1964 - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, by Tadahito Mochinaga

The first of many memorable Rankin-Bass television productions that would handled by a Japanese animation crew, this one resides in the ultra-classic category of stop motion history. Under Mochinaga’s animation direction, it retains its ability to connect with audiences, due in part to a combination of beautiful puppets and deeply effective posing. Not as much “smooth” as “heartfelt,” no one would call the animation top-notch by today’s standards, but that simply doesn’t matter in this case. Rudolph transcends “smooth”! 

1965 - The Hand, Jirí Trnka

It’s hard to pick a Trnka short film to highlight, but this one will have to suffice. Considered by many to be one of the finest animated short films ever made, it achieves what few films manage- it entertains as much as it provokes thought. It’s a highly political film that takes on the dead-serious issues of fascism and totalitarianism, through the story of an immensely charming little puppet. The plucky little character longs to do nothing more than sculpt and take care of his potted plant, but is confronted by greater powers (and egos). Heartbreaking and intense, it’s absolutely required viewing for filmmakers, stop motion or otherwise.

1963 - Jason and the Argonauts, by Ray Harryhausen

Point to a single piece of classic Hollywood stop motion, and odds are you’ll land on this film. If you’re asking yourself “Is that the one with the skeletons?” the answer is yes. Pitting three live-action actors against seven stop motion skeletons, and created decades before frame referencing software would exist, this is considered by many to be Harryhausen’s masterpiece. I can honestly say that I don’t know how he did it… but I’m sure glad that he did. 

1967 - Mad Monster Party?, by Tadahito Mochinaga

With outstanding designs by Jack Davis and lovely voice work by Boris Karloff, this Rankin-Bass feature length film is a bit like Halloween candy- very enjoyable, in small doses. Dr. Frankenstein invites all the classic monsters (including Count Dracula, Mummy, and Werewolf) to his island estate for a celebration, and things go off in all sorts of crazy directions. The inexplicable question mark in the title offers a hint to how off-the-wall this film is, but oh well. Get ready for terrible puns and “classic monsters” silliness.