Claymation

From that most venerable of sources, Wikipedia: Plasticine was formulated by art teacher William Harbutt of Bathampton, in Bath, England, in 1897. He wanted a non-drying clay for use by his sculpture students. Although the exact composition is a secret, Plasticine is composed of calcium salts (principally calcium carbonate), petroleum jelly, and long-chain aliphatic acids (principally stearic acid). It is non-toxic, sterile, soft, malleable, and does not dry on exposure to air (unlike superficially similar products such as Play-Doh, which is based on flour, salt and water). It cannot be hardened byfiring; it melts when exposed to heat, and is flammable at much higher temperatures.


Perhaps one of the more well-known forms of Animation, plasticine animation has become a key-part of British animation history through Aardman Animations 'Wallace and Gromit' series.

Other examples of Claymation:
Morph (1976)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Chicken Run (2000) (Another Aardman work)