingu is still beloved around the world; so much so that a reboot was recently started in Japan! With its creative use of stop-motion, the creative forces behind “Pingu” have proved that the little penguin is here to stay.

Originating as a series of short films, Nick Park’s award-winning “Creature Comforts” depicts animated everyday conversations between people made to look like it’s between animals using a mockumentary format. With his patent British humor and natural knack for claymation, Park and his collaborators struck gold with this series, which lasted 2 seasons and a shorter-lived American version. There was even a series of TV ads made using the series format. Despite using conversations between elderly people, they are never the butt of the joke, and the humor always comes from the animation. Park has shown time and time again his ability to create incredible stop-motion entertainment.

You can’t go wrong with the classics. Starting all the way back in the 1950s, Gumby has been a staple of American pop culture due to his claymation TV show. Created along with the rise of claymation’s popularity, Gumby has been an enduring figure ever since, starring in several TV shows after his first, and his own movie. Many of the plots in Gumby’s early adventures are basic but endearing, but it’s the visual aspects of the show that really shine. Creator Art Clokey was clearly inspired by experimental film and tried new things in animation. For that, Gumby will be forever remembered.

Another creation of stop-motion mastermind Nick Park, “Shaun the Sheep” is a spin-off of the excellent short film series “Wallace and Gromit.” “Shaun the Sheep” follows Shaun as he leads his flock and gets into misadventures on the farm. Like Park’s other work, this simple premise hides the true genius of the show, which is its pitch-perfect blend of wit and visual humor that appeals to kids and adults alike. Though the series came to an end a few years ago, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Shaun pop up again somewhere down the line.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Moral Orel”

“Postman Pat”

“Bob the Builder”

The brainchild of writer/comedian Seth Green and writer/director Matthew Senreich, “Robot Chicken” is an Adult Swim sketch comedy series that lampoons pop culture, with a particular emphasis on nerd culture. The long-running series has been consistently churning out episode after episode for 13 years and counting, including several holiday, Star Wars and DC Comics specials. The show has produced so many memorably hilarious sketches, and recurring characters over the years. We’re happy the show is still running strong after so many years on the air, and we’re hopeful the team is able to deliver many more.